home tips: ceiling fans

A Lot of Hot Air?

Okay, so we know how good it feels to sit under a ceiling fan on a hot day, but how effective are they, really, in cooling things off? "Air circulation is the key to optimizing both cooling and heating, and ceiling fans are still the best way to accomplish this," says Mona Pearson, owner of a lighting and home decor business in Birmingham. She can attest from her own experience and customer feedback that ceiling-mounted or rod-extended fans do make a difference. "It's about those fundamental things we learned in grade school concerning gravity and hot air rising," she explains.

By setting fan blades to revolve counterclockwise in the summer, you ensure both a downdraft and windchill effect from your fan, which forces the lighter, hotter air collecting near the ceiling to mix with the lower, cooler zones to level out the room temperature. By reversing the blade rotation to clockwise in wintertime, hot air is forced to recirculate without creating a cooling effect. There is a switch on the side of the fan housing that can be adjusted manually to change the rotation of fan blades.

While air-conditioning units are truly a godsend, Southerners still cherish a good ceiling fan (or two or more). If you think little has changed with these handy air stirrers, you may be surprised. We've highlighted what is new and helpful, both in terms of energy savings (see above) and popular trends.

Cool Trends

As Lowe's home-improvement stores' director of trend and design, Melissa Birdsong is keenly aware of what homeowners are looking for in ceiling fans. Here are her observations on these consumer criteria.

* Eighty percent of all fans are purchased with light kits, and of the remaining number, many homeowners end up adding a lighting component. This versatility enables you to change or update a unit's look without having to buy a completely new model. "Fandiliers" (the newest hybrid of ceiling fans and stylish light fixtures) are a great choice for dining rooms and more formal spaces.

* Ceiling fans operated by remote control (which regulate speed, blade direction, and lights) are very popular and typically outsell units that function with wall-mount controls.

* Oil-rubbed or textured bronze, nickel, antique brass, and pewter are all popular finishes right now. Polished, high-sheen brass is less common but is showing signs of revival as a finish option. Fan units with a more industrial or streamlined stainless steel look are becoming vogue as well. Certain manufacturers even offer multicolored blades for children's rooms. Still, white units remain the top sellers because of their inconspicuous appearance against white ceilings.

ROBERT MARTIN, REBECCA G. WARREN

Enter Our 2005 Southern Home Awards

Look for the winners of our 2004 Southern Home Awards coming up in the September issue of Southern Living. And remember, it's not too late to enter our 2005 awards.

Submit a $50 check and up to 10 (8½- x 11-inch) sheets, one side only, detailing the project. The first page should provide participants' information including any homeowners, architects, etc. The second should be a typed description of the project. Please note the category you are entering: 1) New Construction, 2) Additions/Renovations, or 3) Preservation/Restoration. Devote the remaining pages to floor plans and photos.

Send entries to: Southern Home Awards, Southern Living, 2100 Lakeshore Drive, Birmingham, AL 35209. Entries should be postmarked by September 15, 2004.

Visit southernliving.com (AOL Keyword: Southern Living) for more detailed information on the Southern Home Awards entry process, or call 1-800-366-4712, ext. 7082.

Copyright Southern Progress Corporation Jul 2004
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