Why Ceiling Fan Installation Is a Job for an Electrician
Our advice to homeowners has always been simple. Don’t try to replace your ceiling fan yourself. A fan is heavier than a light fixture and it moves, so it pulls and twists on the box every time it runs.
If the box isn’t rated for a fan, or isn’t tied into the ceiling framing, the fan can loosen over time. Add a ladder, a heavy motor and live wires, and it’s a job worth handing off. We make sure the fan is supported, wired and balanced before we leave.
Ceiling Fan Installation Services We Offer
We install and repair ceiling fans in homes of every age around Ann Arbor. Common jobs include:
- Replacing an old fan with a new one
- Swapping a ceiling light fixture for a fan with or without a light kit
- Installing a fan in a room that has never had a ceiling fixture
- Adding a wall switch, speed control or remote receiver
- Mounting fans on high, vaulted or sloped ceilings
- Installing damp-rated and wet-rated fans on porches and patios
- Repairing fans that wobble, hum, click or stopped working
Replacing a Light Fixture With a Ceiling Fan
This is the most common request we get for fans. The wiring is already there, so it looks like an easy swap. The part people can’t see is the box.
Standard light boxes are made to hold a few pounds of fixture. A fan-rated box is built and marked to carry a fan and handle its vibration. We open the ceiling, check what’s there and install a fan-rated box or brace when needed, then hang the fan and test it on every speed.
Adding a Fan Where There Was Only a Light, or Nothing at All
Many older homes have a single switch that controls both the fan and its light. We can run an additional conductor so you get separate switches, or install a wall control that handles both.
If the room has no ceiling fixture at all, we’ll plan a new circuit or tap a nearby one, cut in a fan-rated box and add a switch by the door. For bedrooms and additions, this pairs well with recessed lighting so the whole ceiling is planned at once.
High Ceilings, Sloped Ceilings and Porch Fans
Great rooms and vaulted ceilings need a little more planning. We choose the right downrod length so the blades sit at a comfortable height, and use a sloped-ceiling adapter when the ceiling is angled. We bring ladders sized for the height, so the fan goes up safely.
For covered porches and three-season rooms, the fan must be rated for the location. Damp-rated fans handle humidity and covered areas. Wet-rated fans can take direct rain. We’ll help you pick the right one and wire it with the right protection.
Ceiling Fan Repair for Wobble, Hum and Dead Fans
Not every fan needs replacing. Many can be fixed:
- Wobble: we tighten the mount and blade screws, balance the blades and check that the box is solid.
- Hum or buzz: often caused by a dimmer on the fan circuit. We replace it with a proper fan control.
- Fan won’t start: we check the switch, pull chain, capacitor, remote receiver and wiring.
- Light kit problems: loose connections or a worn switch in the housing are common causes.
If the wiring feeding the fan looks worn or the circuit keeps tripping, we’ll look at the bigger picture as part of our electrical repair service.
Planning Fans Into a Remodel
If you’re finishing a basement, opening up a kitchen or adding a bedroom, it’s easiest to plan fan locations while the ceiling is open. We can add fan-rated boxes and switch legs during rough wiring so the fans go up cleanly later. Learn more about our remodeling electrical work.
Why Homeowners Call Us for Ceiling Fans
Current Electrical Systems has served Ann Arbor since 1994, and our electricians are union trained through IBEW Local 252. Ceiling fan installation and repair has been part of our work for years. We keep the job tidy, support the fan properly and show you how the controls work before we go. There’s no scheduling fee, and you pay only for the time we work.