When you first bought your house you may have thought that the balcony or sunroom you fell in love with would be the perfect place to relax on warm summer afternoons. It wasn’t long before you discovered that it was just way too hot out there to enjoy during warmer months. Your covered porch might have a roof to shield you from the sun, but if the air temperature is hot it’s still going to feel like a furnace out there.
If this describes your situation at all you may want to consider an outdoor ceiling fan. These fans are similar to the ceiling fans you would install in your house, only they are rated to withstand more moisture than an indoor fan would.
Outdoor Vs. Indoor Fans
Say, for example, you want to install a fan in your sunroom. A sunroom might feel like a regular room in your house, but with those large screened windows it’s going to have the same humidity levels as the outside. In addition, it’s not uncommon for rain particles to make their way into the sunroom on rainy days, particularly when wind is blowing the rain horizontally. This is why outdoor ceiling fans are a must for these areas of the home. An outdoor fan provides extra-protection for the internal wiring, helping to prevent corrosion. This makes them safer to use and longer-lasting than a comparable indoor fan.
A sunroom or enclosed porch is the perfect place for a ceiling fan because you are circulating fresh air, helping to create your own breeze. Everyone knows how good the summer breeze feels on a warm day, but when the air is stagnant it’s just not as much fun to sit outside. With porch ceiling fans there are no more days with stagnant air. You can adjust your fan to make it as breezy or as calm as you would like. It creates the perfect atmosphere to sit back and relax, to sip lemonade or curl up with a good book (or your iPad.)
What to Look For
When you’re buying a fan there are a few things to look at before making your choice. First of all, make sure it has the proper UL rating for your specific usage. Underwriters Laboratories (UL) classifies outdoor fans as “damp” rated and “wet” rated. A “damp” rated fan is good for covered locations where there will be no direct contact with water. A “wet” rated fan can be used in covered locations or out in the open exposed to all the elements. Think about where your fan is going to be placed before you determine which type you need. Secondly, consider blade width and the angle of the blades. Wider blades produce more air movement, so if you like a good breeze you’re going to want a fan with wider blades. Finally, think about finding a good electrician to help you install your new fan. While many home savvy people can install an outdoor fan themselves, it can sometimes get tricky–especially if there is no existing electrical wiring in that particular spot.
Outdoor ceiling fans are a wonderful addition to any balcony or enclosed porch. They encourage you to make use of all parts of your home and help create the perfect environment for relaxing at the end of a hard day. Your sunroom is not doing you much good if you can only use it for a few months out of the year. Install an outdoor fan and start getting the most out of your home right away.
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