How long does a ceiling fan last?

You can expect a ceiling fan to last 6 to 10 years, with an average of 8 years. Most ceiling fans today are sealed units, but some require an annual addition of oil at a port on the top of the the motor housing near the downrod. Also, an interior-rated ceiling fan at an exterior location will have a shorter life. 

    The number of on/off cycles of a ceiling fan motor, just like any other electric motor, is actually more of a factor of its lifespan than hours of usage. 

   Go to our blog post What is the average lifespan of the parts of a house? for rating of other house components. To understand the basis, potential use, and limitations of lifespan ratings, see our blog post How accurate are the average life expectancy ratings of home components? Are they actually useful? 

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Field Guide for Home Inspectors, a quick reference for finding the age of 154 brands of HVAC systems, water heaters, and electrical panels, plus 210 code standards for site-built and manufactured homes, and the life expectancy rating of 195 home components. Available at amazon.com for $19.95.
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Here’s links to a collection of some of our other blog posts about CEILING FANS: 

• What are the code requirements for ceiling fan installation?

• What is the minimum height of a ceiling fan above the floor? 

• Why are my ceiling fan blades drooping? 

• How does a home inspector check the ceiling fans? 

• What is the code requirement for ceiling (paddle) fans near or above a swimming pool? 

• How close can a smoke detector be to a ceiling fan?

• Does a home inspector check ceiling fans?

• Does code require a ceiling fan to be grounded?

    Visit our APPLIANCES page for other related blog posts on this subject, or go to the INDEX for a complete listing of all our articles. 

NOTE: These life expectancies are based on data provided by InterNACHI, NAHB, FannieMae, and our own professional experience. Because of the numerous variables that can affect a lifespan, they should be used as rough guidelines only, and not relied upon as a warranty or guarantee of future performance.