Ceiling Fans Add Value and Energy Savings

By Keith Loria

If you’re planning on selling your home in the near future, it’s never too early to start thinking of ways to increase your home’s value, especially when you take into consideration the fact that any improvement will most likely help you get your home sold quickly.

One of the best additions that a homeowner can make is to put in energy-efficient ceiling fans, which will cool a home during the warm months and circulate warm air during the winter. Installing the right ceiling fan will not only help you reduce energy costs, it will also improve the overall comfort of the room and tie the design concept together with a unifying look.

When choosing a ceiling fan, don’t just grab the cheapest model. Find one that fits the style of the room and the home. With so many choices when it comes to colors, finishes, blade designs, sizes and accessories, finding the perfect fan may take some time. Today’s fans have options such as polished brass, antique brass, iron, copper, nickel, pewter, chrome, black, vibrant colors, oak, rosewood, and other real wood veneers.

“Ceiling fans are relatively inexpensive, generally quiet, and come in a variety of materials and styles to suit any room in the home,” said Barbara Pilcher, author of “Do It Yourself Home Staging Tips to Sell Your Home Fast and For Top Dollar.” “The different styles that have come out in recent years are more decorative and can really add something to a room.”

Most agents will tell you that having ceiling fans in the home is a welcome sign to many buyers, especially those concerned about energy savings, however, they probably won’t be a deciding factor in a sale. But if the ceiling fans are replacing outdated ceiling fixtures, it could be the difference between someone remembering a room or not.

According to ENERGY STAR, a qualified ceiling fan/light combination unit is 50 percent more efficient than conventional fan/light units, which can save you more than $15 per year on utility bills. Thanks to improved motors and blade designs, ENERGY STAR qualified ceiling fans with lights can save you $165 in energy costs over the fan’s lifetime.

If you’re going to spend the money and install ceiling fans throughout the home, it’s important to understand how they work in order to utilize them effectively. For instance, in the summer, fans should be set to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction so that you feel a cool breeze when you stand directly under the fan. The airflow produced creates a wind-chill effect, making you feel cooler.

In the winter, reverse the motor and operate ceiling fans at low speed in a clockwise direction. This produces a gentle updraft, which forces warm air near the ceiling down into the occupied space. This works best on tall ceilings.

Not only are ceiling fans a great addition to the main rooms in your home, they can also be effective in kitchens and bathrooms where dampness may be an issue.

You can usually install a ceiling fan on your own as most come with easy step-by-step instructions. Support systems are normally provided to allow hands-free wiring. Just be sure the fan and home wiring is compatible.

Cleaning and maintaining fans isn’t difficult either. Use a damp paper towel to slowly and carefully wipe off any dust or grime and continue as necessary until the fan is clean. If there are pull chains, wipe them with a dry cloth and then use a microfiber cloth or feather duster to dust the housing and other parts.

For more information about increasing your home’s value, contact our office today.

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