Don't underestimate this cooling system
There are many types of fans but they all work using the same principle. When you perspire, the moisture that leaves your skin carries heat with it. This cooling down process is further enhanced when a breeze passes over your skin.
Fans are sometimes thought of as the poor man's air conditioner. Bear in mind though that in warmer climates many people use a fan in conjunction with air conditioning because of its comfortable wind chill effect.
Guiding principle: You get what you pay for.
Fans work more efficiently when blades are 2.1 – 3 metres above the floor and 20 or 30 centimetres from the ceiling.
Rule of thumb: the larger the room, the larger the fan you need.
The larger the fan the greater the cooling effect. A larger fan will also create less breeze compared to a smaller fan run at the same speed. Consider that fact if you do not want a stiff breeze in, say, a study where there may be lots of loose papers.
Buy a fan with a reverse mode, which is best for pushing warmth around the room in winter.
Make sure that the fan operates quietly before purchasing.
For living rooms, get one with a built in light, otherwise the blades will create a strobing shadow effect if the light is above the fan.
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