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Cool It: Fans Serve Dual Purposes

Tribune photo by KELVIN MA

Ceiling fans help cut soaring utility bills, as much as 40 percent in the summer months.

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By MICHELLE BEARDEN

The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 23, 2008

Are you a fan of ceiling fans?

If you live south of the Mason-Dixon Line, you should be. Long before air conditioning, fans provided welcome relief on hot and humid summer nights.

But fans are our friends in more ways these days.

They help cut soaring utility bills, as much as 40 percent in the summer months. Interesting fact: The most powerful ceiling fan doesn't use any more energy than a 100-watt light bulb.

The savings can be substantial. It costs an average of 43 cents an hour to run central air conditioning and 16 cents an hour to run a room air conditioner. A fan costs about a penny an hour to operate.

And they're no longer just for moving a bunch of hot air. They can add decor to a home, office or workplace - or outdoors on the veranda, porch, even poolside. They can be arty, ornate, high-tech or fanciful.

Add versatility to the fan's list of pluses. In colder months, run it in reverse and voila! It spreads the heat that has risen and accumulated at the ceiling. Using a fan can reduce heating bills by up to 10 percent, industry experts say.

Mark Williams, manager of Dan's Fan City in Carrollwood, is a rare breed: born and raised in Florida. He loves the feel of air moving around him, which may be why he ended up working in a fan specialty store.

Growing up, "we were lucky to have a wall unit," he says. Big, noisy and made of metal, those fans served a purpose. But they sure weren't pretty - or discreet.

"You knew where that fan was and when it was running," he recalls.

Dan's Fan City, founded by Dan Hibbeln, has specialized in nothing but fans since opening its first store in Clearwater in 1979. Now the company is in eight states with 60 stores, most independently owned and operated. They sell fans ranging from $49 to about $1,200.

Most customers want more than a fan, Williams says. They're looking for an education. He likens himself to a physician; he asks a lot of questions, and then prescribes.

"First they want to know how to save on bills, then they want to know what fan will make the room cooler," he says. "When we start rolling out the options, some customers get that deer-in-the-headlights look. We can overwhelm you."

His company is known for its big-motor fans with a lot of pitch - or angle - in the blade. Williams compares it to rowing a canoe.

"If you just slice the water with the paddle, you don't go so far or so fast," he says. "But when you dig deeper, you get more motion. That's why the motor and angle of the fan blades are so important."

Customers who don't do their homework may end up with a fan that's all looks and little action, he says.

"Might as well just hang up a picture of a fan. Ask yourself this: Are you going for looks or performance?"

Most new home construction includes wiring for fans in the living room and bedrooms, Williams says. Gaining popularity: Bathrooms.

"Women love it," he says. "No more steamy mirrors."

The St. Louis-based Emerson Ceiling Fans, sold only in showrooms, has been manufacturing fans since 1895. Its claim to fame in motors is the K55XL patented model, which marketing manager Zeynep McLeane says is 25 percent more efficient and produces 20 percent more torque than comparable motors.

It comes with a lifetime warranty - something to consider when you make the investment, McLeane says.

And from the you-get-what-you-pay-for department," she warns against looking only at price when buying a ceiling fan.

"Pay a little extra now, and you know you will get reliability, quality and quiet."

From Dan's Fan City:

Dixie Belle — For those who like a little whirl, good for white noise; $150

Riviera — The most popular seller at Dan's Fan City because it has the most options for finish and blade styles. It has a 14-degree pitch and an extra-high performance motor. This is the fan for those who don't like to run their AC; $190.

Raindance – Super-high performance motor for outdoors. Rain is no problem, and the wind power will literally blow bugs off of you when you're sitting under it; $190

Uno — Made of brushed aluminum, this contemporary, one-blade fan has a 52-inch sweep.

From Emerson:

Origami – From the company's new Elite series, this high-performance contemporary fan features streamlined housing and blades that look like bent gull wings. Think fashion-forward; $609 to $699.

Tureen – Also from the Elite collection, blade arms are suspended above this retro fan, giving it the feeling of floating in midair. Three 50-watt bulbs throw a lot of light; $485-$549.

Monterey – Go green with this Energy Star product, it has the U.S. Department of Energy stamp of approval for energy efficiency; $199-$249.

Michelle Bearden can be reached at (813) 259-7613 or at mbearden@tampatrib.com.

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