How To Choose Your Perfect Ceiling Fan

Ceiling fans are a great way to cool your home while doing it in style! Modern ceiling fans not only look great but have incredible functionality that suit every home. If you are in the market for a ceiling fan, the many options and features can be overwhelming. So, we have put together our handy guide to help you pick the right fan for your home.

The main types of motors in ceiling fans are AC or DC motors. The AC (alternative current) or DC (Direct current) refers to the electrical current the motor uses.

The right motor for you would depend on your needs but below are some features you can expect:

• Highly energy efficient, with motors consuming up to 58% less energy than conventional motors
• Slimmer and more modern designs, with new technology to the market compared to conventional motors.
• Supplied with a remote control.
• Various speed settings, generally up to 5-6 modes
• Often weigh less than conventional motors, meaning easier and lighter installation.
• Extremely quiet, ideal for the bedroom or a study

• Most conventional type of fans.
• Relatively more cost effective than DC fans as they have simpler production and are more conventional in the market.
• Still relatively energy efficient and consume less energy compared to most household appliances.
• Great flexibility with control of the fan
• Mostly supplied with a wall controller, but optional accessories such as remotes and smart wall controllers are also compatible and offer even more functionality.

When selecting a ceiling fan, it is important to select one that is appropriately sized to ensure that the fan will look proportioned and balanced to the size of the room.

We recommend measuring the size of the room as this dictates the size of the fan you need. Measure the length and width of your room to work out the square meterage of your space. Refer to this table to assist in choosing a fan that best suits your space.

In many instances the guide can be adapted to suit your needs. In general the larger the room size, the longer the length of the blades should be to ensure sufficient air movement.

Fan Tip: A slightly larger fan can be installed in an average sized room to create the same airflow on a lower speed as a smaller fan on high speed, resulting in quieter and more energy efficient operation.

Fan Tip: You may also opt for multiple smaller fans in very large or long rooms, as this can create more effective airflow in the space.

It is always important to consider the structure of the room for the placement of your fan(s). In general, it is advised you place your fan in the centre of the room when possible.

If the fan cannot be placed in the centre of the room, try to place the fan in an area that is equal distance from the walls. Alternatively you can place it directly over the main living space. Note that openings such as windows and doors will also affect the impact of the ceiling fan.

You should also consider if the lighting in the room will affect the placement of the fan. E.g:

• Would the fan create shadows from lights in the ceiling
• Would the airflow of the fan affect hanging pendant lights?
• Do I need an inbuilt light source on the fan? Is this the only light source in the room?

If you want to install a fan indoors, you can basically install any fan that suits your liking as the fixture will not be exposed to the elements. The only exception is that homes in a particularly humid environment may benefit from an outdoor rated fan.

Our outdoor fans are all rated to be used outdoor undercover or in alfresco areas of the home. Some may also be coastal rated meaning that it is suited to salt-air environments. Love the look of our outdoor fans? They're perfect for indoors too.

The ideal height a fan should sit is 2.1 - 2.7m from floor to blades. Note that a clearance of at least 2.1m from blades to floor is required for safety. If your ceiling is raked, low or high, there are different options to make it work for your home.

Raked Ceilings: It is important to measure the angle of your ceiling. Based on the angle, you should refer to the maximum angle that the fan canopy can be tilted to. This angle can be found in the specs tab of each fan under “ceiling pitch”.

The ideal height a fan should sit is 2.1 - 2.7m from floor to blades. Note that a clearance of at least 2.1m from blades to floor is required for safety. If your ceiling is raked, low or high, there are different options to make it work for your home.

Raked Ceilings: It is important to measure the angle of your ceiling. Based on the angle, you should refer to the maximum angle that the fan canopy can be tilted to. This angle can be found in the specs tab of each fan under “ceiling pitch”.

High Ceilings: Extension rods may be required if your ceilings are higher than 3m to allow the fan to be in the most effective position. Extension rods can be purchased as an add on accessory during checkout. Fan extension rods generally come in a 900mm or 1800mm size, but don’t worry if they don't fit your measurements exactly, they can easily be cut by your electrician to meet your exact needs.

Low Ceilings: Remembering the required clearance of 2.1m, it is recommended to go with a shallow fan drop (under 300mm) which would work with most standard ceiling heights in Australia (2.4m). Fans that fall under this threshold are usually a low profile fan, available here.

High Ceilings: Extension rods may be required if your ceilings are higher than 3m to allow the fan to be in the most effective position. Extension rods can be purchased as an add on accessory during checkout. Fan extension rods generally come in a 900mm or 1800mm size, but don’t worry if they don't fit your measurements exactly, they can easily be cut by your electrician to meet your exact needs.

Low Ceilings: Remembering the required clearance of 2.1m, it is recommended to go with a shallow fan drop (under 300mm) which would work with most standard ceiling heights in Australia (2.4m). Fans that fall under this threshold are usually a low profile fan, available here.