Ceiling Fan Performance Guide

In this guide, we will break down the meaning of CFM and air velocity and provide additional factors that can contribute to your cooling breeze or can be the cause of your ceiling fan troubles!

Introduction of Ceiling Fan Performance

CFM is a term commonly used across ceiling fan manufacturers to quantify the volume of air moved in Cubic Feet per Minute. Typically, the higher the CFM, the more air the fan moves, resulting in a more noticeable breeze. However, factors outside CFM can also impact the airflow you're feeling.

Air velocity refers to the speedat which your ceiling fan moves the air throughout the room. If you have a fan with a high CFM but a low velocity, you may not be able to feel it, even if it is moving large amounts of air.

Choose the Ceiling Fan with Best Performance

The easiest way to distinguish these two measurements is to consider your ceiling fan speed settings. When you need a strong and cooling wind, you don't adjust your CFM, you set your fan to high speed (high velocity).

In this way, the best ceiling fans are the ones with high CFMs andhigh velocities. Smafan knows the difference and ensures our ceiling fan models feature advanced motors for up to 7000 CFM and high-velocity airflow!

Some Important Factors Impact Ceiling Fan Performance

Several other factors, including the direction of ceiling fan rotation, the position of the fan, the fan blade specifications, and the ceiling fan motor, impact the airflow speed and power of your ceiling fan.

Ceiling Fan Rotation

Most ceiling fan models feature reversible motors that allow you to switch the direction of your fan blades. This direction determines whether your ceiling fan is pushing air downwards or lifting it toward the ceiling. During the summer, you want your fan blades to rotate counterclockwise and propel air downwards for a cooling breeze. In the winter, your fan blades should spin clockwise, lifting cool air and blending it with the warm air near the ceiling. With Smafan's Smart ceiling fans, you can easily switch the direction of your airflow using the remote control, smartphone control, and voice control without leaving the comfort of your seat. So if you're not feeling the breeze, double-check that your fan is spinning in the right direction.

Ceiling Fan Location

Another factor that impacts your ceiling fan airflow is its distance from the ceiling. For safety purposes, when installing your ceiling fan, you must ensure you leave at least 7 - 9 feet between the ceiling fan and the floor. However, if you have a high-profile ceiling, use the proper-sized downrod to avoid exceeding this distance. If your fan hangs too high, you will only feel a portion of the powerful airflow your ceiling fan can offer. For a helpful chart on selecting the correct downrod for your ceiling height, visit our How to Choose the Right Size Ceiling Fanpost.

Blade Specs: Size, Material, Angle, & Shape

While fan blades can impact airflow, the number of ceiling fan blades does not. To optimize your blades for powerful cooling, verify the following fan blade specifications:

Blade Size: Verify that the size of your blades is appropriate for the size of your room. If the diameter of your fan blades is too small, it will not deliver enough airflow to cool your entire space. For example, for small rooms between 75 and 144 square feet, your fan blades should have a diameter between 36 – 42 inches. Our Ceiling Fan Size and Installation Tips blog has more detailed information on this topic!

Blade Material: The material of your fan blades can improve your ceiling fan airflow, or it can cause more air drag. If your ceiling fan blades are made of heavy and dense material, they will limit how fast the motor can rotate the blades. If your fan blades are made of a material that is too light and fragile, they will not have the power to move air throughout the room. Our premium ceiling fan blades are designed with ultra-light and resistant materials, including high-quality ABS, plywood, polycarbonate, and medium-density fiberboard for maximum agility and power.

Blade Angle: While it may not be obvious, your ceiling fan blades are angled. This angle is what pushes air up or down, depending on the ceiling fan's direction. Typically, the higher the fan blade angle, the more air they can move but the more power they require. To create the perfect balance of powerful airflow and energy efficiency, your fan blades should have an average angle between 12 – 16 degrees.

Blade Shape: Another way to improve the aerodynamics of ceiling fan blades is with innovative blade shapes. Our Smafan Icebreaker Wifi Fan is a great example; designed with undulated fan blades, the Icebreaker is one of our collections with the highest CFMs, maxing out at 7,000 CFM.

Motor Performance

Without the proper motor, your ceiling fan will not have the power to deliver high CFMs and high air velocities. Today, you have the option between traditional AC motor fans and modern DC motor fans. The type of motor you select will depend on your power and CFM needs:

  • AC motors deliver comfortable airspeeds with 3-speed control and an average CFM of 3000 - 5000 CFM.
  • DC motors are well known for their increased power and efficiency; they offer 10-speed control and impressive CFMs of up to 7,000.

All of Smafan's ceiling fans are equipped with powerful and reliable motors, backed by a limited warranty, to deliver optimal cooling in any room size.

Smafan: A Smart Fan Leader in Performance & Design

At Smafan, we know that every fan component plays an important role in the final look and feel of your ceiling fan. From the ceiling fan motor to the fan blade materials, Smafan conducts an extensive research and selection process to offer our customers the best performance and design. For elegant styles, unrivaled airflow, and unbeatable deals, shop Smafantoday!