Ceiling Fans with Lights Why They’re Now the Standard
Ceiling fans with light are now very popular for many reasons. First, these multi-purpose appliances allow homeowners to get two different appliances with a single purchase.
In most cases, they help you save money compared to when you have to buy a cooling source and a light source separately.
Second, a fan with lights allows you to install just one main fixture on your ceiling instead of two. This helps reduce the clutter on your ceiling and makes your room look more organized.
Third, fans with built-in lighting can serve as centerpieces in any room as the different types of lights used in ceiling mount fans also add a decorative appeal to the fans.
Different Types of Lights on A Ceiling Fan
1. Single globes
Single globe lights are built into the canopy of the ceiling type fan instead of hanging separately from the fan. Due to this, fans with single globe lights don’t have those extra hanging fixtures that add to their overall length. This is why most flush mount fans with light use single globes; they are simply perfect for low ceilings.
2. Single bowls
Single bowls are light kits that feature a bowl-shaped glass cover placed over the main bulb. The bowls usually hang from the center of the blades. They are similar to single globes because they only use a single bulb and are smack in the middle of the appliance. However, single bowls extend a bit below the blades and also add a simple and elegant decorative fixture to the fan. Single bowl lights are great for accent lighting.
3. 3 lights
Ceiling fans with lights that come in groups of three are great for small rooms. The three small lamp-shaped lights extend from the center of the fan and each one points to a different direction. Thus, they are able to illuminate all corners of the room. Fans with 3 lights are also decorative but they are not too cluttered, which makes them just right for small rooms.
4. 4 lights
Ceiling mount fans with 4 lights are like the ones with 3 lights except that they have an additional light to provide a brighter, stronger light. This way, the lights can cover a larger area. These ceiling type fans with light are designed for mid-sized rooms.
5. 5 lights
Fans with 5 pieces of lighting are designed for the largest rooms. The five-piece light kit is usually able to light up a great room by illuminating all sides and corners of the room.
6. Customizable lights
Lastly, there are ceiling mount fans that can be fitted with any kind of lighting that you prefer. These fans allow you to choose the light kit that most suits your taste.
What the EPA Says about Ceiling Fan Lights and Energy Use
Ceiling mount fans with lights are governed by some special laws due to the combined use of electricity by the fan and the light. There are two special requirements that fans with lights should meet:
According to the EPA, light fixtures attached to ceiling mount fans should not use more than 190 watts of electricity. To make sure this is carried out, the EPA also requires all light fixtures to come with a special mechanism such as a limiter that will not allow them to go beyond the wattage limit.
Ceiling mount fans in the US are now also prohibited from using standard socket incandescent bulbs. Instead, they can use any of the following: candelabra base bulbs, halogen bulbs, fluorescent bulbs, or LED lights. This means that ceiling mount fans nowadays are now unable to light up an entire room and usually need support from other light sources.
How to Choose the Right Lighting
Type of bulb - When buying ceiling fans with light, pay attention to the type of bulb the light kit uses. This determines how much it will illuminate a room. If you don’t have any other light source in the room but you need the room to be bright and clear, you may want to go for halogen bulbs, which produce a stark and bright light. If you want dimmable, stay away from CFL bulbs and go for candelabra lighting.
Wattage – Always check the wattage used by the light kit itself and by the fan when the light is on. If you have an energy-saving fan but its light kit has a very high wattage, you won’t be saving electricity money anytime soon.
Maximizing the Efficiency of Ceiling Fans with Light
When choosing fans with light, you should also consider the airflow. This is measured by the CFM of air that the fan can move. Some fans have high CFM, so they produce a more noticeable cooling effect in a room. However, high CFM fans also need to use as little electricity as possible for them to be considered efficient. If you have a high CFM fan but it uses too much electricity to power both the fan and the light kit, then you won’t enjoy the efficiency benefits of ceiling mounted fans.
Different Types of Light Kits
There are many ways through which lighting is incorporated into fans to keep ceilings clutter free. Some use bowl lights, some use glass globes, and some use glass shades. Some have downlights, uplights, or both. Some also provide a bright, harsh light, while some create a softer glow in rooms. No matter what type of ceiling fan light kit you choose, make sure it fits the ambience you want for your room, your preferred energy consumption limit, and your budget.
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