Ceiling Fan Buying Guide: How to Choose the Right Electric Fan? (2022)
Gone are the days when fans only came in minimalistic, basic design. Today you will find myriads of innovative features, functionalities, and designs in ceiling fans. To help you pick the right one, we have put together a detailed ceiling fan buying guide for India. Let’s take a look:
A ceiling fan is an appliance you’ll most likely find in every Indian household. It is almost a necessity during scorching summers. Once installed, ceiling fans operate for years, even decades without the need to repair or replace them. The blades only require timely cleaning.
Ceiling Fan Buying Guide
Below given are some of the main factors you need to consider before selecting a ceiling fan.
The size of the fan considerably affects the airflow in the room. Hence, it is important to get the right fan size according to the room size.
Smaller fans have fast airflow and more force but poor air distribution. Larger fans, on the other hand, have comparatively less airflow but better air distribution. Hence, large fans provide breezy air.
Let’s see what fan size is best for different room sizes:
| Room Size | Fan Size (In Inches) | Fan Sweep | Type of rooms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Less than 50 sq.ft. | Up to 36” | 600 mm | Small kitchens, bedrooms, hallways, office cabins. |
| 50-70 sq.ft. | Up to 42” | 900 mm | Kitchen, mid-sized bedrooms |
| 70-150 sq.ft. | Up to 48” | 1200 mm | Large bedrooms, living rooms, dining rooms, lobbies |
| 150-250 sq.ft. | Up to 54” | 1400 mm | Master bedroom, large living area, large office room, media rooms |
| More than 250 sq.ft. | Two or more fans | 1600 mm | Large spaces |
The most common fan sweeps are 1200mm, 900mm, and 600mm. Larger the sweep, the more air circulation it offers at the same speed.
Too long blades such as 1600mm or 1400mm might reduce the airflow, and consume more electricity. These blades are only recommended if you’re looking for a breezy or gentle feel. For larger spaces, it is recommended to install two fans for optimal airflow.
2. Energy Saving Design
Today, we can find many BLDC (brushless direct-current motor) ceiling fans in the market that are energy-saving and long-lasting as well. These hi-tech ceiling fans often feature remote control to adjust timer and sleep mode.
Unlike traditional fans that run on induction motors, these BLDC ceiling fans run on a brushless direct-current motor. This motor uses a permanent magnet that is energy-saving, as it acts as a rotor to create a magnetic field. Stator remains idle and creates an electromagnetic field. The commuter further charges these fields to produce 360-degree rotation of the rotor.
These units do not house a mechanical commutator and thus are less likely to have bruises. This is what allows them to cope up with friction, heat generation and electrical loss. Hence, BLDC fans offer low torque, high rpm and great longevity.
Besides, BLDC fans are able to adjust rpm based on fan resistor-based standards, which normal fans cannot.
3. Number of Blades
Traditionally, ceiling fans were only available in a basic 3-blade design. Today, you will find 4-blade, 5-blade, and even 7-blade designs in ceiling fans. As a matter of fact, 3-blade fans are the most affordable ones, while the ones with more blades are costlier.
One must keep in mind that a greater number of blades may reduce the airflow and create more drag, but allow for quieter operation. And, ceiling fans with lesser blades rotate faster, are light, and produce good air circulation.
To conclude, both have their own pros and cons, you need to weigh them and choose the one that best suits your needs.
4. Copper vs. Aluminum Winding Motors
Most commonly, ceiling fans either have aluminum or copper winding. Aluminum ones are affordable, but not so durable. Copper winding motors consume less power, and are highly durable but are costlier.
Traditional ceiling fans house a single-phase induction motor. These types of motors are inefficient, have a noisy operation, and consume 3 times more power than BDLC motors.
Nowadays, modern ceiling fans come with BDLC (Brushless Direct Current) motors that eat up less power and generate more torque. However, such fans are comparatively expensive seeing how they feature hi-tech electronic speed controllers. You can check the best BLDC fans here.
BDLC motors are light, have a quiet operation, and don’t heat up too much, hence last longer. Cheap motors can be wobbly, less durable, and noisy in the long run.
5. Material of the blades
It is recommended to go for aluminum blades, as solid wood or sheet metal blades won’t be able to endure extreme climatic conditions.
6. Height of the fan
The thumb rule is that the ceiling fan must be mounted up to 8 or 9 inches above the floor for optimal airflow. If it is mounted way too above the floor and has a small rod, you may experience poor airflow, which ultimately defies the purpose of a ceiling fan.
For high ceilings, use a down-rod to mount the fan at the right height so as to get an optimal cooling experience.
7. Smart Features
With digital advancements, today you will see ceiling fans featuring smart features such as remote control or Wi-Fi compatibility, which allow you to control the fan via a smartphone app. Some models are compatible with smart voice assistants such as Google Assistant, Alexa, etc. to take voice commands.
Hi-tech fan models allow automated scheduling to cut down electricity bills and save energy. Some even come with motion sensors that automatically turn off the fan when there is no activity sensed in the room and turn it ON when the room has occupants.
8. Non-dust design
Conventional ceiling fans tend to accumulate heaps of dust on the blades, which require regular cleaning. However, today you will find non-dust ceiling fan designs with blades featuring nano-paint coating. This prevents the accumulation of dust up to 50% lesser than old-school models, making it a breeze to maintain and clean.
9. Designer Fans
Ceiling fans often flaunt a basic, minimalist design. But, there are a few unique, designer ceiling fans that will add pizzazz to your home decor with their pleasing aesthetics. You will find a wide range of colors, designs, and styles in ceiling fans with mesmeric features such as LED lights that double as a chandelier or lamp and light up the space.
10. Performance parameters
When buying a ceiling fan, look at the power consumption given in Watts. The next important factors to look into would be RPM (revolutions per minute) and CMM (Cubic Meters per Minute) which determine the ratio of the amount of air discharged to the area covered. A fan with 200-230 CMM will deliver amazing air circulation. The higher the CMM, the better will be the air delivery.
The goal is to get optimal airflow so the room feels breezy and cool.
11. Rod Length
The rod connects the ceiling fan with your ceiling. Here’s the reference of down-rod size as per the ceiling height in your room:
| Ceiling Height | Down Rod Size |
|---|---|
| 8-10 Feet | 10 inches |
| 11-12 Feet | 22 inches |
| 13-14 Feet | 3 Feet |
| 15 Feet | 5 Feet |
Ceiling Fan Buying Guide: FAQs
Some of the crucial factors to look for when buying a ceiling fan would be power consumption, the number of blades, fan size, type of motor used, the warranty provided, blade material, and paint/finishing on the blades. You can check this list of top ceiling fan models available in India.
A 4-blade ceiling fan is ideal for rooms with AC, as they circulate breezy air. Such fans are less noisy and look more stylish. On the contrary, 3-blade fans have fast airflow and are affordable, but can be noisy.
Here are the Top 7 Best Brands for Ceiling Fans in India:
- Havells
- Atomberg
- Orient
- Crompton
- Bajaj
- Usha
- Luminous
It all depends on the size of the room. Rooms with 70-150 sq.ft. area would require a 1200mm fan sweep. Likewise, rooms with 150-250 sq.ft. area would require a 1400mm fan sweep.
Capacitors in traditional ceiling fans may require replacement once in many years along with regular cleaning/dusting of blades. However, today we have ceiling fans with a nano-paint coating that repels dust from accumulating. Generally, ceiling fans are quite low-maintenance appliances that last for 10-20 years easily and simply require regular dusting/cleaning. Some may even last for decades.
Conclusion
Hope this detailed Ceiling Fan Buying Guide gives you meaningful insights into the factors to consider when buying a ceiling fan. Make sure to check the manufacturer’s warranty provided with the fan to get an idea of the brand’s credibility.
