When the Water Hits the Fan / Now It's OK Because There Are Wet Fans Made for Outdoors

Wet fans, however, are one of the newest inventions for making outdoor rooms comfortable in hot, muggy climates. These fixtures work in almost any exterior setting, including porch, patio or gazebo, as long as there is an electric supply within reach. And, contrary to what the name might suggest, wet fans - ceiling mounted fans or heavy-duty standing models - don't provide water (although some models sport mister accessories).

Manufacturers are refining the skeletal, industrial look by introducing design-savvy models in a range of themes, from traditional to tropical. It's now possible to buy a wet ceiling fan that looks good enough to put in your home for less than $150, although many models sell for four times that and more.

Wet fans are becoming popular because they allow homeowners more time outdoors, said Liz Hagen, design consultant with Shades of Light on West Broad Street in Richmond.

"Outdoor spaces are becoming reflections of our indoor living space," she said. "People are living outdoors so much more now. They want their porches and gazebos to become an extension of their home."

Hagen estimates that sales of wet fans account for about 30 percent of the store's fan business.

"People like all the options available," she said, noting that wet fans come in a variety of vintage styles.

Jon Sayah, owner of a Dallas lighting store, installed two fans on the patio of his home. His grill is below one; the other fan hangs above a table. Both are designated "wet" by Underwriters Laboratory (the ubiquitous UL rating), though his store also carries fans intended for damp use. The difference? Windblown spray is fine for damp systems, but if rain or water from any other source could ever hit the fan directly, go with the wet-rated models.

Cliff Crimmings, vice president of marketing for Craftmade, a manufacturer of ceiling fans for indoor and outdoor use, said his company's wet fans have motors encased in galvanized steel that is painted and primed. Only about 30 percent of Craftmade's wet fans come with light kits. Moreover, few wet ceiling fans boast reversible switches because that mechanism usually penetrates the fan's housing, thereby rendering the fixture no longer waterproof.

"Wet ceiling fans also have a larger motor so you can feel the breeze outside," he said. For that reason, the blades are often larger as well; bigger blades move air more efficiently at lower speeds.

For outdoor fans, the blades cannot be made of wood.

"Wooden blades start to droop in a couple of years, but you can get everything from woven plastics that look like rattan to good- looking polymers," said Nina Hirsh, who manages the Meletio Electric showroom in Frisco, Texas.

Veronique Sutcliffe, a spokeswoman for Indiana-based Fanimation, maker of high-end ceiling fans, said the company just introduced an alternative for people who don't have a place for a wet ceiling fan. The Torrento is a wet-rated, freestanding, portable patio fan that costs from $745 to $930, depending on the finishes and blade options. Sutcliffe describes the Torrento as ideal for positioning near a poolside chaise.

"People are really looking for well-designed, great-looking fans to keep them comfortable outdoors during the summer," she said. "The market for these products seems almost limitless."

Staff writer Janet Caggiano and The Dallas Morning News contributed to this report.

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