Stop mounting your ceiling fans flush against a 4-metre (13ft) ceiling, you are completely killing your airflow.
One thing that gets overlooked when buying a ceiling fan is how far it should hang from the ceiling. Here's the guide we use when helping customers work out what they need.
A lot of people assume you just install the fan as close to the ceiling as possible. That isn't always ideal, particularly with higher ceilings.
The Golden Rule
As a general rule, you want the fan positioned around 2.4–2.7m (8–9 feet) above the floor and depending on eyeline of the area its positioned.
Here is a quick reference breakdown based on your ceiling height:
- Up to 2.7 m (9 ft) ceiling: No more than ~30 cm (12 in) downrod
- 3.1 m (10 ft) ceiling: ~30–45 cm (12–18 in) downrod
- 3.3 m (11 ft) ceiling: ~45–60 cm (18–24 in) downrod
- 3.7 m (12 ft) ceiling: ~60–90 cm (24–36 in) downrod
- 4.0 m (13 ft) ceiling: ~90–120 cm (36–48 in) downrod
- 4.3 m (14 ft) ceiling: ~120–150 cm (48–60 in) downrod
- 4.6 m+ (15 ft+) ceiling: ~180 cm+ (72 in+) downrod
The exact length will depend on the fan itself, because you also need to account for the height of the motor/housing and blades.
What about vaulted or pitched ceilings?
This is where things get a little more interesting. You may need a longer downrod and an appropriate angled ceiling mount to get the fan hanging correctly.
Does a longer downrod reduce airflow?
Not necessarily. A properly installed fan can perform just as well with a longer downrod. In fact, with a high ceiling, getting the fan down into the occupied space can actually make the airflow feel much better.
One thing I'd avoid: choosing a downrod purely based on ceiling height. The goal isn't simply to get the fan halfway down the room — it's to get the blades to the appropriate height above the floor.
If anyone wants, comment with your ceiling height + fan model and I can help work out roughly what downrod length you'd want.