When to use flushmount ceiling fans
Ceiling fans are a great way to cool your home without relying so heavily on air conditioning. They circulate cool air throughout the room on hot days, and during the colder months, they circulate the warm air that collects near the ceiling, saving you tons of money on your utility bill.
FLUSHMOUNT CEILING FANS
WHY NOT USE A STANDARD MOUNT FAN?
Unfortunately, due to building codes and safety concerns, not all ceilings can handle conventional standard mount fans. The blades of a ceiling fan should be no less than 7 feet from the floor, and if your ceiling is 8 feet high or less, then a standard mount fan won’t work for you.
WHAT'S DIFFERENT ABOUT A FLUSH MOUNT CEILING FAN?
Standard mount ceiling fans typically have 12 to 14 inches of space between the ceiling and fan blades. Flush mount fans, on the other hand, only need between 6 and 10 inches between the ceiling and the fan blades. Make sure to figure in that number, in addition to the distance from the fan blades to the floor, when deciding if a flushmount fan is the right choice for your home.
A SIMPLE WAY TO KNOW IF YOU NEED A FLUSHMOUNT FAN
As a simple rule: If your ceiling is 7.5 feet high or less, you need a flushmount ceiling fan. A standard mount ceiling fan will not meet the 7 foot minimum distance requirement (fan blades to floor).
FLUSH MOUNT CEILING FANS: IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS
SAFETY
It is important to factor head room into your ceiling fan selection for the safety of yourself, and anyone who comes into your home. Flush mount fans are definitely the safest choice for rooms with low ceilings, or even rooms with tall occupants!
FLUSH MOUNT FANS WORK BEST ON A FLAT CEILING
Flush mount ceiling fans are meant to be used on flat ceilings. Since flush mount fans are anchored directly to the ceiling, they require an adapter and downrod to fit vaulted or sloped ceilings. The adapter and downrod both add height to the ceiling fan which may defeat the idea of a flush mount ceiling fan for your purposes.
FLUSHMOUNT FANS SHOULD BE RESERVED FOR ROOMS WITH LOW CEILINGS
Flushmount fans should really only be used for rooms with low ceilings, as they don’t always produce the same airflow as standard ceiling fans since the blades are closer to the ceiling. If your ceilings are more than 8 feet high, then a standard mount fan should work for you, unless it has a light that hangs down low enough to impede on that 7 foot gap.
TIPS TO INSTALL A FLUSHMOUNT CEILING FAN
When installing a flushmount ceiling fan, it is important to be sure that you have the proper clearance, so that you don’t have to take it down later, because it turned out that the ceiling was lower than you anticipated. Before you begin installing anything:
- Measure the height of your ceiling one more time! It's worth it.
- Factor in the height of the ceiling fan when mounted. You can either get this info from the fan manual or, if you have a helper, have the helper hold the ceiling fan up to the ceiling and take a measurement.
- Verify that you have all the parts you need. It's surprising how many times we hear that people got half way through an install only to find that a critical part was missing, or not included by the manufacturer.
- You should also be sure that the electrical box that you will connect the mounting base to is not plastic - plastic will not be strong enough to mount the fan to.
- Carefully! Pull down on the base after installing, to be sure the base will support the fan when it is being operated.
- If you have a light kit, it should not be installed until after everything else has been installed, and the fan blades are securely in place. However, it's a good idea to put everything together on the floor first to ensure all pieces fit properly and there are no issues before you begin mounting the base to your ceiling.
