Ceiling fan motors are very important in determining how well a ceiling fan will work and how long it will last. When purchasing a ceiling fan it is very important that you research what motor the ceiling fan has. Just like when your buying a car you will want to find a ceiling fan with a best high performance grade, very good performance grade, or a moderate or economy grade motor. Larger more powerful motors provide maximum air movement with quiet operation and can run for an unlimited amount of time without burning out.

High Performance Grade Motors are like Super Cars

Ceiling fans with High Performance Grade Motors are the best in the industry just like super cars, aka chick magnets, are the best cars you can buy (or wish to buy). These ceiling fan motors are large, stay quiet, are extremely durable and circulates a lot air even at low speeds. Ceiling fans with high performance grade motors run perfectly smooth and quiet. You can leave these fans running for days even years without worrying about them burning out.

Flywheel Motor compares to Ferrari

Flywheel motors are like a Ferrari because of their performance and heritage. Flywheel motors are high performance motors that have been in production since 1979. These powerful and energy efficient motors are constructed around thick steel laminations surrounded by copper wiring and have large sealed precision ball bearings. Flywheel motors have an extremely quiet operation- due to the rubber flywheel disc absorbing shock.

Example of Flywheel Motors:

K55XL Motor – Emerson Origami Ceiling Fan

XLP-2000 Motor – Casablanca Stealth Ceiling Fan

Oil Bath Motor compares to Lamborghini

Oil bath motors have an indestructible cast iron motor housing with an oil-bath lubrication system. Oil bath motor ceiling fans were created by Hunter Fan Company.

When I think of oil bath motors I think of exclusivity so they would have to be the Lamborghinis of the ceiling fan industry.

Example of Oil Bath Motors:

210mm x 20mm Motor- Hunter Classic Original Ceiling Fans

DC Motor compares to Porsche

DC motors are the Porshes of ceiling fans due to their technology and efficiency. DC, which stands for direct current, motor is an electric motor that uses electricity and a magnetic field to produce torque. This requires less electricity and also less copper windings are necessary to create the same amount of power. The magnetic field in DC motors are stationary, unlike other motors which makes them 300% more efficient than standard fans. Most ceiling fans with DC motors also have six speeds instead of the normal three speeds.

Example of DC Motors:

165 X 18 mm Extreme Green Motor – Monte Carlo Explorer Ceiling Fan

EcoMotor- Emerson Midway Eco Ceiling Fan

Very Good Performance Grade Motors are like Sport Sedans

These ceiling fan motors are a step down from High Performance Grade Motors but are still extremely durable and they come close to matching the High performance motors air circulation. Sport sedans are also extremely reliable and have high performance.

Ultra-Performance Direct Drive Motor compares to BMW

The ultra-performance motor is a type of direct drive motor. A direct drive motor has a stationary inner core with a shell which revolves around it also known as a spinner motor. The ultra performance motor has high quality bearing and copper wiring with the largest stacks of laminated steel in any direct drive motor. This allows for outstanding air flow.

BMW’s are Ultra-Performance sport sedans so it is only fitting that they are compared to ceiling fans with Ultra-performance Direct Drive Motors.

Example of Ultra-Performance Motors:

212mm x 25mm Motor – Monte Carlo Grand Prix Ceiling Fan

Stack Motors compares to Mercedes

The stack motor is also a type of direct drive motor. A stack motor is built with a basic stator and squirrel-cage rotor. Mercedes cars have powerful motors and are made with high quality materials just like ceiling fans with stack motors. Stack motors are powerful and made with high quality bearings and copper wiring. They have a taller stack of laminate steel than standard direct drive motors.

Example of Stack Motors:

153mm x 18mm Motor – Modern Fan Company Ball Ceiling Fan

Large Standard Direct Drive Motor compares to Lexus

The large standard direct drive motor also has high quality bearings and copper wiring. Ceiling fans with large standard direct drive motors have a wide stack that produces more torque than standard motors. Lexus cars are also made with high quality materials and their engines produce more torque than standard motors.

Example of Large Standard Direct Drive motor

172mm x 20mm Motor – Minka-Aire Rainman Ceiling Fan

Moderate or Economy Grade Motors are like Family Cars

Ceiling fans with moderate or economy grade motors are designed with lower prices in mind just like family cars. These motors are still durable however move noticeably less air than high performance grade and very good performance grade motors.

Standard Direct Drive Motor compares to Toyota and Ford cars

The standard direct drive motor is a very common ceiling fan motor in the ceiling fan industry. Even though these motors have a lower grade than high performance and very good performance motors they are still made with high quality materials, just like Toyota and Ford cars, and produce great airflow. These motors are mostly used in contractor and builder ceiling fans.

Example of Standard Direct Drive Motors:

153mm x 13mm Motor- Quorum Medallion Ceiling Fan

I don’t recommended buying a ceiling fan that has less than a moderate or economy grade motor. Ceiling fans with smaller and cheaper motors move less air, wobble and tend to make noise. Anything lower you are just wasting your money. Ceiling fans with higher graded motors, just like cars, last a lot longer than a low performing model.

Ceiling fans are an inexpensive way to add comfort to your home throughout the year. By operating ceiling fans properly you can cool off or warm up your home and save money at the same time by cutting down the use of air conditioning and heating units.

Ceiling Fan Direction in Summer – Foward / Counter Clockwise

image via Emerson

On hot sticky summer days nothing can beat the breeze you feel from a ceiling fan. (Trust me I should know I live in Florida) A ceiling fan’s direction in the summer should be rotating counter clockwise or forward to produce a Wind Chill effect by the downward airflow. The thermostat won’t actually change but the room will seem several degrees cooler due to the wind chill factor. You can save on air conditioning bills by placing ceiling fans throughout your home.  According to Casablanca Fan Company when you are using a ceiling fan you can then “raise the thermostat setting, resulting in reduced air conditioning energy consumption of 40% or more” while still keeping your room cool.

Ceiling Fan Direction in Winter – Reverse / Clockwise

image via Emerson

Ceiling fans are commonly linked with warm weather therefore many people don’t realize that ceiling fans can also help warm up a room in the winter months. The ceiling fan direction in winter should be rotating clockwise or reverse. Warm air rises and gets trapped near the ceiling so when the ceiling fan direction is in reverse mode it circulates the warm air from the ceiling to the floor helping take the chill out of the air. Without a ceiling Fan the warm air would continue to be trapped near the ceiling and the floor level would continue to stay cold. The reverse mode only works if the fan is on low. If you have the fan on a higher speed you will create a wind chill effect that you don’t want since it is already cold. Some ceiling fans now come with a wall or remote control that has a forward/reverse option so you can change the direction of the Fan with a push of a button.

Exceptions for Ceiling Fan Directions

There are some exceptions that you should keep in mind when it comes to ceiling fan direction.  If your ceiling fan is installed in a room with a high ceiling you still put the ceiling fan direction on clockwise or reverse motion in the winter although you should put the speed on medium or high. With higher ceilings it takes more than low speed to help re-circulate the warm air down to floor level.

Also if you have a ceiling fan directly over a dining room table or a desk you should have the ceiling fan direction rotating clockwise/reverse on a higher speed. By having the ceiling fan direction in reverse on a higher speed you will still get the wind chill effect that helps cool you off but will save you from a cold dinner or papers flying all over the place.

I hope this information helps you add comfort to you home year round. Don’t forget ceiling fans are a great way to help save money on utility bills without suffering in the Summer & Winter months.  Check out Energy Star’s Ceiling Fan Usage Tips on how to help save energy with ceiling fans.