Listen to this articleWhen Raina and I bought our house, I knew I wanted to add ceiling fans and smart functionality. (I know, you are shocked!) The Haiku Ceiling Fan from Big Ass Fans covers both of those “wants”, and the company was kind enough to send a Series L fan along with their Wall Control Module that adds their SenseME technology.
At $450 for the fan itself and an additional $125 for the Wall Control Module, the Series L fan is not inexpensive. For that money, however, you get a fan that looks amazing and works like a dream.
And, thanks to the WiFi module that comes with the Wall Control Module, the fan can even be controlled from out smartphones and tablets. The Series L fan delivers:
Haiku’s signature design elements, energy efficiency and effectiveness accessible price point. It is available in a stylish black or white and features a built in LED light.
I was sent a white version of the Series L fan. It is entirely white, but it does have a blue ring that lights up when the fan or light is being adjusted. At first, Raina wasn’t so sure about the fan. You see, it has a three blade design, the entire line does, and she usually prefers fans with four or more blades. Not only is the number of blades invisible when the fan is on, and this fan will ALWAYS be on when we are in the room, but, once it was installed we both thought it looked great.
The fan is 52″ in diameter and moves a tremendous amount of air. Best of all, it does so all but silently! In addition, there is an LED in the center that, when turned above 50% brightness, provides plenty of light in the room. The fan even exceeds energy star requirements by four times.
Here’s what the company has to say about the fan:
The new Haiku L Series ceiling fan offers sleek modern design, an integrated LED light module and a universal mount for simple installation, even on sloped ceilings. This fan also features a silent motor, and slim profile. The all-white finish brings a splash of refined style to any space. The addition of an optional Haiku Wall Control enables SenseME™ Technology in L Series fans, allowing them to respond automatically to environmental changes, effortlessly conserving energy and keeping you comfortable throughout the year. All L Series fans include a remote control.
I had our contractors install the fan for me. They said the hardest part was making sure they were putting it together properly, but once they understood how all the pieces fit together it wasn’t difficult. Silly me, but I forgot to give them the WiFi module that came with the Wall Control Unit. Fortunately, putting it into the fan once it was hung only took them a few minutes.
First I tested the fan using the small included remote. It works well, and since the remote is tiny it can easily be placed wherever you want. A wall cradle for it is included.
I then downloaded the Haiku app and paired the fan to my phone. It only took a few seconds, and by following the step-by-step instructions provided within the app, I was done. I also downloaded the app to Raina’s phone and repeated the process so she too can control the fan and the light.
The app lets you turn the fan and the light on and off and lets you control the speed and intensity of each. There is a short lag between making the adjustments but it isn’t bad once you realize it takes a second for the command to go from your phone to the wireless connection and, finally, to the fan.
The blue ring on the base of the fan lets you know it is getting a command. It also looks cool!
The app also lets you schedule events so that, for example, you can have the light come on or turn off at preset times. This is great if you are traveling and want the house to appear occupied.
The app also lets you activate the fan’s “Woosh” functionality. This mode varies the speed of the fan and simulates and natural breeze. It’s pretty awesome.
In the Settings window, you can connect new devices, see various rooms and devices, connect the fan to a number of smart thermostats (unfortunately the one I have here for review is not among them yet), and do a firmware update when one becomes available. You can also use the app to log into the Haiku Home Account. This is key for connecting the fan to an Amazon Echo but that will be part two of this review.
This fan is clearly the Maserati of ceiling fans. And that’s the case even with this being the lowest-end model in the Haiku line! I absolutely love it! Here’s my video look at the Haiku Series L fan:
Let’s run down the features of the Haiku Series L fan:
- Automatic Comfort: SenseME Technology is enabled in L Series fans by the optional Haiku Wall Control. This wirelessly connected, intuitive controller allows you to personalize your comfort and conserve energy year-round. SenseME works automatically, adjusting its settings when room conditions like occupancy, temperature, and humidity change to keep you effortlessly comfortable.
- Award-Winning Design: Haiku fans’ outstanding design and breakthrough technology has been recognized with more than 50 awards from organizations like CES, ENERGY STAR, Popular Science, and the U.S. Green Building Council.
- Exceptional Efficiency: Sculpted airfoils and a specifically engineered motor help L Series fans to perform four times more efficiently than ENERGY STAR air movement standards require.
- Versatile Controls: Control L Series’ seven speeds, along with modes like Sleep, timer, and Whoosh, with the push of a button. Use the included hand-held remote control to select your preferred settings or personalize your comfort with a Wall Control and the free Haiku Home app for iOS and Android.
- Long-Lasting Silence: L Series fans are tested in a state-of-the-art sound chamber to ensure silent operation at any speed. Each set of L Series airfoils are hand-balanced so that your fan won’t wobble or squeak because Haiku fans are meant to be felt, not heard.
This fan is amazing! Seriously, simply from an aesthetic perspective, it is a home run and that doesn’t take into account the functionality of the fan and the light. The light is bright enough to illuminate our entire bedroom. And since it can be controlled from both the remote and the smartphone, it is convenient to dim and then turn it off once in bed for the night. Add in the Wall Control and Amazon Echo integration — both of which will be covered in a separate review — and you have a smart light you will love.
We did not, however, get this for the light. No, the core functionality of this product is the fan, and on that front, it is also a winner. The fan is silent and moves a ton of air. The adjustments can be done from the remote, smartphone or, as noted, the Wall Control and Amazon Echo. The ability to set a sleep time or use the cool Woosh feature adds to the attraction of this fan. Yeah… We love this fan and you will too! How much do we love it? Enough that I want one in the living room as well.
The Haiku Series L fan with integrated LED starts at $765; it is available directly from the manufacturer.
Source: Manufacturer supplied review sample
What I Like: Great, silent fan; Bright integrated light; Multiple options for controlling the fan and the light; Looks awesome
What Needs Improvement: This is the most affordable Haiku fan and it is still pricey
