Most people who have gone smart at home started with the lights. A few globes, maybe a speaker, perhaps a plug or two. The ceiling fan usually gets left out, still running off a wall switch or a remote that lives down the back of the couch. That's a missed opportunity, because the fan is one of the hardest working things in an Australian house, and it's now one of the easiest to bring into the fold.
What is a smart ceiling fan, exactly?
A smart ceiling fan is one you can control from your phone or your voice, not just a wall plate. In most cases that means app control over speed and direction, scheduling, and in many models control of the built-in light as well. Voice assistant compatibility varies by model, so it's worth checking the specs on the fan you like. The Eglo Surf module below, for example, works with Google Home, Amazon Echo and Siri. Our full smart ceiling fans range is a good place to compare what each one offers.
Why DC fans make this possible
Almost every smart fan you'll see is a DC fan, and there's a good reason. A DC motor already runs through an electronic controller rather than a simple on and off switch, so adding app control is a small step rather than a big one. That's also why you get more speed settings, quieter running and a reverse function as standard. If you want the full story on why DC has taken over, have a read of our post on DC ceiling fans and how they compare with the old AC style.
"The best smart feature on a ceiling fan isn't a gimmick. It's never having to get up off the couch to turn it down."
What can you actually do with one?
This is where it stops being a tech demo and starts being useful. A few everyday examples:
- Set a schedule. Have the bedroom fan come on an hour before bed to take the heat out of the room, then drop to a lower speed overnight.
- Switch direction with the seasons. Run it forward in summer for a cooling breeze and in reverse on winter mornings to push warm air back down from the ceiling.
- Control it from anywhere. Turn it off from your phone when you realise you left it running after you left the house.
- Dim the light and change the fan speed together. Handy at night when you want a gentle breeze and a soft glow, not a bright room.
Do I need a whole smart home to use one?
Not at all. This is the bit that puts people off, and it shouldn't. A smart fan works perfectly well on its own with just the app. If you later add smart lighting or a voice assistant, the fan can sit alongside them, but you don't have to buy into a whole system on day one. Many of our customers start with one fan in the main bedroom and add from there.
Is it tricky to install?
A smart fan installs like any other ceiling fan, with the same mounting and the same wiring done by a licensed electrician. The smart part is the controller and the app setup afterwards, which is usually a matter of connecting to your home wifi. If you're after a particular look, our ceiling fan accessories range has downrods and the other parts you'll need to get the height and finish right.
Pairing it with smart lighting
If you do want to go further, the fan and the lights are the natural pairing. A cool evening scene with the lights down and the fan on low is the kind of thing that sounds small until you live with it. Have a browse through our smart lighting range to see what works alongside a smart fan.
Or choose a fan that's smart from the start
If you'd rather have it all in one box, a fan with smart control built in is the simplest route. The Calibo CloudFan is Smart Ready, so there are no extra parts to buy. You pair it with the Tuya Smart app, and your home wifi needs to be 2.4GHz for the setup. Here's the CloudFan in a real room.
Shop the range
Start with our smart ceiling fans, compare them against the wider DC ceiling fan collection, browse our Calibo fans, or look at the full ceiling fans category if you're not sure yet whether smart is for you.
Not sure which fan suits your room or how the app side works? Our Thornton team can talk it through, and it's much quicker than reading spec sheets.
