Have you ever visited someone’s home in the winter and noticed they have their ceiling fans on? With the cold weather outside, this might have shocked you a little. However, did you know that ceiling fans are designed to move the air around your living space efficiently, whether you want it cold or hot?
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Ceiling fans should be kept as close as possible to where people congregate. Most of the time, this is the center of the room. However, if the ceiling is arched, the space is closed off, or there is another heat source, the ceiling fan should be off center.
If you want to know how ceiling fans work and why it matters where you place them, then read on. We have some great tips to help you stay comfortable, no matter what the season or temperature outside.
Why Ceiling Fan Placement Matters?
Most people believe that positioning a ceiling fan as close to the center of the room as possible is the best way to keep the space ventilated. While this may be true, there are several variables to consider before choosing a forever home for your fan, including:
- The size of the room
- The room’s purpose
- The height of the ceiling
- The size of the fan
- If the room is air-conditioned or not
- The relative humidity
It’s important to note that like regular floor and window fans, ceiling fans don’t cool the air. However, unlike other fans, they cool the room temperature because they draw hot air upwards and push cool air downwards.
If you have a lot of cross-air ventilation in your room, then the center of the room will be an excellent location for your ceiling fan. This is especially true for high ceilings. However, if you don’t have a lot of ventilation in a room, you should keep it close to where people typically gather.
You should hang it near the seating areas if it’s a living room but avoid keeping it close to where people sit if it’s an office space as this can make you feel uncomfortable with the constant draft. Placing the fan off center is ideal so that it doesn’t blow against your back.
Read: Why Bathroom Fan Making Noise When Windy?
Ceiling Fan Placement for High Ceilings
High ceiling fans require a special mount, especially for pointed or slanted roofs. These fans should be large and hang several feet below the roof’s peak.
If you have a 9-11 foot (2-3 m) ceiling without a peak, your fan should be placed in the center with a 6-8 inch (15-20 cm) extension mount. This will allow the fan to circulate the air in the middle of the room. This is better for air quality and comfort because it effectively blends the hot air, making it more tolerable.
If you have a peaked roof (arched or pointed), the fan should hang no more than 10 feet (3 m) above the floor. This can be difficult, though, if you have a very high ceiling. In this situation, you may want to install several smaller fans rather than one large one.
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I recommend installing two to four 29-32 inch (73-81cm) fans off the center of the ceiling. They should hang at least 6 inches (15cm) down and be placed on the bend of the roof or evenly dispersed along the beam.
If you have an attic, one to two fans should suffice. However, you should follow the spacing recommendations above for large, spacious, high-roofed rooms.
Read: Do You Need A Fan In A Bathroom With A Window?
Ceiling Fan Placement for Low Ceilings
House safety codes often require a ceiling fan to be at least 7 feet (2 m) above the floor. This will guarantee that the fan blades are always at least one foot above the average person’s head.
For low ceilings, you should avoid using large fans. Rather, stick to smaller compact fans that can circulate the air close to where people are seated.
Common rooms with lower ceilings include kitchens and basements. You should have the ceiling fan in the kitchen as far away from the oven as possible.
Placing your ceiling fan near the oven may be tempting, but it will only spread hot air around the room. If you have an air-conditioning ceiling vent, keep the fan closer to the vent without disrupting airflow. This will displace the hot air, circulate the colder air around the room, and keep you comfortable.
Basements are notoriously humid spaces. According to the University of Minnesota, basements are humid due to:
- Water drainage issues
- Poor ventilation
- Standing water around the foundation
- Damaged or clogged gutters
A ceiling fan can significantly improve your basement’s air quality. As the fan moves the air, it helps dissolve moisture and keep the humidity down. Keeping the fan near the center of the room will ensure a little bit of all the air gets moved and cooled.
Ceiling Fan Placement for Hallways
You may require several smaller ceiling fans if you have a long hallway. Due to the narrow space, you should only use smaller fans even if the ceiling is relatively high.
Lower speed rotations are better for these spaces since they aren’t very bulky. The air might be blown around too aggressively if the fans move too quickly, and this will prevent the fan from drawing the hot air upwards like it’s supposed to.
Read: Why Do You Need A Bathroom Exhaust Fan?
Ceiling Fan Placement for Bedrooms
Bedrooms are a bit more complicated than other rooms for several reasons. For one thing, they are the place in which we sleep and want to be the most comfortable.
If the fan is too close to where you sleep, it may create an unpleasant draft. This could make you feel too cold, disrupting your sleep.
A fan may not be a good idea if you have a tall bed, such as a bunk bed. Since ceiling fans draw the hot air upwards and keep the cold air down, you might feel very hot on the top bunk. This is especially true for bedrooms 7-9 feet (2.1-2.7 m) in height.
Additionally, you don’t want someone getting hit by the ceiling fan blades and hurt. If you have a room at least 10 feet (3 m) high, you can probably use a ceiling fan without concern. Keep the bunk bed closer to the doorway and the ceiling fan closer to the inside of the room.
This will keep the cold air within the room and help keep the air in the space moving. For more tips on staying cool, check out our other blog post on 3 ways how to keep apartment cool this summer.
Read: Attic Fan Vs. Whole House Fan
Does the Direction of a Ceiling Fan Really Matter?
The direction of a ceiling fan matters when it comes to cooling a room. If your ceiling fan is spinning counterclockwise, it will help keep the room cooler. However, if it is spinning clockwise, it will work to keep the room hotter.
Ceiling fans can either draw cold or hot air upwards. In the winter, you can use your ceiling fan to help keep the house warm.
When the ceiling fan spins clockwise, it draws cold air up and keeps hot air down. This helps keep you warm by allowing the warm air to stay closer to the ground.
However, when spinning counterclockwise, it does the opposite. If you notice that your room seems to be getting hotter as you use your fan, check the spin direction.
Some ceiling fans have a control panel near the light switch where you can control these settings. However, for some models, you need to change this setting manually. Always check the user manual to find out how before attempting to change this.
Read: Ceiling Vents Vs. Floor Vents. What’s The Difference And Efficiency?
Conclusion
Ceiling fans can make a big difference in air quality and room temperature, and the key is knowing how to use them effectively.
A few factors to keep in mind include:
- Where people sit
- What they do in this space
- How hot or cold you want your room to be
We hope this post has helped you to find a forever spot for your home’s ceiling fans.