If you are considering the purchase of a ceiling fan, then there are many different factors that you need to consider. Even if they all appear to be similar, they will have different features. Purchasing and installing outdoor ceiling fans require some specific considerations before making a selection. First, you may want to find out if the manufacturer will stand behind any warranty offered and what is the expected lifespan of the product? Be sure to consider the durability of the finish, how it will stand up to the elements and the amount of air that is circulated, as this relates directly to the efficiency of the product.
Some fans may look good but move very little air and obviously this would not be a very good choice for an outdoor ceiling fan. Check out the pitch on the ceiling fan blades. Blade pitch is the angle of the blades. Fans with a greater pitch means the air movement will be greater. This should also be in sync with the motor, as some manufacturers will attempt to cut corners on the materials used and sometimes the motors and other ceiling fan parts are not really powerful enough.
Many times you can tell a poorly manufactured fan by the humming noise it makes, which may be caused by inexpensive ball bearings that have been used in order to cut costs. It may also be a sign of improperly fitting metal parts in the blades or motor so be sure to check carefully if you hear a humming noise. The total effectiveness of outdoor ceiling fans depends upon the energy consumed and the amount of air it moves. Motors with low wattage utilize little energy, yet result in little air movement, thereby making it very inefficient.
Of course there are many parts on a poor quality indoor ceiling fan or outdoor fan that may break. One is the pull chain that gets pulled out of the housing incorrectly. As well, a mismatched motor size and blade pitch may also be signs of poor quality ceiling fan parts. If you do find one that is substandard, then you should bring it to the attention of the inspectors who allowed poor quality fans to be sold.
Brass or bronze ceiling fan finishes may look alike but the cheaper finishes normally tarnishes quicker and if you add a lighting kit you may even notice that it is a different color than the finish on the fan. You can check the quality of a finish by examining the surface for scratches. It is even more important to have a good finish on the outdoor ceiling fans as they are exposed to different types of weather.
