I just installed a ceiling fan and the air does not seem to be moving as much as I thought. I was told that it might be that there is not enough room on the sides for air to be drawn in to the blades. Would lowering the fan with a down rod solve the problem?

Check to see if fan is blowing down. Lowering the fan may help.

Does the fan have a switch to reverse the rotation?

What model is the fan? What size is it, and what size is the room? What ceiling height is it mounted and what length of downrod?

General ceiling fan troubleshooting and help FAQ- Ceiling Fans N More