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The direction you want your ceiling fan to move in depends on the season you’re in. During summer, you want it to move counterclockwise to produce a cooling downdraft. During winter, you want it to move clockwise to circulate warm air throughout the room.

For a 12x12 room, a fan between 36" and 50" will work, as it falls in the range for spaces up to 144 square feet. These size fans provide adequate air circulation and ensure a comfortable environment without being overpowering. Even better, they come in a broad range of styles, offering aesthetics and functionality, making them suitable choices for maintaining an ideal room temperature and enhancing overall comfort.

Whether you can install a ceiling fan yourself depends on if you're replacing an existing fixture or installing one where no wiring exists. If you are replacing an existing fan, an experienced DIYer may be able to do the job, which can save on labor costs. This work typically doesn’t require a permit, but there’s always a safety risk when dealing with electrical components, so hiring a pro is still a good idea, especially if you aren't handy. Keep in mind you may need a special ladder for high or vaulted ceilings. However, if you are installing a new ceiling fan where there is no current fixture, you must hire a licensed electrician. In most areas, it is required by law that a professional runs new wiring and pulls the necessary permits. Attempting to install wiring yourself can be dangerous and a code violation.

Fan power is measured by CFM, or cubic feet per minute. For every 1,000 feet of square footage in your attic, you need a minimum of 700 CFM. Steeper roofs may need larger fans or about 840 CFM.  You can figure the size of attic fan you need by multiplying the square footage of your attic floor by 0.7. (multiply by 1.2 for a steep roof and 1.15 for a dark roof). That number is the CFM required for your fan to run efficiently.