Ceiling fans are one of the easiest ways to lower your energy bills and keep each room of the house at its optimal temperature. Even a single fan in one room can gently circulate air throughout an entire floor, helping that level of the house stay evenly cool and prevent air stagnation. Whether you are building a new home or just remodeling a single room, think about these ceiling-fan basics when it comes time to pick out lighting and electrical appliances.
There are essentially two types of ceiling fans, those with a light kit and those without. A fan with a light kit is an excellent way to brighten the center of any room, especially if that space relies on an array of recessed lights in the four corners. Just make sure you have the ceiling height to accommodate the light kit, which can add another 8 to 10 inches of drop to your fan.
A fan with a remote control makes it simple to adjust airflow and lighting from any place in the room. This is especially handy for those times when you may want the light on but not the fan, or vice versa, and would rather not have to stand under the fan yanking on bead chain or flipping toggle switches to decipher what component controls which function.
If you are concerned about ceiling height or need some extra headroom under a fan, look for a flush-mount unit that does not require an extension tube to mount. This style offers a significantly lower profile than traditional fans that can drop down more than a foot from ceiling height.
