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Ceiling Fans
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How much air do ceiling fans move? Can you compare Hunter versus non-Hunter?
What is the difference between a four and five blade ceiling fan?
How do I know what size fan to purchase - there are so many sizes available?
Why do some fans require oil and others do not?
What makes the Hunter Original® so unique in the market compared to all other fans?
How do fans cool the room - do they actually lower the temperature?
Can the fan be used in the winter for any beneficial purpose?
How much electricity will a fan draw?
How much can I expect to save in heating/cooling costs?
How easy is a ceiling fan to install - is it a project I can do myself or does it require a certified technician?
What is covered by the fan warranty - how does the Hunter warranty compare to other fan company warranties?
Can my fan be adjusted by remote control?
Can ceiling fans be mounted on angled or vaulted ceilings?
What length downrod should I use with my fan? Will the fan be more prone to wobble if I use a downrod?
Why does my fan 'hum' when I installed a variable speed (solid state) control?
Can a ceiling fan and a light kit be controlled from the same wall switch?
What is the difference in having a ceiling fan installed close to the ceiling versus on a downrod - I have seen both ways.
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1. How much air do ceiling fans move? Can you compare Hunter versus non-Hunter?
Ceiling fan air movement is measured in CFM, or cubic feet per minute. The greater the CFM, the more air that is being moved. The air moved by the fan creates a wind chill effect that makes you feel more comfortable in a warm room. There is a direct relationship between air movement and comfort - the more air moved, the greater the wind chill effect. Hunter fans generally move more air than competitive models because of custom-engineered motors and blades pitched at the maximum possible angle.
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2. What is the difference between a four and five blade ceiling fan?
The main difference between a 4-blade and 5-blade fan is aesthetics, with some additional wind noise associated with 5-blade fans. For a given motor, a 4-blade fan will move more air than a 5-blade fan. The 5th blade puts additional drag on the motor, slowing down the RPM of the blades, which decreases the CFM. All Hunter fans, whether 4 or 5 blades, are designed for optimal air delivery
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3. How do I know what size fan to purchase - there are so many sizes available?
You need to choose the right size fan for a room to get optimum comfort and energy savings. If the fan is too small for the room, it will not move enough air to make you feel comfortable. If the fan is too big, it could move too much air. Hunter recommends the following:
For Rooms Up To: Fan Blade Span:
100 sq. ft. 36"
144 sq. ft. 42"
225 sq. ft. 44" or 48"
400 sq. ft. 52" or 54"
485 sq. ft. 56"
625 sq. ft. 60"
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4. Why do some fans require oil and others do not?
The Hunter Original® has a very unique motor that uses an oil-bath lubrication system. This system keeps the main bearings lubricated at all times, for quiet operation and long-life. It is part of the reason why this fan has a limited lifetime motor warranty. Most other fans use motors that do not require oil.
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5. What makes the Hunter Original® so unique in the market compared to all other fans?
The Hunter Original® is the most unique ceiling fan on the market, with a design that dates back to the turn of the 20th century. Cast iron is used in the motor housing construction to more effectively draw heat away from the electrical windings; heat is a major enemy of electrical motors. The extra weight of the cast-iron construction also reduces the potential for fan wobble. The motor is also larger than any other ceiling fan, making it the most powerful motor available. This allows the blades to be pitched at a 15 degree angle, which produces greater air movement with less noise. The oil-bath lubrication system protects the major moving components of the motor, and prolongs the life of the motor. Added up, these unique design elements produce a powerful, quiet fan that is backed by a limited lifetime warranty.
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6. How do fans cool the room - do they actually lower the temperature?
A ceiling fan cools by creating a wind chill effect; it does not lower the room temperature. Wind chill effect makes you feel cooler by accelerating the evaporation of perspiration on your skin. It is the feeling you get when you open the window in a moving car. If you have a ceiling fan in a room whose temperature is 80 degrees, running the fan can create a wind chill effect that makes you feel as if the temperature is 72 degrees. When used in conjunction with an air conditioner, a ceiling fan can lower energy costs, because you can set the thermostat of your air conditioner at a higher temperature.
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7. Can the fan be used in the winter for any beneficial purpose?
A ceiling fan can help lower energy consumption in the winter by up to 10%. The temperature of the air in a heated room varies in layers; the air near the ceiling is warmer than the air near the floor, because warm air rises. A ceiling fan can help push the warmer air that is trapped near the ceiling back down into the room, thus de-stratifying the layers of warm air. As a result, the warm air is circulated where it is needed, and the heating system does not overwork to warm the room. To properly de-stratify a warmed room, the ceiling fan should be run in a clockwise direction. This pushes the air up against the ceilings and down the walls, to gently re-circulate the warm air without creating a cooling wind chill effect.
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8. How much electricity will a fan draw?
On average, a ceiling fan run on high speed will consume less power than a 100-watt light bulb.
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9. How much can I expect to save in heating/cooling costs?
A ceiling fan can save up to 40% on summer cooling costs, and up to 10% on winter heating costs. Savings will vary depending on local climate conditions and energy rates.
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10. How easy is a ceiling fan to install - is it a project I can do myself or does it require a certified technician?
Installing a ceiling fan is a Do-It-Yourself project. You will need to be able to:
locate a 2" x 4" or other suitable support in the ceiling
drill holes and install wood screws
identify and connect electrical wires
lift the fan (most weigh less than 35 pounds
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11. What is covered by the fan warranty - how does the Hunter warranty compare to other fan company warranties?
Most fan warranties are limited warranties that cover the motor parts for the stated life of the warranty; that is, a 20-year warranty will cover the motor parts for 20 years. Labor for the motor is generally covered for 1-year, as are parts and labor for all other components of the fan. All Hunter fans are backed by a “limited lifetime motor warranty.” Most importantly, Hunter is the only fan company with over 115 years of experience behind its warranties.
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12. Can my fan be adjusted by remote control?
Most ceiling fans can be adjusted with an accessory remote control sold separately from the fan. In fact, remote controls can really enhance the performance and operating flexibility of ceiling fans since many include one-touch multiple speed settings, instant fan "off" operation, and full range light dimming -- all possible from the comfort of your favorite chair or bedside table. Ceiling fan and light remote controls can easily be installed either with the fan during new installations or on fans which have been previously installed and in use for some time. The installation is an easy, do-it-yourself project and does not require any professional wiring. Remote control kits include a handheld transmitter for sending commands to the fan and a receiver which either conceals inside the fan canopy or mounts just beneath the ceiling. Remote controls can operate the fan or light reliably up to 40 feet away from the fan.
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13. Can ceiling fans be mounted on angled or vaulted ceilings?
Yes, ceiling fans can be installed on angled or vaulted ceilings by using a fan canopy (the "cap" visible closest to the ceiling which covers the electrical box) which has been designed to accommodate sloped ceilings. Many quality fans will include this type of adjustable canopy, like Hunter's Installer's Choice® and HandsFree™ Canopy systems, but if not included with the fan at original purchase, accessory canopy adapters are sold separately at retail outlets.
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14. What length downrod should I use with my fan? Will the fan be more prone to wobble if I use a downrod?
A general formula for calculating downrod length is: ceiling height in feet minus 9' = downrod length. This formula is based on the fan-to-floor distance of 8 feet plus 1 foot for the dimension of the fan. So if your ceiling height is 12 feet, you need a 3 foot downrod in order to properly position the fan 8 feet from the floor. Using long-length downrods for fan installations actually help stabilize fans and reduce the potential for wobble. Think of a grandfather clock pendulum and its slow, heavy swing versus a smaller clock pendulum with a fast, unsteady swing. Weight and length combine to create stability, reducing wobble, whether it is in a ceiling fan or a clock pendulum.
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15. Why does my fan “hum” when I installed a variable speed (solid state) control?
Most quality ceiling fans are operated by a certain type of electrical control system called capacitors. Capacitor electronics in ceiling fans create distinct speed "steps" like high, medium, and low. Capacitors control the fan speed in a way that does not produce a hum. Variable fan speed controls, which create a speed control "range" from low to high, are operated by solid state electronics. Variable controls can create a hum because they control the fan's speed in a different manner. For quiet fan operation, capacitor type fan controls are recommended for most ceiling fan installations.
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16. Can a ceiling fan and a light kit be controlled from the same wall switch?
The answer here depends on how your wall switch is currently wired. If you have a single wall switch with two wires (one black, one white), the answer is "no" unless you purchase a control specifically designed for this type of switch (Hunter offers three models). The answer is "yes" if you have a three wire set-up in the single wall switch and purchase a more common, dual control that will operate a fan and light separately from a single switch. Having an electrician install a third wire can be expensive.
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17. What is the difference in having a ceiling fan installed close to the ceiling versus on a downrod - I have seen both ways.
For maximum performance and greatest energy savings, ceiling fans should be installed approximately 8 to 9 feet above the floor. Extension downrods are used to properly position fans from ceiling heights greater than 8 feet. For example, a 12 foot ceiling would need a 3 foot downrod to position the fan at 8 feet (one foot must be allowed for the distance from the top of the fan motor to the switch housing bottom).
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