The Minka-Aire Ceiling Fan Is Impressive, but Is It Worth It? A Tested Review – Bob Vila

Photo: Glenda Taylor for Bob Vila

Ceiling fans circulate cooling breezes throughout entire rooms, and the best ceiling fans dont just keep you comfortablethey also reduce utility bills and add a design element to your space.

Minka-Aire, a division of Minka Group, manufactures high-quality ceiling fans. I recently had the opportunity to install and test one of their most popular options, the Barn by Minka-Aire ceiling fan.

With 10 blades, a 65-inch blade span, and a burnished nickel casing, the Barn ceiling fan adds instant farmhouse charm to a room. Keep reading to find out how it performed in our hands-on testing and why I feel confident recommending the Minka-Aire ceiling fan to our readers.

Rating: 4.8/5

Photo: Glenda Taylor for Bob Vila

Pros

Cons

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Photo: Glenda Taylor for Bob Vila

While ceiling fans are all pretty standard in the way they work, various features on the Barn by Minka-Aire model make it a more attractive choice than its competitors.

For example, the fan has a 65-inch blade span, which is wider than most. This helps it circulate air throughout spacious areas. My husband and I installed the Barn in a great room, and when we ran the fan at its highest speed, we could feel the resulting breeze from the adjoining dining room, which is nearly 20 feet away. Compared to other ceiling fans we tested, the Barn moves a lot of air. Standard ceiling fans move an average of 4,000 to 7,000 CFM. On high, this fan moves up to 9,155 CFM; on low, it still moves a respectable 3,712 CFM.

The Barn has a DC motor, which makes it quieter than fans with AC motors. But its not just the motor thats virtually silentthe blades hardly made any of the typical whooshing sounds one might expect from fan blades cutting through the air.

In addition to being a quiet ceiling fan, the Barn boasts a few other features that set it apart from the pack. It comes with an integrated light kit with a dimmable LED bulb, and the fan can be operated with the included remote control or from a smartphone via a downloadable app.

Photo: Glenda Taylor for Bob Vila

As we unboxed the Barn by Minka-Aire, we began to fear a lengthy installation process because it came with 10 blades (twice as many as some fans) and several other parts. We were wrongthe Barn attached easily to the existing ceiling fan junction box. Plus, the fan came with an integrated receiver that pairs with the remote control, so we didnt have to wire a separate receiver in place. That saved quite a bit of time.

The blades have subtle notches where they attach to the blade arms, which made it easy to fit them correctly and then insert the screws to hold them in place. The installation guide came with clear illustrations and easy-to-understand steps.

Keep in mind that installing any ceiling fan requires one to connect electrical wires, so if youre not comfortable doing that, its best to have an electrician install it. But, as far as ceiling fan installations go, the Barn was a snap.

The EnergyStar label that comes with the Minka-Aire ceiling fan estimates the average yearly cost to run it is just $9. The fan blades are reversible, so instead of just using the fan during warm weather to generate cooling breezes, users can also switch the blades rotational direction in the winter to push warm air downward. Running the fan in warm and cool seasons reduces the need to run the HVAC as frequently, which will save on utility bills.

In addition to being powerful and quiet, the Barn fan is very stable. We didnt see any start-up wobbling (which is only too familiar with some ceiling fans), and it ran smoothly at all speeds.

The LED light is dimmable, which is also a nice feature, but the buttons on the remote control that dim and brighten the light are not as user-friendly as we felt they could be. At first, we couldnt figure out how to dim the light. Reading the directions solved that, but the solution is not very intuitive. We had to hold one button down while pressing the other to dim the lights and then do the reverse to brighten them.

Controlling the fan from the app is straightforward. We had no problems downloading and syncing the app to our homes wireless network.

Photo: Glenda Taylor for Bob Vila

The Minka-Aire Barn ceiling fan sells for about $550, about twice as much as many top-notch ceiling fans. However, this fan offers several features that could justify its higher price point, depending on your preferences and needs.

Its tough to beat this farmhouse ceiling fans striking appeal. Its expansive blades can enhance the look of any large room that has rustic, country, or traditional dcor. Its sure to be a focal point that will get a lot of compliments.

If youre looking for a virtually silent ceiling fan, you can probably justify the higher cost of the Barn by Minka-Aire. And if you want the energy efficiency of running a ceiling fan but also want to control it remotely, this fan might be just the ticket.

On the flip side, if youre into a more classic (as opposed to a farmhouse) look and dont mind the white-noise sound of an AC motor, you can pick from a wide selection of ceiling fans that fit the bill and dont cost as much. And, if you only need air circulation in a small area, an energy-efficient floor fan might be all you need.

Ultimately, your individual preferences and budget considerations will determine whether this barn-style ceiling fan is the right pick for you. Either way, its one heck of a ceiling fan.

Photo: Glenda Taylor for Bob Vila

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Glenda Taylor is a product tester and writer specializing in the construction, remodeling, and real estate industry. She and her husband, John, own a general contracting company, and Taylor is experienced in both residential and commercial building applications. She tests a wide range of power tools and other home improvement, household, and lawn-and-garden products. Her husband assisted during the installation of this ceiling fan.

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The Minka-Aire Ceiling Fan Is Impressive, but Is It Worth It? A Tested Review - Bob Vila