Longest Lasting Ceiling Fans | Warranties Compared

There is no way that we can say with any certainty what is the longest-lasting fan. There are far too many variables like design quality, material quality, manufacturing flaws, damage, use, maintenance, location, exposure to elements, etc.

We can use warranties to help us to determine if manufacturers believe in the longevity of their products. It’s not a perfect relationship, i.e., fans with longer warranties are not necessarily going to outlast those with shorter warranties, but it’s the best indicator we have. So, let’s explore and compare warranties.

Ceiling fan longevity depends on too many factors for the longest-lasting fan to be named. However, warranties indicate manufacturer confidence in the longevity of their products. Hunter and Kichler fans tend to have the best warranties. From this it can be inferred that they are some of the longest-lasting.

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Different Parts May Fall Under Different Warranties

Life could be so much simpler if every part of your ceiling fan was covered under the same warranty, but unfortunately, that is not the case.

Commonly, the motor is covered by a longer warranty that may include a free replacement fan. All other parts, though, are covered by a shorter, most likely one-year warranty.

It is important to note that the motor warranty only includes the motor and its related parts and does not include the receiver, although they work together.

The light kit as well as the surface finish is likely to be included with the other parts under a one-year warranty.

Although a wobbling ceiling fan can be dangerous, most warranties will not cover replacement for the sole reason being that the fan is wobbling, since some wobbling is natural.

Reasons for Differing Warranties

Not All Parts Are Expensive to Replace

Not every part of a ceiling fan part costs the same to replace. A company is much more likely to cover the replacement of a less expensive part of a ceiling fan than a more expensive part of a ceiling fan.

The miscellaneous parts warranty includes most other parts of the ceiling fan but often does not include light bulbs or remote control batteries since these are easily replaceable by the customer.

This basically boils down to an unspoken agreement between manufacturer and user. They cover the big stuff and we won’t bother them with the small stuff.

Not All Parts Are Integral to Fan Function

Different parts of the ceiling fan are also more likely to affect the whole ceiling fan than others. For example, a lightbulb failure just means it has to be replaced; the fan can still function, so it’s not covered under warranty.

A motor, on the other hand, is more complex and can put an entire ceiling fan out of commission if it was, say, overheating. This makes a motor warranty important.

A motor’s longer warranty often covers the complete replacement of the ceiling fan since a replacement would be far easier for the company than sending someone out to repair or replace the motor.

User Damage vs Manufacturer Flaw

Another potential reason is that some parts of a ceiling fan are more vulnerable to user damage and others are more likely to malfunction as a result of manufacturing flaws.

Manufacturers tend to be fine taking responsibility for their own mistakes (manufacturing errors) but they are less happy to cover user-based damage.

So, the blades of a ceiling fan—which can be installed incorrectly, exposed to undue weight/stress, damaged by carelessness, or suffer from maintenance neglect—are not going to be given a warranty as long as the fan motor, which is often not even accessible to the user.

Full vs Limited Warranty

Warranties on items are often described as either full or limited but it is rare that the difference between the two is detailed.

A full warranty covers the entire product for a certain period of time. Typically, it also means that all types of damage are covered.

The repair of said item would be free. If the company were not able to see to the repairs in a reasonable amount of time, or if it would cost them almost as much or more than the price of the fan, then the item would be replaced for free or refunded.

Full warranties don’t only apply to the first owner but any owner after it was first bought. As long as the product is still within its warranty period, the warranty is valid.

These types of warranties are actually pretty rare. Even lifetime warranties are usually prefaced with the word ‘limited’.

A limited warranty, as the name implies, is more limited.

These limits are usually for the parts that are covered and may also only cover certain types of damage. Limited does not usually refer to the warranty period.

Definition of Full Warranty vs Limited Warranty

Manufacturers That Offer Limited Lifetime Warranty

Hunter Fan Company

For the ceiling fan motor, Hunter ceiling fans are covered under a limited lifetime warranty.

If it is discovered that your ceiling fan has failed due to a manufacturing defect related to the motor, the company will replace your ceiling fan for free. If the damage is user-related, it will be investigated and may not be covered (hence the limited nature of the lifetime warranty).

All other parts of the fan, excluding light bulbs, batteries, and parts that were damaged by the owner, are covered by a limited one-year warranty. The part will be replaced free of charge.

The light kit is included in the above limited one-year warranty.

You do not need to apply for these warranties; they are included.

Kichler

As long as the fan belongs to the original owner, there is a limited lifetime warranty on the fan motor as well as motor-related parts.

For a single-family residence, there is a limited five-year warranty covering LED light engines and electrical components. For a commercial purchaser, this warranty is shortened to three years.

There is a one-year limited warranty for other parts of the fan including the blades, light kits, finish, and more.

These warranties do not cover non-LED bulbs manufactured by Kichler and non-Kichler branded LED bulbs.

You do not have to apply for these warranties; they are included.

Minka-Aire®

Unlike the previous two companies, Minka-Aire® fan warranties must be applied for.

The various parts of the fan are covered by a one-year limited warranty provided that the damage is not due to installation or misuse.

There is a separate, limited, lifetime warranty for the motor.

The warranty does not cover the removal or installation of the new fan and the customer must be the original purchaser of the fan for the warranty to apply.

Monte Carlo Fans

As with most of these companies, the motors of Monte Carlo fans are covered by a limited lifetime warranty.

There is a one-year limited warranty for the plated finishes, wood blades, and switches.

Glass globes and light bulbs are not covered by a warranty but will be replaced if they are broken when the fan is purchased.

The light fixture is not covered by a warranty.

These warranties are voided if you are not the original purchaser of the fan.

You do not have to apply for these warranties; they are included.

Matthews Fan Company

Matthews Fan Company does not have a limited lifetime warranty for the motor or any other part of the fan.

Instead, the entire fan, excluding light bulbs, is covered by a limited one-year warranty.

As with other limited warranties, you must be the original purchaser and the damage must not be from misuse or mishandling.

This warranty does not have to be applied for; it is included.

Fanimation

The purchase of a Fanimation fan includes a limited lifetime warranty for this fan’s motor. The warranty does not cover the costs of removal, reinstallation, and shipping of the replacement motor.

There is also a limited one-year motor labor warranty covering the charges of labor for replacing a motor within the first year of purchase.

As with most other fans, there is also a limited one-year warranty for other parts of the fan.

This warranty does not include changes in the finish.

You do not have to apply for this warranty; it is included in the purchase.

Hampton Bay

This fan comes with a limited lifetime warranty for the motor.

All other parts of the fan, excluding glass or acrylic fan blades, are covered by a limited one-year warranty.

The limited one-year warranty also does not cover changes in the fan’s finish.

This warranty does not have to be applied for.

Manufacturers That Offer Time-Limited Warranties

Although it may seem that all ceiling fans come with some type of limited lifetime warranty, most often for the fan motor, not all companies offer a lifetime warranty—limited or otherwise.

Some companies that offer time-limited warranties rather than lifetime ones include Matthews Fan Company, Honeywell, and Big Ass Fans.

These limited, non-lifetime warranties cover all the parts of the ceiling fan.

The conditions of Matthews Fan Company fans’ warranties are described above. Honeywell has a limited two-year warranty, while Big Ass Fans has a limited three- or four-year warranty.

As with most other limited warranties, the customer must be the original purchaser and the damage must not be accidental or from misuse.

Table Comparison of Different Fans’ Warranties

Manufacturer	Motor warranty	Light fixture warranty	Other parts warranty	Surface finishes warranty	Product warranty (The whole fan is covered under one warranty)
Hunter Fan Company	Limited lifetime warranty	Included in other parts warranty	Limited one-year warranty	Not included	N/A
Minka-Aire®	Limited lifetime warranty	Not included	Limited one-year warranty	Not included	N/A
Kichler	Limited lifetime warranty	Included in other parts warranty	Limited one-year warranty	Included in other parts warranty	N/A
Monte Carlo Fans	Limited lifetime warranty	Not included	Limited one-year warranty	Limited one-year warranty	N/A
Matthews Fan Company	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	Limited one-year warranty
Fanimation	Limited lifetime warranty	Not included	Limited one-year warranty	Not included	N/A
Hampton Bay	Limited lifetime warranty	Not included	Limited one-year warranty	Not included	N/A
Big Ass Fans	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	Limited two-year warranty
Honeywell	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	Limited three- or four-year warranty