Budget Ceiling Fan Compromise
IS THE BUDGET CEILING FAN COMPROMISE WORTH IT?
Spinifex is not a neutral voice in this regard, we would never advocate purchasing a poor quality product, but we are regularly asked by customers why they should pay for a premium product when there are cheaper options available. It turns out that the incremental cost of a quality ceiling fan is the equivalent of about two cappuccinos a year, a small price for a more attractive product and the greater peace of mind quality brings.
Spinifex arrives at this estimate from the following simple example which estimates the incremental cost of owning a quality ceiling fan at $7.30 per year.
| QUALITY FAN | BUDGET FAN | |
|---|---|---|
| Fan cost | $400 | $200 |
| Installation cost | $80 | $80 |
| Life span | 10 years | 7 years |
| Motor efficiency | 67 watts | 75 watts |
| Cost of ownership per year | $53.86 | $46.56 |
This example is not perfect science and yet it is a reasonable conclusion that for a relatively small incremental annual cost you can expect a premium ceiling fan to offer:
- Better design, engineering and manufacturing
- Longer life
- Less noise
- Less wobble
- Greater peace of mind
This example assumes a fan is run on high for 500 hours (21 days) a year, or for longer on a lower setting; and electricity costs 17.5 cents per kwh. Increasing the running time or electricity cost improves the economics of the quality fan.
Note this example is illustrative only and should not be interpreted to mean that all budget ceiling fans will be short lived or problematic. It is however the experience of the Spinifex team that on average a premium product will generally out-perform a budget item in the medium to long term.