Ceiling Fans For a Gazebo: What’s Best?

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Sitting under a gazebo on a nice summer’s evening is one of those little joys life has to offer. But sometimes it can get a little hot. Is a ceiling fan a good option to stay cool and what kind of ceiling fan is best? Let’s find out. 

Ceiling fans are the best permanent way to get a bit of airflow in a gazebo. It’s best to use a ceiling fan that’s ‘wet’ rated and to make sure that any moisture doesn’t break the fan and the materials are better suited for outdoor use. 

Find out why a ceiling fan is a good choice, why you should avoid certain types and which ones are best below. 

Is a Ceiling Fan Good For a Gazebo?

Is a ceiling fan a good choice to stay cool under a gazebo? 

A ceiling fan is actually the best choice aside from moving to a place with a different climate. Since the latter is pretty impractical, a ceiling fan is a pretty good alternative. 

Obviously using Aircon is not an option since there aren’t any walls. There are two other alternatives though;

• Pedestal fan
• Evaporative cooler

Everyone knows pedestal fans. They are the little (or slightly bigger) fans you put on the floor, on a table, etc. They produce quite a bit of airflow although in a relatively small, concentrated stream. They are good to keep a single person cool but are less effective for larger groups. On the other hand, they’re cheap and easy. If you’ve already got a power outlet in your gazebo, it’s really easy to add one of these. However, a ceiling fan will be better for larger groups and is a more permanent solution that doesn’t take up any floor space. 

Another good option is the Evaporative cooler. Find an example here on Amazon. This is a pretty large box with a large fan. There is water flowing in front of the fan. This doesn’t produce a spray but it does evaporate some of the water which means a cooler feeling stream of air. This works pretty well in dry climates. The downsides of these things is that they’re large and not very pretty. They are also quite noisy. Just like pedestal fans they should be stored inside. 

Suggested: 7 Differences between indoor and outdoor ceiling fans

Ceiling fans are quiet, out of the way, can be left in place and provide decent airflow for many people. So in many cases, it might take a bit more work and money than a normal fan but it’s a better solution. 

Gazebos often have vaulted ceilings. Click here to find out more about mounting a ceiling fan on sloped surfaces.

What Type Of Ceiling Fan Is Good For a Gazebo?

Can you just use a normal ceiling fan in a gazebo? 

While a gazebo or covered patio has a roof, it’s certainly not as well insulated from the elements as a house because there are no walls. That means the elements have a bit more grip on whatever is inside the gazebo. 

Suggested: Can an indoor ceiling fan be used outdoors?

‘Normal’ ceiling fans that are meant for indoor use are often not really built to stand up to wind and moisture. The biggest problem for electronics outdoors is moisture. It’s what’s going to kill your ceiling fan pretty quickly. Of course it depends where you mount your ceiling fan, how waterproof the roof of your gazebo is and how big it is. But if there are no walls, there is no way you can guarantee that no water is ever going to get to the fan’s electrics. 

While it’s a good idea to take down an outdoor ceiling fan in the winter, summer storms happen and a little bit of water is enough. 

Suggested: Do you need an outdoor ceiling fan for a covered patio?

Luckily there are different types of ceiling fans. The normal indoor fan has a ‘dry’ rating. However, there are also fans that have a; ‘damp’ and ‘wet’ rating. In most cases, a wet rated fan is best for outdoor use. In many cases you could probably get away with a damp rated fan but by using a wet rated one you have some more piece of mind. 

Besides the electronics, there is also the blades and other materials of a fan. Some fan blades of cheaper indoor fans are simply made from pressed board and composites which means that too much moisture is going to ruin them. The same goes for fasteners and other parts. A wet rated fan will be made from materials that can stand up to the elements much better. 

That said, using a fan outdoors is going to deteriorate it faster than indoors, even if it’s under a gazebo. 

The style and size you should choose are dependent on your taste and the style/size of your gazebo.