Pros and Cons of Ceiling Fans — Should You Get One?

When it comes to the summer months, every homeowner looks for a way to keep their house cool and comfortable. Of the many options available, a ceiling fan is one of most people’s best options. Though the ceiling fan has some minor drawbacks, the manifold benefits that it naturally comes with make it a great option for most homeowners. And because of these same reasons, it’s hard to find a home without a ceiling fan installed.

If you want to install a ceiling fan in your house or business apartment and you are unsure if it is an ideal option according to your preference, here are some of the pros and cons of ceiling fans that you can use to weigh your choice.

Related: Ceiling fan or chandelier? What to use when?

The Pros

1. A comfortable breeze to feel

Though technically speaking, ceiling fans do not actually cool the room, they are functional in that they get the job done. They do provide you with the comfortable feel that you want. What the ceiling fan does is that it circulates the air in the room by its rotating blades and pushes it across your body. Therefore, when you are sweating or just feeling hot, this fresh circulating air will cause your sweat to evaporate naturally, and in turn, make you feel cooler and fresher. That’s why ceiling fans are better for cooling during dry climates. During the hotter months, you must set the ceiling fan to spin in an anticlockwise direction to get this downward airflow. Additionally, ceiling fans also have their use in the colder months which we talked about below.

2. Energy efficient

If you compare the ceiling fan with other HVAC options such as ACs, you will find that the ceiling fan wins by big numbers in terms of energy efficiency. And this is no brainier because an AC unit, depending on the size, make, and model, will consume somewhere between 500 to 4000 watts to operate! While a normal household ceiling fan only uses about 15-70 watts! So, there’s literally no comparison.

We did the math as to how much electricity a ceiling fan uses per day, month, and year. Do check that out. In summary, if you have a ceiling fan that uses, say 25 watts (very typical), it will cost you only $8.76 at $0.12 per kWh if you use it 8 hours a day for a whole year! The much-needed breeze, but for pennies, isn’t it?

One point to add is that the amount of energy the ceiling fan will use will depend on the fan’s size, make, and model. Fans with larger and more blades will have higher energy consumption, and fans with smaller and fewer blades will have lower energy consumption. Energy consumption can also depend on the lights attached, and also on the overall quality of the unit.

3. Cost-effective

We have already explained how little the operational cost of a ceiling fan is! But that is also true in terms of other costs such as unit price, installation fees, and maintenance costs. More than frequently, you will be paying only somewhere between $80 to $350 for a ceiling fan. As for installation, the process is very simple, and almost always you will have adequate installation manual provided in the box. This will allow you to install the unit by yourself if you are handy with electricity. But in the event that you need to hire someone to do the installation, even then the cost will be very minimal, as the process is very straightforward and simple. Finally, when it comes to maintenance, you are only talking about cleaning it with a proper brush or a piece of cloth (see our guide here) every few weeks. That’s about it. And if you really need to take it to the repair store, the cost won’t be anything to put you down.

Therefore, since the overall money you are going to spend is very minimal in general, the ceiling fan is very cost-effective compared to other options such as AC units. With ceiling fans, you won’t have to spend too much on them because most of the tasks is easy. And even if you consult an electrician to install, or fix the fun if it has any problem, then it won’t cost you an arm and a leg, as we said.

4. Less dangerous than ACs

Before we talk about this point, we have to be clear — ACs are ACs, and there can truly be no comparison between the two if “cooling” is absolutely necessary in your case. Because one of them “cools” and the other one just does not. The ACs actually cool the room by technically lowering the temperature down. While the ceiling fan only “makes you feel cooler” by circulating fresh air around you.

But then, if a “fresh air” that makes you feel comfortable is all you want, then a ceiling fan will be a much safer option for you. This is because of the technology used in both options. The ACs use gas to operate, which makes them pretty much bombs when they explode. Though rare, but if they do, the casualties very often include deaths of living beings or severe injuries.

Ceiling fans also have their danger when they fall. But that too is VERY rare. And when they really do, the casualties are not as huge as when ACs explode. Sure you can get injured by a falling ceiling fan, but death here is not as easy as with exploding HVAC units.

5. Extra lighting

If you need extra lighting in your room, a ceiling fan can help you in that area as well. For this, you have to opt for ceiling fans that come with lights. These fans come with inbuilt light, and in the event that they don’t, in most cases, you can separately purchase a light kit and install it with the ceiling fan.

This can be a great addition to your room’s both decor and functionality. Ceiling fans usually look way better with light kits installed, and those lights can also increase the ambient lighting in your room if your current lighting options are not enough for your needs. And more than frequently, these lights are actually dimmable. So you get to have the exact amount of lighting in your rooms at all times, whether you are reading or doing other activities.

6. Aesthetically beautiful

Everyone needs a cozy interior design. Therefore if you are looking for a ceiling fan that will complement your home design, you are in the right direction. Because long are the days when a ceiling fan’s only job was to circulate air. Today’s ceiling fans do way more than that. They are first of all, functional; and then, they have many other benefits on top of that, one of which is aesthetics. Modern-day ceiling fans often feature styles that are just beautiful to look at. Even those that are manufactured with a rural concept in mind, such as the tropical and rustic ceiling fans, look just beautiful — thanks to the modern sophisticated design and manufacturing tools available today to our great manufacturers.

With a ceiling fan, you will be able to make your ceiling more appealing and attractive. On top of the decorative lights that you can use of the fans, you can also choose a design that has a beautiful decorative aspect to it, and instantly it will make your room look more elegant. So when buying one, go for the one that will help you transform your ceiling into what you like it to be. Some of the best ceiling fan brands are here. See the Quorum Windmill ceiling fan for an example.

7. Mosquito fighters

Ceiling fans can also act as a solution to deter mosquitoes from your room. During the summer, one of the annoying pests is the mosquitoes. And in other places, mosquitoes can be there anytime throughout the year if the condition is warm enough for them to survive. As you know, the mosquito has an annoying buzzing sound, and once they suck your blood, they can leave the area with much irritation, and you may also get malaria.

With the ceiling fan running at high speeds, you can effectively deter mosquitoes (and some other bugs) from your room because they cannot fly around in high-speed air currents. This works mainly in two ways. For one, ceiling fans make it difficult for mosquitoes to fly. But what’s more interesting is that they also disperse the carbon dioxide you exhale all throughout the room. Thus, making it difficult for mosquitoes to find you in the first place as they depend a lot on this carbon dioxide of yours to locate you. Read more on this here: can ceiling fans deter mosquitoes.

Though ceiling fans are not a permanent solution to this problem, they can help you a lot. And it is also safer than using unsafe repellant that can, in turn, also affect your health.

8. It might be better for people with allergies

People with an allergy can find it challenging to stay in a room with much dust. For such people, if they want to live a healthy life, the number one rule is – “breathe clean air”. A ceiling fan can help a person in this situation too!

Both an AC and a ceiling fan will accumulate dust over time as both work by making use of electric fans. To live a healthy life, an allergic person will have to ensure he/she breathes only clean air, as we’ve said. This basically means the room itself and everything in the room has to be kept clean at all times. And if you have moving things in your room such as electric fans, you will have to keep them clean as well. Otherwise, regardless of how many times you clean your room, it will always have dust flying around because those fans will be dispersing the dust that accumulated on them all throughout the room. Now consider the case of cleaning a ceiling fan, and cleaning an AC unit. I think you get the idea.

Also read: how a ceiling fan works

9. Helps to cut HVAC costs

This is an interesting fact! A ceiling fan can help reduce electricity bills! Let me explain —

A ceiling fan is good at what it is designed for — circulating air around. And an AC is good at what it is designed for — cooling a volume of air. Both of them suck at the other’s job, the ceiling fan to cooling and an AC to circulating air. Therefore, if you are not happy enough with your current setup, and are using an AC or any other HVAC system only, you should probably be using a ceiling fan along with it. Because then, both the fan and the AC will shake each other’s hand and collaborate on the job at hand and give you the most pleasant experience with the least electricity bill.

If you need a more technical explanation, find it below.

Most ceiling fans come with a very handy feature called “Reversible blades” (Example fan here). In the winter months, when you have your AC turned on, naturally the cold air in the room will go downwards and the hotter portion of the air will go upwards. If you keep your ceiling fan running then in the “reverse” mode, the fan will push the air go upwards. And this will help the AC unit to evenly process all the air in the room with the least energy consumption possible. Find out more about this here.

10. Environmentally friendly

Ceiling fans are environmentally friendly since they operate with very minimal power. With ceiling fans, you have kind of a greener approach to your “cooling” needs. In these days of Carbon Emissions, the truth is clear. The less energy you use, the better it is for the planet. Therefore, ceiling fans are more environmentally friendly than ACs in two ways. For one, they use less energy to operate. Secondly, they don’t use any gas to operate.

11. They can be used outdoors

So you have a nice patio with a very clean natural environment around. You want to spend some time there at sunset or in the night on one of the nights of summer. What are your challenges? The bugs, the mosquitoes, and the hot weather. Can your AC help you with any of those? Nah Nah! But your ceiling fan can, with both mosquitoes and the hot weather! That’s the beauty of ceiling fans. They are simple but very functional.

So, whether you have an outdoor kitchen, patio, sunroom, deck, or a porch, a ceiling fan is a must-have and will have you covered.

Also read: outdoor vs indoor ceiling fans

The Cons

When researching ceiling fan pros and cons, the pros were easy to find. But it was difficult to find the cons because ceiling fans don’t have that many negative sides! However, the following are two points that we can perhaps mention in this section of the article.

1. Does not actually “cool” room

As explained earlier, ceiling fans do not actually cool the room in the sense that they won’t make the ambient temperature of your room go down. If you have a hot room, it will stay hot even if you have your ceiling fan running. You will only feel “cooler” and a lot more comfortable. If you want to control the temperature of your room, an AC unit is a must.

2. Noise issues

Another thing you should know about ceiling fans is the issue of noises. Though this is not always true, some ceiling fans do produce noise. The noises can come from either the motor or the blades. Generally speaking, this is not something that would put you off from buying a ceiling fan. The noises are usually mild, and not noticeable. But sometimes it can be a little too loud in which case a fix or a replacement will be necessary.

Downloadable Infographic

Here’s an infographic that we’ve made based on this article. Take a look:

Our Hand-picked Recommendations

If you are convinced of the manifold benefits of ceiling fans, here are some ceiling fans that you should look into to begin your ceiling fan journey —

Preview	Products	Indoor/Outdoor?
	Hunter Fan Key Biscayne 54 Inch Fan	Both Outdoor + Indoor	Buy on Amazon
	Minka Aire Light Wave 52 Inch	Indoor Only	Buy on Amazon
	Prominence Home 50388 Glenmont 52 Inch	Indoor only	Buy on Amazon
	Prominence Home Ashby 52 Inch Fan	Indoor only	Buy on Amazon
	Quorum International 72 Inch Windmill Fan	Both Outdoor + Indoor	Buy on Amazon
	Kichler 54-Inch “Link” Ceiling Fan	Indoor only	Buy on Amazon
	Honeywell Duval 52-Inch Tropical Ceiling Fan	Both Outdoor + Indoor	Buy on Amazon
	Hunter Mill Valley 52 Inch Ceiling Fan	Indoor only	Buy on Amazon

The Bottom Line

When it comes to choosing a cooling method for the modern home, the ceiling fan can be the most cost-effective and efficient method you can use. They require very minimal electricity to operate when compared to the AC units. Through the explanation of the ceiling fan pros and cons provided in this article, we have provided you with clear reasoning as to why ceiling fans are effective in a given way, and what are some of the drawbacks. Hopefully, this article has been educative to you, and you are now convinced of the practicality and effectiveness of ceiling fans, along with their manifold other benefits.