A Shocking Confession

[sudsmaster]

I recall that at one time it was possible to get special dusters just for the fan blades - these were basically soft brush loops that fit around the blades and dusted them from both sides, and it could be done without needing a ladder.

 

[tolivac]

GOT to have my ceiling fan where I am-its in my den-came with the house-the ceilings are low-I have some fears for my head as I walk under it-I am about 6'.That fan sure feels good when its 95 degrees and humid outside even with the AC going.I have a utility style fan in my bedroom that runs ALL of the time while I sleep-give noise to cover the sounds of my neighbors contatntly barking dogs,gives a cool breeze in the summer,and distributes the heat from a portable heater in winter.I used to use this fan in an apartment-its pretty old-but still works fine.The blades are dusty-but doesn't worry me.Its easier to clean the ceiling fan in the den-the dust brush on any of my vacuums works fine.

 

[lordkenmore]

I like ceiling fans in theory. Environmentally, they are really good on paper (circulate air, lower thermostat in winter, raise in summer). That said, I have yet to meet a ceiling fan I like, and I've lived with 4 of the monsters now. More often than not, they are noisy and don't really circulate air that well. On the other hand, all are/were probably cheap.

 

[lordkenmore]

As for cleaning

I seem to remember a technology in some sort of removable computer mass media disk format of years gone by that would speed the disk up for a moment to spin any dust off. Maybe the same could be done with ceiling fans. Have a Teflon like coating, and really rev it up when it switches on for a moment. If nothing else, that could be a dramatic show that would have one's guests cowering for fear of their lives.

 

[countryguy]

Last fall I installed a new ceiling fan and I love it. It came with a remote control for the 3 speeds as well as the light which can be dimmed. It is silent when running.

Gary

http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/brow.../Sedgebrook%2BBronze%2BFan%252C%2B52-inch.jsp

 

[mielabor]

I want one of those belt-driven fans too! They are completely new for me and they are gorgeous...

 

[mielabor]

I think the Emu is my favourite...

http://www.woolenmillfans.com/

 

[iheartmaytag]

Well of course they are dirty, that's why we keep them up high, you know like the top of the refrigerator. The rule at my house is, "If you are tall enough to see the dirt, you are tall enought to clean it." In thirty years no one has ever seen that greasy dust rabbit on top of the "Frigidaire".

Kidding, well partially anyway. Kirby has a wonderful attachment to clean the celing fan. It has two guides that hold onto the blade and just slides down and then back up the other side without it wondering away from you. If you are really industrious, and tall; apply some wax to the blades. (Not that icky wet stuff that never dries and just attracts more dust) but a wax that dries and can be buffed. It makes it harder for the dust to accumulate, and easier to wipe off when it does.

 

[jasonl]

I love ceiling fans and my wife hates'em. Go figure. There's one in the living room and a NEW one in the bedroom that I swear I can count on one hand how many times it's actually run.

I'm warm blooded and I get hot at night. I need the fan on so I can keep cool.

Anyway, when I lived with my friend in Chalmette, LA (right before Katrina), we had some 100+ degree days. My room wasn't more than 10x12 or 10x14 and I had a 5,800btu (underpowered for that area) AC in the window. It barely kept up during the day only finally cooling off at night. Before I added a fan, there was a distinct temparature line (at around 5 feet) where I could feel hot humid air up top and cool air below it. After the fan was installed and turned on high. The temp was fine the room.

It's one of those things you love or you hate.

 

[rickr]

If the ceiling is high enough..

I like a nice quality ceiling fan. I give this one a good cleaning twice per year. This house has ten foot ceilings.

 

[mistereric]

They were all over the house when I bought it. I replaced the light/fan combos in the master bedroom and living room, and transplanted the white "fan only" to the living room. I like my diffuse lighting in there, and the fan solves a problem common to Gunnison homes - heater ducts run near the ceiling. In the winter, the fan stirs the air and helps deal with the stratification.

The fan/light combos I've come across are just ugly things installed in the 80s. The one in the SO's living room is horrible, and I can't wait to change it. I'd imagine having one in the bedroom is a good idea, but whirling machines hanging form the ceiling waiting to fall on my face freak me out.

The living room before I got started:

 

[mistereric]

The dining room with super-decapitation-fan installed. This one came out and is now cleaned up and in the living room, with its fancy scrollwork blades flipped over.

I can't believe they had a fan in this room. Check out how close it is to the top of the door!

 

[mistereric]

The living room a while later, with paint, carpeting and curtains. Thats the diningroom fan installed in the living room, now the only fan in the whole house. Not my favorite fan, but it was already here and cleaned up well enough to not seem terribly obvious hanging on the ceiling.

 

[DADoES]

My house has seven (7) ceiling fans. Master bath, master bedroom, two spare bedrooms, office room, living room, and patio. The patio fan no longer works last time I tried it. Living room remote receiver crapped-out, it runs only on high, both fan and light won't turn off, so I unscrewed the bulb and turn it on/off via the wall switch. It'll be replaced at some point, if/when the situation irritates me enough.

 

[appnut]

My 3 main fans are Casablancas I bought in 1980 and 1981 and have moved to all 3 houses.

 

[mixfinder]

Wind and Water

I enjoy the feel of moving air. The sound of the furnace and the hush of the fan, ceiling fans and even a table top can provide the sound and sensation of air. I like ceiling fans that move slowly and the belted models are nearly silent. I also enjoy the sound of water swirling in the dishwasher, the washing machine or better yet, the soft click, click, click or sprinklers and they move in the lazy circle. I am a fairly good housekepper and try to remember to clean mine before it gets fuzzy. Very few fans can inflict mortal damage and most simply stop if they connect with your hand or head.