In Corpus Christi where it gets blazing hot, ceiling fans can help you feel more comfortable and save energy costs as well. But beware of possible problems.
- Make sure where the fan connects to the ceiling is sealed air tight. Ever seen a fan with blades covered with dust? This is caused by leakage to the attic around the top of the fan. Running the fan is causing a suction on this area which draws in hot, humid, dusty, attic air. Make sure the electrical box is sealed tight with caulk or foam sealer. The beauty ring or fan box cover does not seal it air tight.
- Make sure to have an adequate fan brace. Anchor the fan to the ceiling with a brace sturdy enough to handle the weight of the fan and keep it balanced while in motion. Fan braces can be built into new construction, anchored directly into the ceiling joists, or installed during remodeling, slipped neatly into a hole in the ceiling and placed atop the drywall. Some are even designed to attach to the joist by saddling around it.
- Get a fan size that is adequate for the size of the room. This is important to maintain the proper level of comfort and efficiency. For a 12’x12’ room, a 42-inch fan is about right; for a 15’x15’ room, a 48-inch fan; and a 15’x15’ room about 48-inch or larger. If in doubt about the size of the room, always go bigger on the fan.
- Allow proper space for the fan. The fan should sit about 8 feet from the floor with about 1 foot between the motor housing of the fan and the switch housing. Downrods are available to help accomplish these clearances.
- Get the proper fan for the proper location. Fans can be rated for indoor/ outdoor use and are U.L. listed expressly for wet or damp locations.
See us at Mathews CCAC Air Conditioning in Corpus Christi. We specialize in heating, air conditioning, and air quality and can answer your questions about ceiling fans or air quality.
Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information, click here to download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
Mathews CCAC Air Conditioning and Heating services Corpus Christi, TX. To get started, check out our website.