Interior Design

When you are out to choose the right outdoor ceiling fan, you have several important decisions to make. Most of these decisions are about more than just what color scheme or style you want to get in your fan. For one thing, you are going to have to know in advance whether it will be in a covered area, or in an area without cover. For another, you will need to consider whether or not you live in an area where there is salt water. It is also of critical importance when you're shopping for an outdoor ceiling fan for your home that you consider whether or not your fan will come into direct contact with water under typical conditions. Why? Failing to consider these factors may limit the lifetime of your fan.

When you look for outdoor ceiling fans, first you need to realize that there are differences between them and the indoor models that are much more common. In essence, indoor models can not take the temperature, dust and humidity levels in which outdoor models are designed to work at optimal levels. Indoor fans are constructed strictly for use in situations where humidity is low and controlled, and dampness simply does not happen. Over time, humidity can cause undue wear and tear to the motor and bearings. You may not notice the damage itself but you will notice the noise where the fan once used to be silent. Unchecked, the motor can literally one day stop working.

When you choose the right outdoor ceiling fan for you, you will undoubtedly notice that there are several upgrades to their design when compared to the indoor models. Outdoor fans have better finishes, in order to prevent rust and corrosion. As well, the motor casings of outdoor fans are water tight, and sealants, compression fittings and o-rings are used which indoor fans simply do not have. You will most likely also notice that most outdoor ceiling fans use ABS plastic for their blades. Because they are completely water proof, they make a natural choice when looking for quality.

To choose the right outdoor ceiling fan, you have to know precisely where you are going to have it installed. If there is going to be any water touching the fan, you need to ensure that the fan is UL (Underwriters Laboratory) tested to be wet rated. In wet rated ceiling fans, the blades are almost always ABS plastic (which will never warp or rot), and the hardware is typically powder coated and specially painted to avoid corroding.

Note that installing an outdoor fan in a salt water area is pretty much going to limit its life span to 10 years or less. Even with routine cleaning and minimal visible hardware, the salt in the air wreaks havoc on any metal parts, and will eventually corrode them until the fan no longer works.