Match the blade span to the room. A 42 to 48 inch fan suits a nursery or small bedroom, 46 to 52 inch suits a standard bedroom around 3 by 3 metres, 52 to 54 inch suits a larger bedroom or study around 3.5 by 4 metres, and 56 to 60 inch or bigger suits a living area, rumpus or covered alfresco. Very long rooms are usually better served by two medium fans than one giant one, because placement matters as much as size. Keep the blades at least 2.1 metres above the floor. If you are between sizes, go up one, since a bigger fan on a low speed moves the same air more quietly.

Only fans with "with Light" in the product title include a light. A brand name such as Martec Lighting in the title is the maker, not a light. On most DC fans the LED is built into the motor housing, so you cannot add a light later or take one off, and a few ranges offer a separate clip-on light kit that is listed on its own product page. Check the title and the light filter before you order, because the with-light and no-light versions are different products and swapping after delivery is treated as a change of mind. The fan and the light can be switched separately from the remote or wall control.

Most modern ceiling fans use an integrated LED panel that is designed to last the life of the fan and is not a globe you change yourself. If an integrated light fails inside the warranty period it is fixed under the fan's warranty, not by buying a globe. Some LED boards and light modules are available as spare parts, but they are model specific. If you want a light you can change at home, choose one of the AC fans that take standard B22, E27 or GU10 globes in a glass shade. The product page states the globe type and whether globes are included.

DC ceiling fans come with their remote control in the box, because the remote is how you change speed, reverse the direction and set the timer. AC ceiling fans come with a wall control as standard, and a remote kit is an optional extra on the models that support one. Remotes and receivers are made for a specific brand and model, so a remote from another fan will not pair, and a universal remote is not something we recommend. If you have several fans in one home, pair each fan with the power to the others switched off so the codes do not cross. Some fans cannot run a wall control and a remote together.

A DC fan has a brushless motor driven by a small receiver that plugs into your normal 240 volt power, so no special wiring is needed. DC fans use up to 70 percent less energy, run quieter, usually have six speeds, a reverse function and a timer, and come with a remote. An AC fan runs directly off mains power, usually has three speeds, is controlled from a wall switch, and costs less to buy. For a bedroom, or anywhere the fan will run all night, most customers choose DC. For a garage, patio or rental where a simple wall control is preferred, AC is the sensible pick.

You can use an existing switch as the on and off point for a fan, and an AC fan will run from its own wall control in that spot. Do not use a light dimmer to control fan speed. Modern fans are not compatible with dimmer switches, and the speed and light dimming are handled by the remote or the fan's own controller. If you want the light to come on from the wall switch and the fan from the remote, tell your electrician, as most DC fans can be wired that way. Smart Wi-Fi fans add app control on top, but they still need the standard wiring.

Most DC ceiling fans have a reverse function that you switch from the remote, and some AC fans have a summer and winter toggle switch on the motor body. In summer the blades push air down so you feel a breeze. In winter, reversing the blades on a low speed draws warm air up and pushes it back down the walls, which spreads the heat from your heater or heat pump around the room without a draught. This is also useful on a vaulted ceiling or above a stairwell where warm air collects. Check the product page or manual to confirm which fans reverse and how.

A little movement on the highest speed is normal, but a wobble you can see, a clicking or a hum usually has a simple cause. Check that the blades are all fitted the same way up and the blade screws are tight, that the canopy and motor cover are seated and not touching the blades, and that the mounting bracket is firm on the ceiling. On DC fans, a fan that beeps but will not spin often just needs the remote paired again. If the noise continues after those checks, contact us with a short video, as a grinding or bearing noise on a new fan is a warranty matter and the supplier can arrange an in-home inspection.