Fan Basics
Choosing the right size of fan does not depend only on the size of the room. It is also important to consider the layout of the room, where in the room people to tend to congregate, where the airflow is most required and how high the ceiling is.
Our smaller diameter fans (1.2m, 1.3m and 1.4m) produce mainly downdraft within a radius extending up to a metre beyond the blade tips. Our larger fans (1.5m, 1.6m and 1.8m), produce greater side-draft and less direct down-draft. Therefore, when selecting a fan, it is important to decide whether a direct cooling draft is required or whether gentle air circulation is the more important factor.
Given below is a sizing chart that can be used as a rough guide to selecting the size fan. Please feel free however to contact us if you would like to discuss your specific situation or room layout.

Generally speaking, a ceiling fan should be positioned between 2500mm – 2900mm from the floor. Occasionally there may be good reasons why this cannot be done (eg; when the ceiling itself is unusually low, or where roof beam trusses prevent the fan being mounted at this height.
A quick rule of thumb is to measure the height from floor ceiling and then deduct 2700mm. The resulting figure should be the length of the down rod you will need.
The Sirocco, Monaco, Solano and Fern ranges come standard with a 150mm down rod making the overall length of the unit from mounting point to base of fan approximately 300mm – 320mm. The Classic and the Piccolo fans are provided standard with a 230mm down rod and an overall height of 410mm.
For online purchase we are offering four length options: 1) Standard length 2) 600mm and 3) 1200mm and 4) 1500mm. The longer lengths are supplied pre-wired. We advise strongly against cutting of lengths provided as this may affect the performance of the fan and will invalidate the suppliers warranty.
Should you require a different length of down rod, please contact Timber Fans directly to discuss before proceeding with your online purchase.
For safety reasons fan blades should never be positioned lower than 2300mm from floor level..

We are able to supply longer down rods up to a maximum of 2.5 meters in length (Classic and Piccolo – up to 4m). Please advise us your “floor to ceiling” heights and we will calculate the appropriate length down rods that you need.
Longer down rods should not affect fan performance at all. However, abnormal length down rods for the Sirocco and Solano Ranges may necessitate some on-site balancing using the balance kit provided with these fans.
| Sirocco 1.5m | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Input | Speed | Output Current (A) | Output Power (W) | RPM | CFM |
| 240V/50Hz | 6 | 0.20 | 27.0 | 180 | 8244 |
| 5 | 0.16 | 18.4 | 160 | 6875 | |
| 4 | 0.12 | 13.1 | 142 | 5805 | |
| 3 | 0.08 | 8.7 | 120 | 4773 | |
| 2 | 0.06 | 6.1 | 102 | 3965 | |
| 1 | 0.04 | 4.0 | 80 | 2803 | |
| Sirocco 1.8m | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Input | Speed | Output Current (A) | Output Power (W) | RPM | CFM |
| 240V/50Hz | 6 | 0.25 | 28.8 | 131 | 9018 |
| 5 | 0.22 | 23.7 | 125 | 8234 | |
| 4 | 0.19 | 18.8 | 116 | 6955 | |
| 3 | 0.16 | 14.0 | 105 | 6150 | |
| 2 | 0.12 | 8.2 | 85 | 5353 | |
| 1 | 0.10 | 5.3 | 67 | 4393 | |
| Monaco 1.3m / 1.5m | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Input | Speed | Output Current (A) | Output Power (W) | RPM | CFM |
| 240V/50Hz | 6 | 0.21 | 24.8 | 162 | 8288 |
| 5 | 0.15 | 15.0 | 134 | 5495 | |
| 4 | 0.11 | 9.5 | 111 | 4319 | |
| 3 | 0.09 | 6.4 | 86 | 3287 | |
| 2 | 0.08 | 4.5 | 68 | 2901 | |
| 1 | 0.07 | 3.4 | 50 | 1929 | |
| Solano 1.3m | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Input | Speed | Output Current (A) | Output Power (W) | RPM | CFM |
| 240V/50Hz | 6 | 0.22 | 23.6 | 185 | 5590 |
| 5 | 0.19 | 19.2 | 170 | 4945 | |
| 4 | 0.13 | 10.9 | 137 | 3843 | |
| 3 | 0.11 | 6.8 | 112 | 3252 | |
| 2 | 0.09 | 3.7 | 81 | 2372 | |
| 1 | 0.09 | 2.6 | 61 | 1872 | |
Installing a fan is not difficult but it is a precision job requiring strict compliance with our written installation instructions that come with each order.
A badly installed fan can result in fan noise or wobble and can be an electrical hazard. For this reason we strongly recommend that the installation be carried out by a qualified electrician. Failure to observe our installation instructions may result in the fan Warranty being voided.
All of our ranges come standard with remote control units. Wall-mounts (where available) are an optional extra. The remote control and wall-mount cannot be used simultaneously; one must be selected.
Sirocco, Monaco, Fern, Solano, Avanti, Tropica ranges (BLDC motors)
- The standard controller supplied is a 6 speed RF remote control and receiver unit. This aligns with the international trend towards remote controls rather than fixed wall-mounted controls.
- For the Sirocco, Monaco and Solano ranges, a wall-mount option is available at an additional cost.
- The Fern, Avanti and Tropica ranges do not have a wall-mount option available.
- Our wall-mounts and remotes are supplied in White. Black remotes (not wall-mounts) are available and must be requested when ordering.
Classic and Piccolo ranges (AC motors)
- These ranges include a 5 speed remote control and receiver unit as standard.
- As an optional extra, we can supply a 5 speed wall-mounted controller with each fan ordered.
- The controller faceplate fits a standard “2 x 4 electrical box” commonly installed in most homes. If in any doubt, consult your electrician.
- Our standard faceplates are Clipsal/Schneider in White. Black wall-mounts are available on request and must be specified when ordering.
Note
When ordering spares, please advise the fan model and blade diameter so we can provide the correct controller.
A ceiling fan does not change the actual ambient temperature of a room. What it does do, is move or distribute air. This has several interesting implications;
From a cooling perspective in Summer, by directing a downdraft onto a person, a fan creates a breeze which has a cooling effect by evaporating body moisture to make one feel cooler and more comfortable.
From a warming perspective in Winter, a fan circulates the air in a room to distribute the warm air that has risen and may be trapped in the ceiling area. By doing this, it raises the temperature of the air at the lower levels and makes one feel warmer.
Definitely.
All too often, we have energy-guzzling heaters or gas burners creating heat in a room only to find that the hot air they generate, rises and becomes trapped up at the ceiling!
By running your Fan at slow speed (no need to reverse rotation) the downdraft re-circulates the hot air trapped at the ceiling, to provide even, comfortable heat throughout the room.
A ceiling fan consumes roughly 5% of the energy of an average 1500Watt electrical heater used in the home, but can achieve heating savings of up to 30% by dispersing the hot air normally trapped in the roof space.
You could probably run about 20 – 30 ceiling fans for the same amount of energy that would be needed to run one domestic air conditioning unit. That’s a huge difference in energy consumption!
In hot or humid environments where an air conditioner is considered essential, it makes a lot of sense to operate a ceiling fan in tandem with the air conditioner. By doing so, one can limit the operating time of the air conditioner and obtain the same cooling effect with the fan circulating the already chilled air.
Please contact Timber Fans on the specifics of your planned system. Our speed regulators are designed to be compatible with our fan motors and we cannot guarantee compatibility when other systems are interposed or are used instead of our regulators.
Yes definitely.
By using a fan in conjunction with an air conditioner, one can reduce the workload and energy usage of the air conditioner by as much as 20% – 30%. This is a huge savings considering that a fan uses less than 5% of the energy of an air conditioner.
Yes. Mosquitoes and flying insects don’t like the draft. But that is not to say that some determined mosquitoes will not manage to get through and attack you!
Yes, they certainly can, but you will need to get your builder or carpenter to install a wooden “boss” or wedge in the ceiling to provide a firm horizontal surface for attaching the down rod.
Note that the down rod must be long enough to ensure that the fan blades do not touch against the slanted ceiling.

A long down rod does not make a fan more likely to wobble, as all our fans fitted with long down rods are pre-balanced.
We can supply down rods up to 3 meters in length.
For the Classic, Piccolo and Solano ranges, we can supply down rods up to 4 meters in length.
For our BLDC ranges (except the Solano), the receiver sits in the top ceiling cup. Should anything happen to the receiver (for example, damage from a power surge), access to the ceiling cup will be required to replace it.
This should be taken into consideration if your ceiling is very high, inaccessible, or would require scaffolding to reach.
TROUBLESHOOTING
Warranty/Guarantee applicable to purchasers in South Africa.
- Check that the bolts screws securing the down rod to the motor shaft are securely tightened.
- Check the same for the bolt at the ceiling side where the down rod connects to the shackle assembly or hanger bracket.
- Check that the fan blades are securely fastened to the motor.
- Check that the cup over the motor is not touching the motor and causing vibration. Lift it slightly away from the motor if necessary.
- Ensure there is a gap of at least 5 mm between the top cup and the ceiling.
- Ensure the grub screw on the cup is securely tightened (Classic and Piccolo ranges).
If the noise persists after completing the above checks, please contact us so we can troubleshoot with you over the phone.
If you have called an electrician to inspect your fan, please ensure that the electrician contacts us while still on site so that we can discuss the issue in real time.
Do not attempt to disassemble the fan or motor unless you are a qualified installer. Doing so may invalidate the warranty.
Fern, Monaco, Avanti, Tropica, Sirocco, Solano ranges (BLDC motors)
- The receiver unit may be faulty or blown. If you have a spare, try swapping it to test; otherwise, return it to Timber Fans for testing.
- If the fan is not spinning or only “kicks,” there may be a loose wire connection (weak signal to the motor).
Checks to perform (with your electrician):
- Test electrical continuity on all wires.
- Test continuity on the hanger gear; ensure Live and Neutral are connected to the connector block.
- Check all wiring for loose pin connectors; pins may loosen during installation or with long down rods. You should feel a slight “click” when pushing pins fully into place.
- Inspect all cable connections from the motor up to the hanger gear.
- If the fan still kicks, the receiver may be faulty or there may be rare radio frequency interference.
- If you have multiple fans, swap receivers to identify a faulty unit.
Classic or Piccolo ranges (AC motors)
- The capacitor may be faulty or blown; replacing it is usually simple and inexpensive. Have your electrician inspect and test first.
- Older fans may need new bearings or a new hanging gear rubber; a worn rubber or loose gear can create noise.
- Fans on wall-mount controls may require a module update.
Next steps:
- Contact us first; we can often troubleshoot via video with your electrician.
- For servicing or bearing replacements, the fan must be returned to our workshop. Contact us to arrange secure packaging and return.
In the unlikely event that your fan is wobbling after installation, or after a period of time, there is a way to attempt to re-balance the unit. This procedure applies only to the Classic/Fern/Piccolo ranges.
- Switch off fan
- Use a measuring tape or a carpenter’s square to measure the distance between ceiling and the tip of fan blade as shown below.
- Mark on tape or square and repeat with other two blades.
- Carefully bend blade(s) at bracket in the required direction until all three blades measure precisely the same distance to ceiling.
- Switch on the fan and check to see if it is now running smoothly and without any wobble.
The problem may be that the fan has been set on Winter reverse mode instead of standard mode.
Reverse mode will tend to force the air up to the ceiling rather than down to the floor.
Checking on this is easy:
- Look up at the fan and check whether the blades are moving in a clockwise or anti-clockwise direction as you look “up” at them.
- If they are moving anti-clockwise then your fan is running in the normal default Summer mode.
- If they are rotating clockwise then your fan is in Winter reverse mode.
- Note: The Classic and Piccolo ranges do not have the Winter reserve mode function.
Change the rotational direction of your fan by pressing the “Rotate” button on your remote while the fan is running – Your fan will slow down and eventually stop. Then after a moment’s pause, it will start up again rotating in the opposite direction to what it was before.
Switch off your remote when it is running in your desired direction. The next time you switch it on, it should run in the last memorised direction that you had set it.
About us and our fans
We believe our fans are amongst the quietest available anywhere.
Every fan we make is tested electronically for noise levels according to very strict tolerances.
Some level of noise is inevitable with any fan at higher speeds, but at the lower speed positions 1 and 2, our fans should be whisper quiet. Exactly what you would expect from a fan of this quality!
Most fans available from discount retailers are mass-produced items, typically with aluminum blades, basic metal finishes, and lower-grade motor components. As a result, they are often prone to wobble, noise, and a shorter working life.
Timber Fans are individually handcrafted, carefully tested, and balanced before being approved for delivery. We use only high-quality materials, sourced locally or imported, ensuring durability, performance, and refined aesthetics.
With decades of experience in designing, building, and servicing ceiling fans, we are true specialists in our field. We know and understand our products intimately - from the engineering of the motor to the balance of each blade - allowing us to offer practical advice, reliable solutions, and expert technical support.
We pride ourselves on personalised after-sales service and support, whether you have purchased one fan or one hundred. Our team is always available for telephone support if questions arise during installation or if assistance is needed at any stage.
Our straightforward, no-nonsense warranty ensures that you receive the quality and reliability you expect, without compromise.
When it comes to design and timeless elegance, Timber Fans continue to set the standard - enhancing the comfort, character, and beauty of homes and living spaces.
A number of lighting and home decor stores around the country do sell our fans and display a limited number of our models. However, because of the wide range of finishes and styles that we offer, it is generally not practical for dealers to display very many models or to carry stocks.
Should you be looking for an agent in your area, please call us and we will gladly give you a referral to your closest dealers.
Customers are free to deal with any of our dealers or to buy directly from us.
Our fans are not intended for outdoor use.
They may be installed under covered patio areas provided they are fully protected against wind or water damage.
It is not necessary to have a reverse function on a fan as some fan suppliers might claim. By creating a down-draft or side-draft a fan is forcing the circulation of all the air in the room and this includes the warm air that would otherwise tend to be trapped in the upper reaches of the room. This results in the warm air being distributed more evenly throughout the room thereby raising the temperature of the air closer to ground level. A reverse function will provide a more direct up-draft and this may be desirable in certain situations where a down-draft needs to be minimised.
All of our ranges (except for the Classic and Piccolo) offer reverse mode. The Classic and Piccolo ranges are uni-direction only.
You can buy the electrical accessories from the agent through whom you bought the fan in the first instance, or if they are not able to assist, you can contact Timber Fans directly through the Contact page on our website or by telephoning us.
Depending on the type of timber selected and the finishing options chosen, we can normally ship from between 1 - 3 weeks from order placement. However, our door is always open to discuss urgent requirements that you may have.
We ship throughout Southern Africa and worldwide. Our appointed freight couriers can deliver to most local destinations within 2 - 4 days, and for export orders we provide delivery schedules and price quotes for customer approval.
- Our Classic/Fern/ Piccolo range paddle-shaped blades are made from superior quality 5 ply marine ply veneered with two layers of selected timber veneer to give a 4mm -6 mm thick finished blade.
- Our Monaco / Sirocco range blades are made from a 5ply laminate of Paulownia hardwood timber which is similar to Balsa and has one of the highest strength to weight ratios of any wood in the world.
- The economically priced Solano range comes with 6 ply melamine-faced plywood giving an approximate 6mm finished thickness. The melamine comes in monochrome colours (black, white etc) or with wood grain effect.
The technique of laminating timber lengths in wooden products is universally adopted to strengthen and stabilise the finished product. Solid timber blades can be prone to warping, shrinkage or splitting and would not be suitable for many areas particularly extreme weather and dry environments.
Our signature wooden hubs (Classic/Fern) on the other hand are cut and machined from solid hardwood timber which has been carefully selected and seasoned before being fashioned into a fan hub.
RETURNS AND REPLACEMENT POLICY
UNWANTED PRODUCT
Timber Fans will take back and replace or refund any unwanted product supplied, provided the following is observed:
- You have communicated to us your wish to return an item within 21 days of initial delivery.
- The product you are returning is in resalable condition; free of scratches, blemishes or modifications of any kind
- All components, manuals and parts are returned
- The product is returned in its original packaging.
- The product is inspected/tested by us on return and found to be fault-free.
Freight and Insurance costs for a return and a replacement will be for your account. Goods returned will be subject to 10% handling fee in addition to freight costs.
Custom-designed fans are not accepted for return unless they can be converted back to a standard product with the cost of conversion borne by you.
FAULTY PRODUCT OR INCORRECT SUPPLY
Occasionally a new product has a fault on arrival or is felt to be the wrong product specification. If this happens, then our policy is to replace the faulty part(s) only. In this case, the faulty part must be returned to us for testing. Provided our tests confirm the fault, we will supply the replacement part(s) at no cost and will bear the freight cost for both shipments. However, if you do not want the product in its entirety, then you are free to return it as detailed in the “UNWANTED PRODUCT” section above.
Under no circumstances should any product be returned to us without prior communication with us to discuss and confirm the reason for the return.