We hope this page will answer all of your questions about Flush Mount Ceiling Fans. If you have any others that we have not covered here, please call our toll free line or e-mail us with your questions.
About Flushmount Fans
With Flush Mount fans, the motor housing is mounted directly to the ceiling box. Flushmount ceiling fans are the ideal solution for areas with limited clearance. Because they are mounted to the ceiling without the use of a down rod, they can provide effective air circulation without taking up extra space. Flush Mount Fans are mounted closely to the ceiling, and are typically used on standard ceilings in space spaces or ceilings that are less than eight feet in height.
Air Movement
Air movement is essentially determined by a delicate balance between two primary factors: motor size and blade pitch. The size of the motor generally reflects its overall strength. There are three sizes that have proven to be effective and they are basically small (153mm), medium (172mm), and large (188mm or k55/xlp2000). The strength of the motor and the degree of the blade pitch determines how efficiently the fan will move air. The blade pitch refers to the angle of the blade relative to the fan. As the motor increases in strength, it is able to push a blade with a greater pitch or angle. Generally, the greater the blade pitch, the greater air movement. But be careful! These two factors must increase in proportion to one another or else there could be adverse effects on the fan motor. Flushmount fans don’t move as much air as standard ceiling fans, as their blades are much closer to the ceiling, but they will work best in small spaces, and rooms with lower ceilings.
Blades
The highest quality blades are seven ply, furniture quality. Most however, are multi-ply wooden blades with photo finishes. These blades have come a long way and some will make it difficult for most to determine whether they are real wood or not.
Number of blades
As the amount of blades decrease, the amount of air moved increases. This sounds counter intuitive but it is the truth - check your physics books! Five bladed fans are the norm and so we are all accustomed to seeing them in most applications, but the truth is that four blades move more air than five, three blades move more air than four, etc....
Quality
Quality starts with the motors. Most fan motors come from one of a handful of manufacturing plants in Taiwan. Our experience has shown that the Taiwanese motors perform better than those produce on the mainland of China. Emerson boasts of manufacturing the last American made motor in the industry, the K55 Premium motor and it is one of the finest motors money can buy. Casablanca offers the XLP 2000 motor and Fanimation uses the FK 2100 motor, which is also among the best made. The quality of the motor housing will determine how well the fan finish maintains its luster and shine. Most fan housings are made from stamped steel, whereas the highest quality fan housings are made from die cast zinc. Some outdoor fans are now being made with high grade plastic housing to replace metal, but they have not been out long enough to truly gauge whether they will stand the test of time.
Quiet Performance
The most important determinant of quiet operation is the motor. Some motors are guaranteed silent but most are not. The larger motors are often the quietest because they use what is called a triple capacitor system. The triple capacitor system ensures that the fan is quiet throughout all of its speeds.
Energy Savings
A flushmount fan can offer energy savings all year round. In warm weather, it can make a room 7 to 10 degrees cooler, allowing you to set your thermostat higher and save up to 40% on air conditioning bills. In the winter, you can run your fans in reverse to reclaim the hot air trapped near the ceiling. You can set your thermostats lower and save on heating costs as the fan provides even, comfortable temperatures throughout the room. Either way, you conserve valuable energy making a flushmount fan a wise investment for you and the environment. On high speed, most fans use less than a 100-watt bulb.
Clockwise vs. Counterclockwise
During the warm months, your flushmount fan should be run counterclockwise, in order to circulate the cool air throughout your room. You’ll know your fan is spinning in the right direction if the higher edge of the blade is the leading edge when the fan spins. For heat reclamation purposes, the fan should run clockwise with the low edge of the blade being the leading edge. This helps circulate the warm air that gets trapped near the ceiling and forces it down into the room.