Ceiling fans are meant to provide comfort in the scorching days of summer. They use low electricity costs as compared to air-conditioners, making them an effective, ideal as well as an affordable option to add peace. However, safety concerns are also there in keeping your ceiling fan on throughout the day.
Generally, it is safe to leave a ceiling fan on 24/7, it is not recommended. Old, low-quality or problematic ceiling fans can give rise to safety hazards if left unattended or on for too long.
In this article, you will learn how long you should leave your ceiling fan on, safety issues related to installing ceiling fans, safety measures you should take while using or installing a ceiling fan, and how to choose the best ceiling fan.
How Long Can You Leave Your Ceiling Fan On?
The answer to this question: How long you can leave your ceiling fan is entirely dependent on the quality of the fan. Its age means how old a fan is and how well you clean it can also have a significant effect on it.
On average, you can leave your ceiling fan on for 8 hours without thinking about any notable safety hazards including ceiling damage. If you keep your fan on for 24 hours a day for a week, it won’t result in a fire in your house. However, it can overheat the fan, as a result, long term damage to the unit.
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The main issues with leaving a ceiling fan include overheating and fire problems. This is something you need to be careful about. If you have installed a new high-quality ceiling fan, this risk is equal to none. You can leave a good new fan switch on for years without problems.
However, things can get out of hand if your ceiling fan is of low quality or old. Dust buildup is also problematic.
There is a great chance that older fans will develop some wear and tear that can result in overheating and other issues. It also depends on the shape of the fan and what shape the particular fan contains.
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Low-quality ceiling fans usually come with an underpowered and low-quality motor. lower quality motors. The manufacturing of lower-quality motors can consume more electricity and do similar work as higher-quality motors. They are not efficient. If you do not use the electricity to turn on the fan, will turn into heat. So, the less efficient the motor is the more heat it produces. The more heat means the chances of wiring getting damaged are also increased and resulting in fire. Especially if you are using a low-quality fan as they do not only come with lower quality motors but also with lower quality wiring.
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Your fan can make an impact depending on how clean it is. Things give rise to fire at different temperatures. Dust can be produced from many different things but generally, it is flammable. If you are making a mixture of too hot ceiling fan motors along with a lot of dust which also prevents the cooling capacity of the motor to reduce its heat, you are dealing with a situation that can result in an issue.
So, in different situations, leaving even a low-quality or dirty ceiling fan to remain on for 8 hours, if it is working fine, there is no issue. Higher ceiling fans can be left on for a longer period.
Dirty fans increase the fire risk.
Your ceiling fan is also responsible for this as it depends on it. The faster the motor moves, the more energy it consumes and the more heat will be generated consequently. If you do not use the ceiling fan at its highest speed and run it at half of it means you are not pushing it to its limits. As a result, the time of running without stopping will be increased greatly.
Purchasing a ceiling fan that contains more CFM than you need is ideal for this situation and reason. Learn more about the CFM you need for your room size here.
Just think about your car. How long you will drive it at full speed if the road permits you? A new car would take you extra kilometers but at some point, it would overheat or break. However, if you use the engine in your car carefully and avoid using the maximum power all the time and lifespan of it will increase to a hundred thousand miles with ease.
If you have an older car and you did not use it with care, the limits will be much lower.
Should you leave a ceiling fan on?
The question if you can leave it on is one thing. If you SHOULD keep it on, it is a completely different question.
A ceiling fan doesn’t cool down a room. They generate airflow that allows people and pets to feel cooler due to the breeze. A ceiling fan also increases the circulation of air in the room to keep the temperature equal. If your room has an open window or door, a ceiling fan disperses the breeze that comes through that opening in the whole room.
That fresh air might then cool down the objects and floor in the room making it slightly less hot in the end. It can only happen when there is a large difference between the inside and outside temperatures.
So, if you think that a ceiling fan can make your room more comfortable, let me tell you, it only makes you feel comfortable. The other advantages including dispersing of the air are very minimal when you are not in the room. So, the best thing is to switch off the fan while you are away from the room. There are hardly any benefits to keeping your fan on and most of the benefits will be enjoyed when you just spin the fan by turning it on after entering your room. The ceiling fan is only effective when the breeze produced by it touches your skin, if you will not present there if it is on, it will not be effective.
In short, there is no reason to leave a ceiling fan turned on all the time. Most of the benefits, more or less 90% of them can be achieved when you are in the room.
When it comes to drying a floor or wanting to use air for something, it will help you a bit and you can then leave it on.
Can I leave my ceiling fan on 24/7?
Yes, you can leave your ceiling fan running continuously but you must be present there to prevent any harm. You should not leave it unattended and make sure that the room is not getting too hot to avoid the negative affect on your appliance.
Installation Problems Can Make a Ceiling Fan Dangerous
The damage done by the ceiling fan can only happen due to the unprofessional installation and not from leaving it switched on. Leaving your fan on will give rise to problems and take it out.
When improperly installed, it can be dangerous for your home or room. Installation problems can happen when you do not call a certified technician to install it. Common installation problems can be:
- Lack of support for the fan. One of the main concerns while having a ceiling fan is that it might become free from the ceiling, which can be a result of no adequate support for the fan. The addition of an electrical junction box and a fan brace box during installation can offer proper support to the fan.
- Inadequate floor-to-ceiling distance. The distance of your fan should be at least 7’ (2 m) from the floor to make sure that people and objects don’t mistakenly or accidentally hit it. During the installation process, an adequate distance of at least 8’ to 9’ (2.4 to 2.7 m) is essential.
- Faulty assembly. Fan blades that are not aligned and insecurely attached components can also lead a ceiling fan to become wobbly. Before getting started with the installation, all of the parts should be assembled properly so that none of the screws are missing or the blades get loose.
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If they are installed properly, ceiling fans are very safe to use.
Safety Precautions for Ceiling Fans
To reduce the safety risks linked with ceiling fans and to make sure your ceiling fan offers optimal performance, follow these rules:
- Ensure that the fan has been safety tested. Before you are looking for a ceiling fan, you should ensure that it has been safety-tested against rigorous standards to make sure it is safe. For example, in the European Union, the CE mark on the packaging ensures that the fan has been safety-tested as per EU legislation.
- Read the installation instructions carefully. If you have not read the installation instructions properly, you may skip an important step. You can prevent mistakes and injuries by going through the installation instructions properly before you install your fan.
- Remove any hurdles in the fan’s path. If there are any obstacles when your fan is spinning, it could cause harm to both the object as well as the unit. You need to ensure that there are no obstacles including light fixtures and doors interfering with the fan while running etc.
- Don’t try to stop the fan manually. Avoid using your hand to stop the fan as it can injure your hand, while the force that is being used will bend its attachments, hence your fan gets wobbly. When you want to switch off the fan, do it with a switch and do not use your hand or object such as broom to stop it.
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Final Words
Ceiling fans are efficient and affordable and I can also say that they are lifesavers for the summer season. One can have a few safety concerns when they are using it continuously day in and day out, 24/7 a week. It is advised not to run your fan for extended periods to avoid overheating. Whenever you are looking for a fan, it is better to choose a quality unit and hire a professional to install it safely.