How much does ceiling fan installation cost?
4 things to think about before you call an electrician
Installing ceiling fans in your home can be a great, cost-effective way to keep your family cool in Brisbane’s hot summers. That can be the case whether you have air conditioning at home or not.
Although ceiling fans don’t lower the room temperature, they can cool people in the room by circulating a comfortable cooling breeze. This can make your home feel up to 4 or 5 degrees cooler.
And when used together with your air conditioner, ceiling fans make it even more efficient. That’s because they help to circulate the air con’s cooled air evenly around the room, helping you to run the air con less.
Fans help you save on your energy bills by using less energy than running an air con, and can cost as little as 13 cents an hour to run.
But what about installation costs for ceiling fans? Let’s take a look at the five things that affect the cost of installing ceiling fans in your home.
1) The quality of the ceiling fan you’re installing
Of course, there is a range of options and prices for ceiling fans. Costs can range from as little as $50 to buy a basic white plastic fan, all the way up to around $800 for a high-end designer outdoor ceiling fan.
2) Whether you’re installing a new fan or updating an existing fan
As you can imagine, from an installation standpoint, swapping out a ceiling fan for a new model is usually a very low cost option. In this case, your electrician can use the existing wiring for the new model. It’s a relatively short visit from your electrician, who’ll need to assemble the fan correctly, install it, and test to make sure everything is working properly.
If you’re having an all-new installation, remember that your electrician will also need to install a new switch to control the fan. You may be able to save money by having the new fan installed in the same spot as an existing light, in which case your electrician can install a fan/light combo with a remote that operates the light and ceiling fan independently. You can even keep the fan remote by your bedside, so that you can turn it off during the night once the room temperature falls.
Because fans can safely operate on your home’s lighting circuit, the existing cable in the ceiling can run both the light and the fan. Many manufacturers make units specifically for this purpose, making it an excellent cost-saving solution.
3) Are you installing a ceiling fan downstairs?
When you’re installing a fan in a downstairs room, you may need to take a flexible approach to help keep costs down.
For example, it’s a very good idea to avoid cutting into the ceiling (and having to patch and paint the result) if at all possible to keep costs down. That means you may have to be flexible with where the new fan is positioned.
If you really do want the fan in a specific spot, you can! Your electrician should be able to accomplish the installation just by cutting into the ceiling, and patching & painting afterwards at additional cost.
Of course, a fan will apply different mechanical forces to the ceiling than a simple light. So make sure your electrician discusses this with you, and is ready to install timber bracing in the ceiling if it’s needed (since most of the time there may not be timber in the centre of the room’s ceiling).
You might also be surprised what an experienced electrician can accomplish without having to cut into the downstairs room’s ceiling. Often, the fan’s shroud can cover a hole that is large enough to allow timber bracing to be installed, without the need for patching and painting. It’s another reason why it’s important to hire an experienced electrician who takes care.
4) Is the ceiling fan being installed outdoors?
If you already have power for lighting in your pergola or entertainment area, it is relatively simple to add a cable for a fan installation.
You may have some challenges if your outdoor area has an enclosed ceiling. Your electrician may be able to lift a sheet of roof to gain access, so as not to impact with cutting the ceiling. And if there are exposed beams, installation is much simpler, as you’ll only need to run a conduit.
However, if there is no power from the house to the entertainment area, then power will need to be run from your home’s switchboard. The cost of this installation will depend on whether you need above or below ground infrastructure.
And if you’re running power out to your entertainment area for your new fan, it’s a great opportunity to add weatherproof power points so that your outdoor area is fully equipped and ready for a sound system, fridge, and whatever else you need to ensure a great summer in Brisbane!
Contact Jaric Electrical for electrical work at your home
The expert team at Jaric Electrical can offer you the advice you need to plan your ceiling fan installation. To find out more, call Jaric Electrical on 1300 452 742 or contact us online.