One of the great joys of being a homeowner is the ability to swap outdated or ineffective light fixtures or ceiling fans for more current, higher-quality models. Minka-Aire’s Light Wave Ceiling Fan is the perfect upgrade to complement a modern bedroom, bathroom, or living space, and it checks all the boxes when it comes to comfort, style, and energy savings. Read on for our detailed verdict on the Minka-Aire Light Wave Ceiling Fan.
Setup Process: Easy installation (for our electrician!)
We’re not very handy around the house so we decided to hire an electrician to install the fan for us. If you’re not experienced in installing fans or light fixtures, we recommend you do the same. It took our electrician an hour to remove our old ceiling fan and install the new one. He did not have to change any of the wiring and described the installation process as average in difficulty. He noted that the fan was nicely packaged and came with all of the necessary parts for installation, including several 16-watt LED bulbs.
Design: Sleek and stylish
Anyone who’s into interior design knows that light fixtures can make or break a room. So when we saw this stylish, modern ceiling fan, we jumped at the opportunity to replace the noisy, unfashionable fan that’s been hanging in our bedroom for years. In the short time that we’ve had the fan, we’ve gotten compliments on it from several visitors. The Minka-Aire fan has a minimalist design featuring three acrylic blades and a frosted glass shade. It comes in four appealing colors to match with your decor: coal, distressed koa, silver, and white. We chose the latter, which has a high gloss that comes off as chic rather than cheap-looking. We think the neutral color also blends in well with our white ceiling and makes it look higher than its 9 feet. At first, we were afraid that this fan might be too big for our 100-square-foot room, but it turned out to be the perfect size for our space. The Light Wave comes with a 6-inch downrod, which allows for a low profile. If you have a larger space, you may want to purchase a longer downrod. Minka-Aire separately sells 3.5-, 4.5-, 12-, 18-, 24-, 36-, 48-, 60-, and 72-inch downrods that go with this fan. For added convenience, the fan comes with a hand-held remote control so you can turn it on and off and adjust the light and cooling settings from the comfort of your bed or chair. Gone are the days of hopping on our bed to reach the fan’s pull chains, never remembering which cord is for the fan and which is for the light. We were also able to connect the fan to our lightswitch, which provides another convenient means of turning the fan on and off as soon as we enter the room. The fan is manually reversible, but this feature can’t be accessed with the remote. If you want to switch the direction of the blades, you can do so by flipping a switch near the top of the fan.
Performance: It’ll blow you away
Aside from its attractive design, we love the versatility of this fan, which features three different airflow settings and integrated dimmable LED lights. The fan boasts a small but powerful motor with a maximum airflow frequency of around 4,500 cubic feet per minute, which is above the average rate for a ceiling fan. Given its high-powered motor, we were pleasantly surprised by how quiet the fan is and how smoothly the blades move. It provides very good airflow on the two higher settings but does not seem to move much air on the lowest setting. We feel that other fans we’ve used at hotels or friends’ homes were more cooling, though potentially far more expensive as well. For less than $300, this fan is effective and attractive, which in our opinion are the two most important qualities in a ceiling fan. We love that the 16-watt light bulbs are dimmable and LED, which reduces not only our energy costs but also our carbon footprint. That said, the fan’s light is also the biggest con of an otherwise excellent product. The light is very harsh and bright, especially on the highest setting, and is directed more downward than outward, almost like a spotlight. (Yes, it’s really that dramatic.) Since we prefer reading lamps to an overhead light in our bedroom, this isn’t a dealbreaker for us but it did come as an unpleasant surprise and we would probably get more use out of the light if it were softer and more diffused. That said, it’s still very convenient to be able to walk into our room and flip on the light. We’ve noticed that many modern fans in similar styles don’t come with a light so this is still a draw for the Light Wave.
Energy Efficiency: Excellent
We’ve already mentioned the Light Wave is energy efficiency, but it’s worth noting again that the fan truly is outstanding in this category. This unit is Energy Star-certified, which means that it’s more energy efficient than most of the ceiling fans on the market. It uses around 65 watts of power to run both the light and the fan, saving you money and energy.
Price: Outstanding value
This fan is not the cheapest on the market, nor is it the most expensive. Retailing around $280, we think it’s appropriately priced and delivers good bang for your buck. Some may consider it a splurge, but we think it’s a good investment in the long run because the LED lights reduce costs and save energy, while the fan’s cooling effect will help cut down on air conditioning costs.
Minka-Aire Light Wave Ceiling Fan vs. Westinghouse Comet 52-Inch Indoor Ceiling Fan
If you’re looking for a more classic design, The Westinghouse fan offers plenty of air movement and a slightly softer light than the Minka-Aire. At around $100, this solidly built fan is a more affordable option for those on a budget, but some may prefer the more sleek, modern style of the Minka-Aire. If you’re looking for a powerful and stylish ceiling fan to upgrade your living space, the Minka-Aire Light Wave won’t disappoint.
