Solent Presents The Fan Low Down

Fans have been around for as long as most of us can remember but would you believe that they first made an appearance in 1880s. That’s right, they were invented as early as the 1880s by Philip Diehl who also engineered the electric motor used in the first electrically powered Singer sewing machines. He adapted that motor to create the first ceiling-mounted fan.

Over the 20th century, they became more widely used in homes but lost popularity in the 1950s with the invention of the air conditioner. They gained in popularity again in the 1970s during the energy crisis.

Fans Today

Today almost every home owns at least one fan and we can certainly see why. Ceiling fans are highly recommended for homes with both high and low ceilings.

What should we consider?

When purchasing a fan, be sure to check that the motor is reversible so you can switch the way the blades spin for the winter vs the summer. Solent fans can be made reversible by adding a switch during installation.

Also, check to see if the fan blades are interchangeable. At Solent, you can customise your fans so if you are tired of the look of your fan, switch out the blades for a new look. This is a lot easier and cheaper than replacing the whole fan. If you are moving from Aluminium blades to Wood blades, you will need to send your motor to Solent so they can balance the blades with the motor to ensure no wobbling.

If you already have a fan but it doesn’t have a light, check to see if a light kit is available for your model of fan. Solent has 3 light kits to choose from and the popular LED light Kit comes with 3 interchangeable light colours (Warm White/Neutral White/Cool White).

Check out your home today and start evaluating where you could best use a ceiling fan in your space!

Where should you install a ceiling fan?

Our best recommendation, if your budget allows, put one in every room!

Your top priority rooms should be bedrooms, family rooms and living rooms. These are places where you spend a lot of time. Most people don’t put them in their kitchens but the kitchen is usually one of the hottest places in your home. Installing a ceiling fan in the kitchen can circulate the air and help reduce the heat in the summer when your stove and/or oven are on.

Although not an absolute necessity, ceiling fans in the basement can help the most in the winter months when basements tend to be a bit colder. If your basement was professionally and properly finished, it shouldn’t feel too much different (temperature-wise) than the rest of your home. Therefore you could use a ceiling fan in your basement year-round and reap the benefits from it.

We hope we have given you some valuable tips on what to look for when buying a fan.

Good luck and enjoy fan shopping!

Visit Solent to find out more and to purchase your next fan, or two, or three!