They’re fantastic

This is the time of year when ceiling fans come out of their dormancy to start their whirling dance. It’s a way to cool things down without turning on the air conditioner or to help boost the efficiency of your cooling unit.

Best yet, for the amount of cooling power they have, ceiling fans can be quite affordable and can be installed by do-it-yourselfers with just a little knowledge of electrical functions.

STYLES AND COLORS

Long gone are the days when fans came with four blades in white or wood colors. Today’s ceiling fans are sleek with modern designs that breathe fresh air into a room in need of an update.

“The fan industry has changed dramatically in the past 10 years,” said George Holden, lighting specialist and co-owner of Southern Cabinets and Lighting. Fans are now considered as much a design element as a cooling device, he added.

“There are mission styles with straight lines and square edges, retro looks and very contemporary ones with cables and very sleek lines,” Mr. Holden said. Some have Plexiglas blades while others carry designs to match home decor, such as blades with Oriental markings. “There’s even one manufacturer who makes a crystal ceiling fan much like a crystal chandelier.”

Colors range from brilliant blues to subtle reds, greens and yellows. Materials used for the blades range from stainless steel and leather to wicker and handsome solid woods. There’s something for every home decor.

Wall-mounted and handheld remote controls have now replaced pull chains on higher-end fans, making them quiet and easier to change speeds. Medallions are also being made to add a designer touch where the ceiling meets the fan.

“Close ceiling-mounted fans are going away, but some manufacturers still offer them,” Mr. Holden said. “ That’s because ceilings in many new homes are 9 feet high or more, and the farther the blade is from the ceiling, the more air movement there is.”

INSIDE AND OUT

Screened-in porches are great when there’s a breeze, but in the dead of summer, the breeze needs a boost. However, don’t install an indoor ceiling fan outdoors. The blades are not made to withstand the heat and may warp and can be dangerous.

“They will come out and could hit someone in the head,” Mr. Holden said. “That’s why you want a good fan. An outdoor fan should be wet-rated and be able to withstand a good wash with a water hose.”

Inside, even in the kitchen and bath where things may get a little moist, an indoor-rated fan is all that’s needed, Mr. Holden advised.

SIZE MATTERS

“The first question you should ask when you buy a fan is how much air should it move,” Mr. Holden said. And that depends on the pitch of the blades and the size of the motor. He recommends a minimum 12-degree pitch. “The higher the pitch, the more air it moves. It has nothing to do with the number of blades the fan has.

“And long blades have little to do with air movement. It’s all about fitting the fan to the size of the room. Some blades span up to 72 inches to fit a room.”

There’s no set formula to determine what size fan should be installed in a room, but Mr. Holden said he takes into account the size of the room and the height of the ceiling. And there’s no need to put two ceiling fans in a large room because they offer no center point for the room.

“If you get the right fan with the right motor size and right pitch, one fan will do the job.”

EASY INSTALLATION

Manufacturers are now making fans easier to install — a one-person job in most cases. The only tools needed are a flat and a Phillips-head screwdriver. And in some cases, wire cutters.

“They’re making them so that you install the motor first and then the blades, so you’re not having to fight with the blades when you put the motor up,” Mr. Holden said.

“Installing the canopies is easier and safer, so it’s difficult to install them incorrectly.

“I have a lot of homeowners who purchase them and install themselves. Just read the instructions and follow the wire instructions where they’re marked on the wire, he said.

“Most companies mark each wire on the fan side and give clear instructions on how to connect the wires, which is obviously very nice.”