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The Differences Between Indoor and Outdoor Ceiling Fans

The Differences Between Indoor and Outdoor Ceiling Fans

Indoor and outdoor ceiling fans are the same in the sense that they are fans, but what makes them different from each other?

The differences between indoor and outdoor fans are blades, mechanical features, and materials. Outdoor fans are made of protected plastic or wood, and indoor fans are made out of lighter plastic. Indoor fans are Dry-Rated and outdoor fans are Wet-Rated or Damp-Rated because of the weather exposure.

If you are looking for a new fan for your home or your outside patio, then learning about the differences can help you know what type of fan is the best one to get. You can read on to find the differences between indoor and outdoor fans.

Wet, Dry, and Damp Rated

Fans are either Wet-Rated, Dry-Rated, and Damp-Rated. This rating helps buyers differentiate the way the fans are built and where they should use a certain type of fan. These ratings are the main differences between fans because it determines the materials of the fan and the durability of the fan.

The durability of a fan helps you to understand if it should be used indoors or outdoors. If a fan cannot withstand bad weather, then it is not durable enough to be used outside. To help define where fans can be used, companies label them as Dry-Rated, Damp-Rated, or Wet-Rated.

Fans have the same mechanics in how they work and operate, but the materials used in the interior and exterior are also different. Depending on where you live, contractors will use and recommend different fans based on the local weather. For example, if you live in a place that gets a lot of humidity or rain, then a Damp-Rated or Wet-Rated fan will be used.

Dry-Rated fans are not weatherproof fans. They are made out of plastic or wood, and they do not have waterproof coatings on them. The wires inside the fan are also not covered by waterproof materials or weatherproof materials, so using a Dry-Rated fan outdoors is a bad idea. It will easily break or get ruined because it has too many ways for the weather to impact it.

Damp-Rated fans are used both indoors and outdoors. They are great for places like bathrooms, kitchens, covered patios, and more. These are resistant to weather and have protective coatings on their blades to stop moisture from getting in. This makes them perfect for indoor use and for outdoor places that do not get much impact from weather aside from moisture.

Some people like to use Damp-Rated fans inside warehouses, big garages, or workshops because oftentimes doors and windows are open to allow fresh air to get in. Moisture is carried through the air, so having a fan that is protected against that is very helpful.

Wet-Rated fans are great for any type of living space. These fans are made with high-quality designs so companies make them waterproof and weatherproof so that no matter what your needs are, you can use their fan. Companies also make more Wet-Rated fans compared to other fans so there are a lot more style options available.

If you’re looking for an indoor fan and you are only looking at the Dry-Rated options, then you will be missing out on all of the other fans you could get. Wet-Rated fans are meant for any space, and they are built with lightweight materials like plastic, steel, and wood. But, they are also really strong and they are made to be waterproof and weatherproof for your convenience.

Unlike Dry-Rated fans, Wet-Rated fans can be washed with water instead of dusted. So if you have a Wet-Rated fan outside, you can hose it off lightly to clean it. But you should not do that with the Damp-Rated or Dry-Rated fans. You should use a duster for cleaning those fans.

Indoor Fan

Indoor fans are important for homes that do not have air conditioning, and they work well in air-conditioned homes as they move the cool air around the home. Fans are nice to have inside your large and small living spaces to keep the air moving. They can also help to regulate the temperature.

Indoor fans are going to be made with nice quality, but they are not as weatherproof as outdoor fans. When fans are used inside homes, they do not need to have waterproof blades and they do not need to have waterproof coverings over their electrical wirings. But, that doesn’t mean you can’t use outdoor fans inside.

Indoor fans should only be used indoors, but outdoor fans can be used both outdoors and indoors. So when you’re picking out a new fan for the inside of your home, you can look at any fan on the market. It is recommended that if you live in a very humid climate or if you live by a coast and get some salt in your air, then you should get the Damp-Rated or Wet-Rated fans because they have more protection against the wet air.

Outdoor Fan

Outdoor fans are built to withstand weather and to work in any outdoor space you want. If you have a gazebo, patio, porch, cabana, or any other outdoor space, then you can find a fan for it. Fan companies make fans in many sizes, styles, shapes, and for any space.

Depending on where you live, you will be using a Wet-Rated fan or a Damp-Rated fan for your outdoor space. This is because there are stronger materials and better coatings used on the mechanical parts of the fan and the blades of the fan. Outside you can experience wind, rain, snow, misty air, and harsh heat from the sun. So it is important to have a fan that will work despite these weather conditions.

Outdoor fans are made out of steel, wood, and plastic. These materials are made weatherproof through protective coatings over the top of the blades, or strong weatherproof plastic materials that are lightweight and durable against the weather. Depending on how crazy the weather gets where you live, you may decide one material is better than another for your fan. 

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