Ceiling fans: some people love them, some people can’t stand them. Sure, they can be a little unsightly and outdated-looking, but they can make a huge difference in regulating a room’s temperature in both the winter and the summer, which leads to saving money all year long! Saving money by reducing energy costs associated with cooling and heating sounds like a WIN to us.

In the summers ceiling fans circulate the air and take some of the pressure off of A/C units; in the winter, they spread heated air evenly throughout the room to assist the furnace in heating the home. And compared to air-conditioners and furnaces, they are very cost efficient.

Now that you’ve decided you need a ceiling fan, your next question might be.

Do I need to hire an electrician to install a ceiling fan?

The answer will depend, of course, on your knowledge and skill level. But installing a ceiling fan is not the same as just plugging in an oscillating fan, and it will require some help to make sure that the job is done safely, cleanly and so that it lasts a long time to come. Calling in an electrician will ensure that the installation is high quality and will allow you to have some peace of mind.

Ceiling fans use a relatively small amount of electrical power, but they still require a safe and secure electrical connection to run properly. There are a few things to consider: You will probably want to connect it to a switch on the wall, and you will need to make sure that the circuit won’t short every time you turn the fan on or up. You will also want a clean job that runs wires through the ceiling rather than having ugly and distracting cords and wires running up walls and along the ceiling.

An experienced electrician will make sure that the wiring is properly connected, and will make sure the ceiling fan has proper buffering. This is essential because without it, the vibrations from the fan’s operation will cause it to loosen over time, making for both an annoying sound, damage to the ceiling, and it will eventually become dangerous if the fan becomes too loose over time.

You may also want an expert to help determine what height the fan should hang, especially if you have high or lofted ceilings. If you feel like you have the right tools and experience and knowledge to safely install a ceiling fan, you are probably at least going to need a second set of hands to maneuver the awkward contraption from your ladder.

At BPM, we focus on safety first and foremost and that is why we don’t recommend that people embark on electrical repairs or installations on their own, unless they really, really know what they are doing, and have all the tools needed. Electrical work should not be improvised! An improper job can have dire consequences and can lead to damage in the home and even an electrical. It’s simply not worth the risk.

If you are hoping to install a ceiling fan and want to make sure the job is done correctly, give us a call at BPM. Not job is too big or too small for us and we will be happy to help!