Ceiling-fan height
Q: Is it OK to install a ceiling fan in a 12-ft. by 17-ft. living room with an 8-ft. ceiling?
Q:
Is it OK to install a ceiling fan in a 12-ft. by 17-ft. living room with an 8-ft. ceiling?
Alan, via email
A:
Senior editor Andy Engel replies: I grew up in a house with 7-ft. 6-in. ceilings. There was a ceiling fan in the living room that, for obvious reasons, we called the “guillotine fan.” I don’t know how many times I stuck my arm into that beast while putting on a jacket. That said, I couldn’t find a code reference for a minimum ceiling fan height from the floor. Online sources say there should be at least 7 ft. from the blades to the floor and that more is better. While not ideal, there are many houses with both 8-ft. ceilings and ceiling fans. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions, and choose a low-profile model to preserve as much clearance as possible.
