Ceiling Fan Installation – The Ultimate Guide

Having a ceiling fan installed is the perfect answer for regulating cool and warm air throughout your home. Use them in conjunction with your air conditioner or simply as a cost effective way to keep your home and family comfortable all year round.

Every ceiling fan installation begins with purchasing the fan itself. When purchasing a fan make sure to consider where the fan will be installed and how it will fit in with the design and layout of a room. Fans can be a dominant feature, so before you buy think about how many blades you want, the material of the blades and whether a fan and light combo would work better for the space. Quick note: wooden fan blades tend to be quieter than metal fan blades.

You might also want to consider the ceiling fan’s motor. There are generally two types AC (alternating current) and DC (direct current) motors. More and more people are choosing DC motors for the ceiling fans, as they are more energy efficient. A good idea would be to discuss the type of motor you want to use with a local ceiling fan electrician. We’d be happy to help with your ceiling fan install, and you can contact us 24/7 if you need any help with your home electrics.

How To Balance A Ceiling Fan

Do you have ceiling fan that has started to wobble, squeak and clunk? You might have an old or cheaper model ceiling fan installed. If this is the case our suggestion is to look into upgrading to a newer and better quality fan. This will not only eliminate the annoying rattle but will also provide a more efficient air flow. The sooner you fix the ceiling fan issue the better, since ceiling fans can be a safety hazard even when they are working properly, let alone if they malfunction.

Not sure what ceiling fan would be best? Give us a call and we can advise on the best fan for your home. We’ll even source the fan for you!

But if you know you’ve got a quality fan installed and it’s still wobbling, squeaking and is really distracting, there are a few simple things you can do to get it back to circulating air without disturbing the peace.

A ceiling fan will often develop a wobble if there is an imbalance somewhere in the blades, the blade holders, a dodgy ceiling fan mount or it may just need a good clean! Whatever the reason its important you fix the problem causing the wobble as soon as you notice it, so no more damage is caused to your fan.

A very slight wobble can be normal, and often fixed with a good dust. A larger more obvious wobble and can cause the ceiling fans motor to deteriorate quickly. And worse still if left unattended a wobbly ceiling fan can cause parts to come loose and even detach, the fan itself could even fall from the ceiling. So don’t let your clunking fan become a safety hazard, if you notice excessive movement, chances are that something has gone wrong with your ceiling fan installation.  

As mentioned earlier one of the easiest ways to balance your ceiling fan is to give it a good clean! Dust can easily build up in the motor and joins and crevices of a fan which can create pressure on the blades. All you need to do is when the fan is off, grab a duster and give it a good brush over. Then with a damp microfibre cloth wipe down the motor’s housing and smaller details of the fan, to really make sure all the dirt and dust is removed.

If after cleaning your fan, the wobble is still there. The first thing you should check is the structural support, i.e. the ceiling mount. It’s a massive safety hazard to have a fan installed incorrectly. By assuring the proper ceiling mount (a fan-rated electrical box) is used will drastically reduce the chance of your ceiling fan falling down. Over the years we’ve seen more than a few fans installed onto electrical boxes designed for light fittings by dodgy tradesman. These just aren’t suited for the job or the weight of a fan and will loosen over time, creating that dreaded wobble. And don’t worry if you’re not sure how to tell if your fan is installed correctly, we’re here to help!

If your ceiling fan is still wobbling and squeaking you might need to check for loose fasteners and other parts of the fan that might need retightening, as the ceiling fan installation process may be to blame. Check things such as the fans blade holders, which if not fully tightened can lead to sagging in the fan’s blades. This can be a big factor in noise, wobble and air flow. If you can’t tell by sight that your fan blades are drooping, measure the vertical distance of each and compare, any that aren’t the same should be fixed or replaced.

Easy fixes to drooping blades are to tighten the mounting screws and adjust the blade arms or holders. Though some fan blades may just need to be replaced, which is also easy. As most retailers and manufacturers carry spare parts and guides to replacements. If you do need to replace a blade think about also replacing the fan arm, to prevent having to fix the same issue next season.

When picking new ceiling fan blades, make sure they are compatible with your fan and are a similar length, width and weight as your old blades. Too heavy and the motor will wear out. Too small and the air flow won’t be efficient.

Beyond the wobble other things to look out for with your ceiling fans is the fan slowing down, buzzing sounds and persistent squeaks.

Ceiling Fan Installation: How To Do It Properly

A ceiling fan isn’t just another feature in the room to be taken for granted. As a ceiling fan can greatly improve air circulation, and cool or heat your home in an efficient and economical way. And don’t worry ceiling fans can be installed whether you have high ceilings, sloped or low ceilings, need a fan-light combo or one with a remote. Whatever your requirements there is a fan out there suited to your home.

  • Many fans can be mounted on an angle
  • Down-rods can be used for high and sloped ceilings
  • Flush-mount models and ceiling huggers are designed for low ceilings
  • Many standard fans can also be installed in low-clearance places with appropriate hardware.

A ceiling fan should only ever be installed by a professional. As Australia has strict regulations and costly repercussions. Luckily all our electricians are fully licensed, certified and trained! So you can rely on us to help install, replace or carry out maintenance on your ceiling fan.

Whether it’s a simple ceiling fan replacement or slightly trickier relocation. An upgrade to the wiring and switches. Or wiring in a brand new ceiling fan with supports, we are here to rescue you from stagnant air! And as licensed electricians, we will not only handle the job safely, but we’ll make sure the power supply, switch, and supports are appropriate for your new ceiling fan

How To Wire A Ceiling Fan Switch

Whether you’re upgrading your fan or installing a new ceiling fan. You need a switch to turn the fan on and off and adjust the temperature and speed. But what type of switch? A wall switch, remote or both?

If you are replacing your ceiling fan, its very likely there’s already a wall switch installed, which is great news as an existing wall switch can easily be rewired to a new ceiling fan or replaced with a different type of switch. Pair the wall switch with a remote and your house will be a comfortable temperature year round, even if you don’t want to get up off the couch.

Having a new fan installed and wired in for the first time is an easy job for a licensed electrician, who would likely carry out at least one ceiling fan installation per month. And this usually includes wiring in a new wall switch as well if that’s what you want. However sometimes not adding a wall switch is a more economical and smarter choice. Whether access is difficult, or you want to save money and time having only a remote switch is a perfectly good option as well, and you can easily install a wall mount for the ceiling fans remote, so you don’t lose it.

But remember only a qualified and licensed electrician should be installing your ceiling fan, and ceiling fan switch. Australia has strict regulations about who can work on electrical systems, and this is due to how hazardous working with electricity can be. Don’t risk electrocution, fire or your family’s safety, call the experts and we’ll have your new fan installed in no time!  

Ceiling Fans With Light

A ceiling fan and light combination is often the perfect choice for a room. Especially smaller sized spaces where a pendant light and fan would compete for ceiling space. As they not only provide a less cluttered look to your ceiling but also allow you the option of having both the fan and light centred.

And don’t worry, with the range of ceiling fans on the market today, you won’t have to compromise on style or aesthetic when choosing a ceiling fan and light duo pack.  In fact they could be the very thing missing from the room. With many light and fan combos designed with today’s modern and simplistic interiors in mind.  

The great thing about ceiling fan and light combos is they are just like any other light and can use energy efficient bulbs as well!  

Outdoor Ceiling Fans

It might sound odd but outdoor ceiling fans are the perfect edition to your outdoor entertaining area. And are the perfect thing to circulating air and keeping you cool on hot summer days.

Outdoor ceiling fans are a cost effective way to bring the resort to your backyard, especially if you’re one for entertaining and dining al fresco! Another benefit of an outdoor fan is removing any smoke that might be lingering in the area from the BBQ and any fancy fire features.

Make sure if you opt for an outdoor ceiling fan installation, you are using a fan that is designed for outside use and you check the manufacturer’s warranty. A good tip too, if you live near the water, install a fan constructed of 316 grade stainless steel, with a completely enclosed motor, so it will be less affected by humidity and sea breeze. ABS plastic is also a great option for you outdoor ceiling fans blades, as it can be easily be moulded into any shaped blade you desire.