04-27-2012, 02:19 PM
Cheap ceiling fans last around 5-10 years. High end ones.. for life. You have to decide how much you're going to invest.
I've been happy with Hunter's products in the past.
11 foot ceiling ? Technically no, you don't *need* a downrod. I avoid them.. it's just one more connection failure point. But you can get a 'tall' motor housing fan rather than a 'flush' fan for that point. However... having a downrod means that the close to the ceiling area gets more 'stir' from the fan, which is important. Drop it a foot or so, should be OK.
Wiring is always a biggie.. are the lights and wires pre-wired separately to your switch panel ? If not, think about 'remote' fans... reaching up for pull chains to turn lights on and off is so 1980's.
And of course don't forget to dust them. Fans usually fail because they're clogged with a few years of dust.
I've been happy with Hunter's products in the past.
11 foot ceiling ? Technically no, you don't *need* a downrod. I avoid them.. it's just one more connection failure point. But you can get a 'tall' motor housing fan rather than a 'flush' fan for that point. However... having a downrod means that the close to the ceiling area gets more 'stir' from the fan, which is important. Drop it a foot or so, should be OK.
Wiring is always a biggie.. are the lights and wires pre-wired separately to your switch panel ? If not, think about 'remote' fans... reaching up for pull chains to turn lights on and off is so 1980's.
And of course don't forget to dust them. Fans usually fail because they're clogged with a few years of dust.