Most ceiling fans are installed using a downrod. It is the metal pipe you see between the fan and the ceiling. One or two standard downrods are included with every ceiling fan you buy. However, you may need to install a shorter or a longer downrod depending on the height of the ceiling on which the fan is installed. This begs the question of whether downrods are universal or they need or if you need to match a downrod to your fan
Ceiling fan downrods are not universal. Each manufacturer creates downrods to fit with their particular design of ceiling fans. They differ in their UL rating, diameter, color, and type of installation. A new downrod should match your existing one in everything but length, and this is possible only if you buy it from the same brand.
Therefore, you cannot interchange downrods or buy any available in the local hardware shop.
Do you want to know why people buy different downrods for their fans when they already come with some? Continue reading.
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Why people buy other downrods
Like I said before, every ceiling fan you buy is included with one or more downrods. Unfortunately, these downrods are sized for rooms with standard heights, i.e., 8 to 9 feet. For taller or shorter rooms, the length of the downrods should be changed to hang the fan at the optimum height, which is 8 to 9 feet from the ground. This is why people buy extra downrods.
Given below are the indicative downrod lengths needs for rooms of different heights;
| Height of the Ceiling | Downrod Length |
|---|---|
| 9 feet | 6 inches |
| 10 feet | 12 inches |
| 11 feet | 18 inches |
| 12 feet | 24 inches |
| 13 feet | 36 inches |
| 14 feet | 48 inches |
| 15 feet | 60 inches |
So if your room’s height is 15 feet, can you buy any 60-inch downrod? The answer is no. You should buy only that downrod matching the UL rating of your fan, its color, its diameter, color, and installation. While you may find a matching downrod from another brand, the best is to buy one of the same brands. Almost all ceiling fan brands have extended downrods for this purpose, so you won’t have any trouble finding a matching product.
Why ceiling fan downrods are not universal
There are many manufacturers of ceiling fans, and each manufacturer engineers their brand of ceiling fans according to their specifications. There is no industry standard for the downrods for these ceiling fans that force suppliers to stay within certain design parameters for these parts of the fan installation.
As a result, each supplier designs and manufactures the downrods for their ceiling fans according to their own specifications and manufacturing requirements.
Ceiling fan downrods can differ from each other in the following specifications.
UL ratings
Downrods come with three different UL ratings just like ceiling fans. These ratings are;
- Wet rated – Suitable for any locations including wet locations like patio, pergola, etc
- Damp rated – Suitable for indoors and covered outdoor spaces like porches
- Dry rated – Suitable for dry indoor spaces only
A downrod should have the same UL rating as the fan used with it. For example, a damp rated fan in a porch should use a damp rated downrod. If a dry rated downrod is used instead, it will rust and can break loose within months. Similarly, a wet rated downrod should be replaced only with another wet rated downrod. Failing to do this can cause the fan to break off from the ceiling.
However, you can replace a dry rated downrod with any others irrespective of their UL ratings.
Downrod diameter
The diameter of ceiling fan downrods varies with brands. For example, Emerson downrods are usually 1/2 inch in diameter, whereas Minka Aire ones are 3/4″. Replacement with a differently sized downrod can cause the fan to wobble violently and even fall.
Note: There are two types of downrod diameters; standard diameter and actual diameter. The actual diameter is always more than the standard diameter, and it can be found only by measuring the item. However, it is irrelevant when looking for a replacement as only the standard diameter is mentioned in the downrod’s specifications. So to find a downrod with the matching diameter, make sure that their standard diameters are the same.
Type of installation
A downrod can be threaded or non-threaded. Non-threaded downrods are secured onto the fan housing using a cotter pin, while threaded downrods are fastened and secured with a screw. Therefore, you cannot replace a threaded downrod with a non-threaded one and vice versa. In addition, the thread count of different downrods vary; for example, Hunter Original fans use double-threaded downrods while Hunter fans require a single-threaded downrod. Make sure to check the downrod’s specifications before buying.
Color and finish
Unless you are very artistic and know what you are doing, I recommend buying a downrod that matches the color and finish of the fan it is to be fitted on. Even though a downrod is thin when looked at from the floor, even a slight contrast in its color and finish will stand out.
That being said, the color of the downrod does not affect the fan’s working; it only affects the visual appeal. So you can buy a downrod of any color if it matches the existing one in everything else.
Are Ceiling Fan Downrods Interchangeable?
Ceiling fan downrods may be interchangeable, but this is not necessarily by design. Because there are no hard and fast industry standards for these parts, it is not a factor that you can rely on when sourcing your downrods.
Ceiling fan downrods are not necessarily interchangeable, even within a particular brand. A supplier may produce different models of ceiling fans for different applications, each with its own style of downrod. So while there may be some interchangeability of downrods, there is no guarantee of this.
If a manufacturer produces a range of ceiling fans, you may find that some of the downrods across the ranges will be interchangeable. However, you should not base your purchase of a downrod on the premise that because the manufacturer is the same, the parts would be interchangeable.
What Can Go Wrong Using An Incorrect Downrod?
Some people decide to make a plan with a downrod and “jimmy” it to make it fit. This is neither a safe nor a recommended practice and it can have several undesirable effects on your ceiling fan and its operation and safety.
A cheaply manufactured downrod or a poorly fitted downrod can result in instability while the fan is running. This can result in the ceiling fan developing a wobble, which puts strain on all the fittings and fixtures holding the fan in place as well as in the fan itself.
The instability translated to additional wear-and-tear and could cause parts to fail. This could become a safety issue for anyone in the room when the failure occurs.
The instability of the fan could also cause the fan to dip lower than what is safe as the fan blades cycle round, posing a danger to people in the room.
How To Find The Right Downrod For Your Ceiling Fan
If you want to replace your ceiling fan downrod, there is some information that you need to collect regarding your ceiling fan to make sure you get a new downrod that will be compatible.
The first parameter is the UL rating of the downrod. Its UL rating will be the same as that of the fan. If your fan is wet rated, its downrod should be wet rated. It is important to get this right as a wrong rod will rust in no time.
The second parameter is the diameter of the downrod. Measure the diameter of the existing down rod. You would need to source a downrod that is exactly the same diameter as the old one to ensure that it will fit on the connections on the fan and the ceiling.
The third parameter that is of utmost importance is the connection method of the downrod. If your current downrod is threaded, you will need to get a threaded downrod. If your existing downrod connects with pins, you will need to select a new downrod that has pinholes in the same location.
The best route to make sure you get the correct downrod is to take your old one with you as a sample when you go to your local home décor store to find a replacement downrod. This way, you can make sure you have all your criteria met before leaving the store.
The last parameter that you need for your new downrod is the length of the downrod that you need. There are some guidelines that you should stay within when choosing the length of the downrod.
Extending and shortening downrods
Very often, the correct length needed for your fan’s downrod may not be available from your fan’s brand. In such cases you will have to shorten the existing downrod or add another downrod to it.
Shortening a downrod
You can shorten a ceiling fan downrod by cutting it at one end and then drill a matching hole there to fit the hanging pin. If the downrod is non-threaded, you can cut any of its ends. However, if it is threaded you should cut only the end that goes into the mounting bracket on the ceiling.
Extending a downrod
A downrod can be extended by joining another downrod to it. This is done with a downrod coupler. The downrods are inserted at either side of the coupler and are secured with screws using an Allen key. You can build long downrods by using more than one coupler. While it is totally safe to use couplers, it is recommended to use a single downrod if possible.
Conclusion
While ceiling fan downrods are not universal, and there may be interchangeability issues even within the same brand, you can still certainly find a replacement downrod for your ceiling fan.
You simply need to be aware that there are discrepancies in the different styles and manufacturing designs and source a downrod that closely matches your original down rod design. This will ensure a safe, secure, and effective installation for your ceiling fan.
