The first artificial wind-chill methods as used by animals in nature was duplicated by royalty and wealthy persons of early Assyria and Egypt, who employed slaves or servants waving large leaves to cool them down on hot days. Many centuries later, in 1882, Diehl introduced his invention of the electric ceiling fan. His device was a bubble-blade adaptation of the well known belt driven fan with an in-built electric motor. By the end of the 1880s, the "Diehl Electric" was sweeping the country, and by the late 1920s, no self-respecting restaurant, drug store, ice cream shop, or elegant dining room, was without a ceiling fan as part of their decor and method of ventilation.

Ceiling fans can reduce cooling costs. In the summer, a breeze created by a good ceiling fan can make you feel between two and six degrees cooler.

There are many ceiling fan designs and styles, and it is important that one considers the following options carefully before purchasing a ceiling fan:

Fan Size: It is important that the fan will fit in your room. You must consider the height of the ceiling and be sure that the blades have ample space in which to spin. It is recommended that the blades are no closer than two feet from the nearest wall.

Fan Motors: Good ceiling fans have a motor size and precision ground motor windings matched to the length of the blades. This ensures that the fan moves the air efficiently, even with continuous use, and uses less energy to run. If the motor or blades are improperly balanced, vibrations will occur, even at slow speed. Fans that are built for outdoor use have motors that are specially designed to withstand moisture and fluctuations in temperature.

Fan Blades: Fan blades come in all sorts of wonderful shapes and patterns. However it is important that the fan blades chosen will offer a balanced performance for a stable operation. Fan blades should be protected with a sealant to avoid the warping effects of moisture. Fan blade pitches range from 8 to 15 degrees - the higher the pitch, the more air the fan will circulate at slower speeds. The number of blades in a ceiling fan ranges from three to five, but this number has little effect on the amount of cool air the fan produces.

Fan Mounts: There are three main varieties of ceiling fan mounts - downrod mount, flush mount, and tri-mount. Fan Downrods can come at any length and are specially designed for rooms with higher ceilings, bringing the circulating blades of the fan down into the living space where it is most effective. A flush mount is designed for rooms with lower ceilings, and eliminates the need for a downrod. A tri-mount allows one to install a fan in a room for the best circulation whether there is a low, high or angled ceiling.

Patio ceiling fans are another important type of ceiling fan, and although generally less common than indoor ceiling fans, patio ceiling fans are considered important in the warmer, moister regions of the world.