Re:What is going on with ceiling fans
by dlevine on Sunday October 04, 2026 @10:24PM
(#49960040)
A few years back, I replaced all the bedroom light fixtures in my condo with fan/light combos. It has been getting hotter in SF, and I thought fans might help during the limited number of hot summer days. I didn’t have room for both a fan and a ceiling fixture, so I went with combo units.
I actually ended up with one fan that looks exactly like the enclosed one (I had limited clearance and needed something small). It works fine as both a light and a fan. If the bulb goes out, I can just replace the whole thing (it wasn’t that expensive).
For the other one, I bought something higher end bc I had enough clearance to go with larger blades (44” Minka Aire Light Wave). The light is a plug-in module, so if it goes out, I can find a replacement (assuming they still make the module).
Overall, these combined units aren’t perfect, but they let you add a fan without needing to add more wiring. The one thing to be careful of is to make sure your electrical boxes are fan rated.
I actually ended up with one fan that looks exactly like the enclosed one (I had limited clearance and needed something small). It works fine as both a light and a fan. If the bulb goes out, I can just replace the whole thing (it wasn’t that expensive).
For the other one, I bought something higher end bc I had enough clearance to go with larger blades (44” Minka Aire Light Wave). The light is a plug-in module, so if it goes out, I can find a replacement (assuming they still make the module).
Overall, these combined units aren’t perfect, but they let you add a fan without needing to add more wiring. The one thing to be careful of is to make sure your electrical boxes are fan rated.