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Name | ||
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MiniSun 42 Wood Effect | ||
Westinghouse Vegas Ceiling Fan | ||
LE 30-Inch 6-Blade Fan | ||
Westinghouse Bendan Ceiling Fan | ||
Westinghouse Portland |
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You can open all the windows you like, and if you have air conditioning – not a commonplace household item here, but popular in workplaces – that ay well do the job, but for smaller rooms, and much less cost, there is something you can do to help combat the extreme heat we have been suffering. You could fit a fan, or more conveniently, a ceiling fan.
These are affordable, simple to use and cheap to run items that don’t take much fitting. They come in a wide range of shapes, sizes and different power levels, and they are very popular indeed. That’s why we took the time to review the top 10 best ceiling fans on the market right now, so that we can try and find the one that is best for you. Before we tell you more about them, let’s have a look at what a ceiling fan is, how it works, and why you need one.
Best Ceiling Fans
1: MiniSun 42” Wood Effect
Our first example is this rather nice model from MiniSun, a brand with a good range of such products and other household items. This one is a 42-inch wide fan, with four blades, and will be effective in a normal-sized room or larger. It fits nicely to the ceiling via an easy to install boss – this one does not need a professional to fit it, though you do need to be competent at DIY and you are dealing with electrical circuits – and it operates via the usual pull on/off cord for ease of use.
What we like about this model, which has three separate fan speeds, is that it comes with reversible blades. On one side they are a nice white finish, on the other side they give a wood-look effect. This is a neat touch when it comes to versatility. The fan can be run in either direction for added effect, and also features a nice glass dome with an integral light, so you have that advantage too. It’s a good price too, though you may want to factor in fitting if you are not confident.
- Wood or white
- 42 inch
- 3 speeds
- Easy to use
2: Westinghouse Vegas Ceiling Fan
This is another model that can be either white or wood – or you can have it in silver too if you wish for a little extra outlay – and it follows the style and type of the above model very closely. This is a four-blade fan, which seems to be the norm, that is plumbed into the mains, so you may wan a professional to fit it unless you are competent in dealing with electrical systems. It’s a neat model with the usual on/off pull cable, but you can also get a remote control or wall switch fitted.
This one has 3 speeds, which is again the norm, and fits in a neat boss to the ceiling. It runs both ways so is usable in cold or warm weather, and it is again a 42-inch fan, so the same size as that above. This size of fan will work well in an average lounge or bedroom – or any other room – so is perfect for standard use. It’s a nice model that comes at a decent price, but remember to consider fitting once again.
- wood or white
- 42 inch
- 3 speeds
- remote control
3: LE 30-Inch 6-Blade Fan
The two above feature straight blades, in the style you would see in colonial buildings for example, but this rather stylish ceiling fan from the LE brand is a little different. Here, you get 6 blades – as opposed to the usual 4 – and they are curved in a nice modern style for both effectiveness and appearance. It’s finished in white – the blades are fixed so cannot be reversed – and it sits very close to the ceiling when fitted for space saving.
This model is designed to be perfectly balanced so it is very quiet – and the motor itself is practically silent – and it comes with both the pull cord and a wall switch. It has three running speeds for added versatility, and it can be reversed for winter and summer use, which is a very useful feature indeed. It may need professional fitting so make sure you consider that, and although it is only 30-inches in diameter – a full foot shorter than the two above – the six blades work well in moving air. It has a light fitting, and is sensibly priced.
- 6 blades
- 30-inches
- 3 speeds
- reversible
4: Westinghouse Bendan Ceiling Fan
One of the leading brands in the ceiling fan field, Westinghouse is a name that is associated with top quality items at sensible prices, and this example from their vast range – the Bendan model – is a very stylish design indeed. It is finished in ‘wengue’ – which would appear to be a rather nice charcoal wood-effect look – with a nice brushed chrome finish on the central fitting, an has stylishly slightly curved blades, five in total.
The diameter of this one is 52-inches, so that’s the biggest by far so far, and it works on the usual 3-speed mode from a hand held remote control unit that operates on off, speed and reverse. It’s best fitted by someone who knows about these things – all electrical work should be done by yourself only if you have the right training – and it is easy to use and very quiet. All in all, a very nice large-scale ceiling fan that will be great in bigger rooms, but be aware this one is more expensive by some margin compared to those we have already looked at.
- 5 blades
- 52-inches
- 3 speeds
- reversible
5: Westinghouse Portland
We make no apology for including a number of Westinghouse products in this list, as they do have what can only be called a comprehensive collection of quality fans. Whereas the one above offers a nice modern look, the Portland – features here – is more of a traditional style, with a decidedly old-fashioned yet very stylish look to it. The chrome centre with squared-off black blades give it an air of the vintage, the sort of design you may expect in an older, very grand hotel.
It has four blades, with a diameter of 36-inches – so it’s not among the widest of fans here – and it offers the usual three speeds with a summer/winter reverse switch, plus the light fitting. It’s best fitted by someone who is certified to deal with electrical systems, and needs mounting on the ceiling correctly too, but it is not a difficult job. All in all, a very stylish, rather nicely made ceiling fan, and at a surprisingly low price for the brand.
- 36-inches
- Four blades
- Vintage look
- 3 speeds
6: Westinghouse Turbo Swirl
Another offering from Westinghouse, this is a wood-finish model with curved blades and a style of its own. It is a six-blade model and they are curved in a nice modern style for both effectiveness and appearance. It’s finished in wood-look – the blades are fixed so cannot be reversed – and it sits very close to the ceiling when fitted for space saving.
This model is designed to be perfectly balanced so it is very quiet – and the motor itself is practically silent – and it comes with both the pull cord and a wall switch. It has three running speeds for added versatility, and it can be reversed for winter and summer use, which is a very useful feature indeed. It may need professional fitting so make sure you consider that, and although it is only 30-inches in diameter – a full foot shorter than the two above – the six blades work well in moving air. It has a light fitting, and is sensibly priced.
- 6 blades
- 30-inches
- 3 speeds
- Reversible
7: Westinghouse Princess Trio
This model, with its bright white finish and very feminine detailing, would look great in a girls bedroom, or in a main bedroom. It’s a 4-fan model, again from the Westinghouse range, with straight blades that are again vintage in style, and nicely finished. It could even be called ‘traditional’ in style if you wished. The pull-cord operation adds a nice touch but can be over-ridden with a remote or switch if you wish, and it has the usual three speeds.
It’s reversible for winter and summer use – we’ll explain more about that in a moment – and should be fitted by someone with experience and knowledge of electrical systems, so remember to factor that into your costs (unless, of course, you are indeed able). It’s a 42-inch model, and the trio bit refers to three rather stylish lights that are also part of the deal. Also, it’s not a bad price at all given the brand and quality of the item.
- 4 blades
- Three lights
- White finis
- 3 speeds
8: MiniSun Silver Chrome and Wood 30”
This is the second model we have featured from MiniSun, and it’s another of the shorter curved blade designs, which look very modern. It’s finished in a chrome and wood look design which is also very stylish. It is a six-blade model and they are curved in a nice modern style for both effectiveness and appearance. It’s finished in wood-look – the blades are fixed so cannot be reversed – and it sits very close to the ceiling when fitted for space saving.
This model is designed to be perfectly balanced so it is very quiet – and the motor itself is practically silent – and it comes with both the pull cord and a wall switch. It has three running speeds for added versatility, and it can be reversed for winter and summer use, which is a very useful feature indeed. It may need professional fitting so make sure you consider that, and although it is only 30-inches in diameter – a full foot shorter than the two above – the six blades work well in moving air. It has a light fitting, and is sensibly priced.
- 6 blades
- 30-inches
- 3 speeds
- Reversible
9: QAZQA Retro Ceiling Fan
This decidedly retro-look fan comes in a brass and wood finish, and is very neat with excellent detailing. This is a four-blade fan that is plumbed into the mains, so you may want a professional to fit it unless you are competent in dealing with electrical systems. It’s a neat model with the usual on/off pull cable, and all the standard features you would expect from a ceiling fan of this type.
This one has 3 speeds, which is again the norm, and fits in a neat boss to the ceiling. It runs both ways so is usable in cold or warm weather, and it is again a 40-inch fan, so not the largest but a decent size. If you’re wondering how the summer/winter thing works, it’s like this: in summer, the fan draws air down into the room, and in winter, it takes the cool air up – very simple and effective! This size of fan will work well in an average lounge or bedroom – or any other room – so is perfect for standard use. It’s a nice model that comes at a decent price, but remember to consider fitting once again.
- Brass and wood
- 40 inches
- 3 speeds
- Light fitting
10: Farelek Maldives Ceiling Fan
Our final entry is a simple yet very stylish model by Farelek and it is a traditional four-blade fan but with some neat detail differences that make it worth our notice. It’s finished in white, so will fit neatly into any room without fuss, and it is a 3-speed model, which is in line with every other one on the list. It’s nicely made with a lacquered finish, and is quite modern yet with some standard styling cues – such as the straight blades that are rather good looking.
It’s a 42-inch model, so about the standard size needed to cool a good sized room, and it comes with all the bits needed, including the boss. Once again, it’s essential it is fitted by someone with the relevant knowledge and experienced, be that yourself or someone other. You get three nice lights attached to this one, with decent power output too, so it is a great addition to any room, and while not the cheapest, it’s certainly not expensive for what is a quality item.
- 42-inch
- 3-speed
- Triple light fittings
How It Works
You have seen ceiling fans in action, most likely in a place of work or a commercial premises. They hang from the ceiling and turn at quite a slow rate, and they are very effective at aiding cooling. However, how they do so is actually unusual: a ceiling fan, like any other fan, does not actually cool the air – in the way that an air conditioning system does – but simply moves it around. This constant movement has the effect of cooling, as you feel it against your skin – much as you would a light breeze.
So, a ceiling fan keeps you cool, but how does it operate? It will most likely be electrically powered, by a small electric motor either wired or plugged into the mains. It will also be mounted to the ceiling by way of screws and a bracket, and probably operated by a pull-switch that turns it on and off. You may find one that has variable speeds – this can help the cooling process – or prefer a single-speed model, and there are different sizes to choose from.
Ceiling fans can come in a variety of colours – although most popular is white – and also with different numbers of blades, yet you will find they are surprisingly affordable, easy to fit, and serve an important purpose. So, let’s talk in more detail about the top 10 best ceiling fans available right now, and see if we can find one that is right for you.
Important Features to Consider
What do you need to look for when choosing the best ceiling fan for your home or workplace? We have mentioned a number of details in our reviews above, so here are a few of the most relevant factors to think about:
Style – do you want a modern look, or are you in the market for a more traditional style of ceiling fan? Among our selections are examples of each, so you have plenty of choice, and the difference in appearance across allows for many different options.
Size – the diameter, across the blades, of these fans varies; the smallest are 30-inches across, the largest is 52-inches. Clearly, the bigger the fan, the more area it will handle, so check the makers information for details.
Blades – how many blades? You have a choice of 4, 5 or 6 – it’s up to you!
Operation – all have three speeds, and all can run in two directions for summer or winter use, so the only consideration is whether you want the standard pull-cord on and off, or a remote or wall switch.
Installation – while a ceiling fan could be a DIY project – after all it is not a large or difficult job – as you are dealing with an electrical installation you should only attempt it yourself if you are trained, or get someone in who is suitably qualified.
So, that’s our list of things to think about when buying the best ceiling fan, but is one of the ten we have chosen right for you? Let’s see if we can wrap it up!
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Let’s Wrap It Up!
You want the best ceiling fan – they are fine additions to a room and serve an excellent purpose, after all – but which one? We’ve given you a good cross-section to choose from, with every type and style included that we could find, so if you’re still stuck for an answer, here’s a tip: read through the reviews again, then use our advice above to make a list of what you need, and take it from there- or, read on!
Which is best for you depends primarily on two aspects: where it is going to go – and the size of the room in question – and the style of décor it has to fit in with. For example, if you have an older-style house and furnishings, one of the modern-look fans is going to be out of place. In such a setting, we would choose the Westinghouse Portland, which has a very old-age feel to it, or for something less ostentatious, perhaps the QAZQA retro model, number 9 on the list. Both are very nice and sensibly priced.
For a modern look, we recommend you check out any of the six-blade models, which are compact and stylish, and also suitable for smaller rooms as a result. The six-blade set up looks very swish and up to date, and is a sensible choice.
Finally, if you have a very large room you could buy two of your choice, or opt for the giant of the list, which is the 52-inch Westinghouse Bendan design. It’s not only very large and powerful, but very attractive too, and would not look out of place in any setting.
That’s our verdict, then, so have another look and get yourself the best ceiling fan that does the trick!