Outdoor ceiling fans are specially designed to withstand dust, cold, heat and humidity. The selection of outdoor ceiling fans is not near that of indoor fans and there are even fewer with outdoor lighting kits, but if you are considering an outdoor ceiling fan it is a nice feature to have. They provide comfortable lighting and a nice cool breeze on those hot summer evenings relaxing on the patio.
Outdoor ceiling fans are rated as outdoor of UL, so always check the rating of the fan to ensure it can withstand the environment where it will be installed. The light fixture assembly will also change with the rating of the fan. If you purchase an outdoor fan with a preinstalled light kit you can be assured that the lighting kit is rated outdoor. However if you are adding a lighting kit to an existing outdoor ceiling fan ensure that it is rated outdoor or UL.
Most outdoor ceiling fans are limited in how much customization one can do to them, most are offered as is. I would recommend that if you think a light kit may be something you want on your outdoor fan, that you buy one that is factory built with the light kit included. This ensures all parts are rated outdoor and should a warranty issue arise it may prove to make things easier when dealing with the manufacturer.
Randy Heslip is a regular contributor to http://www.ceiling-fans-info-source.com where you can find more information to help you choose a ceiling fan to match your home d?cor and how to install a ceiling fan for optimal performance. This article may be reproduced as long as it is kept intact including the resource box. Copyright. 2005 ceiling-fans-info-source.com