A watt is a unit of energy or power that an appliance or electronic device uses. Ceiling fans and many other appliances often are clearly marked with how many watts they consume. Knowing a fan's wattage can be important in areas where electricity rates are high, or when comparing the use of a ceiling fan with central air or even box fans. If the fan's wattage is not marked, however, there is an easy method to determine how much power it will use.

1 Look at the label on your ceiling fan. Even if it does not show the amount of wattage used, it will show the number of amps the fan uses. The location of the label can vary; while it is usually on the outside of the fan in a hidden location -- such as above a fan blade or by the light socket -- it may be on the inside of the fan base, which attaches to the ceiling.

2 Locate the number of amps on the ceiling fan's label. This could be as little as 0.5 to 0.9 for the average fan; the larger the motor, the more amps will be required.

3 Multiply the number of amps listed on the label by 120, which is the number of volts of power used by most appliances. This number should also be listed on the ceiling fan label. The formula of amps x volts equals the amount of watts used by the ceiling fan. For example, 0.5 x 120 = 60 watts; 0.9 x 120 = 108 watts. This wattage amount is how much power the ceiling fan uses at maximum speed.

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Warnings Shut off the power to the ceiling fan before putting your face and hands near the fan to search for the label.

Tips If the ceiling fan is missing the label with the necessary information, you may be able to pull the manufacturer's information on the fan from the company's website, or find a phone number there and call and ask.

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