Question from Stacey
Hi Debra,
I would like to purchase some ceiling fans for my home. It seems a lot of the blades are made of ABS plastic, or plywood/wood veneer. Are either of these okay to purchase, or would you recommend finding a fan made with solid wood blades?
Thank you!
Debra’s Answer
It’s pretty easy to find ceiling fans with wood blades (I just searched on “wood ceiling fans”) but the problem with wood might be the finish. And they are very expensive.
Plywood with veneer would have adhesives and finish.
ABS plastic is plastic.
So…
I personally would choose the ABS plastic, as much as I prefer not to use plastic. Though it’s made with toxic chemicals, as plastics go, by the time they are reacted into the final material, the end result plastic is stable, non-leaching, and not considered toxic per the MSDS.
I’ve purchased several inexpensive white ceiling fans, and never had a problem with them.
I don’t have air conditioning and am considering purchasing a Hunter ceiling fan, specifically a model that is low profile white (Conroy 51022 or Caraway 52080). The descriptions do not say what the snow white blades are made of so I contacted the company. They don’t seem to answer their toll-free number and it has taken me literally over a month and a half to get an email response, but they say the blades are made from fiberboard. I saw a post of yours from several year ago saying that we don’t what fiberboard is made of or what type of resin is used, so it could be emitting formaldehyde. I’m wondering if you have updated your opinion of fiberboard or have a ceiling fan recommendation?
Well, I can tell you that I have purchased ceiling fans and have never considered them to be a major source of formaldehyde exposure. But neither have I tested them for formaldehyde emissions. I just haven’t considered them to be a toxic product that I needed to find a safer alternative for.