A downrod is a simple ceiling fan part, but often a necessary one. A downrod connects your ceiling fan to the mounting box in the ceiling. A downrod suspends the fan from the ceiling, and the wiring also runs up within the downrod, providing a conduit for the wires. This also works to hide the wires out of the way. The downrod does provide some friction, so a fan that utilizes a downrod is more prone to vibration long term. If you ever see a fan having a lot of movement while turning, like the fan is looking like it may come off from the ceiling, shut the fan down and consider replacing the downrod.
Replacement downrods need to be the correct size. It is not recommended to replace a downrod with another that is not the same length – it simply won’t work out very well. For the best results, you should refer to your ceiling fan manual. This will provide the best part numbers to use with the fan. Not only do you want to match up the size, but the decor is important. For example, if your fan has a white finish you don’t want to use a downrod that is a completely different color. Therefore, finding the right part number for the replacement downrod is important.
Low Profile & Hugger Fans
Not all ceiling fans use downrods – you also have low profile and hugger fans on the market, which don’t use fan downrods. This is useful when you have a low ceiling. The downrod takes away the height that you have from the floor, so in a condensed or smaller room, this can be a challenge. A hugger fan “hugs” directly to the ceiling, leaving no space between the ceiling and the fan. This provides additional height in a room which is often already height challenged.
Ceiling fans provide the best airflow when they are hanging between eight to nine feet from the floor. If you have a ceiling that is between eight and nine feet high, it is best practice that you utilize a flush mount ceiling fan. If your ceiling height is less than eight feet, you should not install a ceiling fan as the fan blades would be less than seven feet to the floor.
What size downrod do I need?
Depending on the type of ceiling fan you’re using, downrods can vary in length and diameter. A general ceiling fan that you purchase will usually have a downrod which is from 2 inches to 10 inches long. This is the norm for a standard sized room, which has a height of eight to nine feet from the floor to the ceiling. With that being said, you can have a downrod which can be as long as 177 inches.
See the below chart for more details on what size downrod you would need for your Hampton Bay ceiling fan:
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