Energy experts agree that a ceiling fan will reduce your energy bills by providing additional cooling and better circulation so you can lower air conditioning costs. Before you choose a fan, measure the room’s length, width and ceiling height so you’ll choose the correct size fan for the space. You don’t want a fan to overpower the room. And for safety’s sake and fan efficiency, don’t install a ceiling fan lower than 7 feet from the floor. If the room has a low ceiling, choose a fan that hugs the ceiling.
A fan should be sized for the square footage of a room. For a room less than 50 square feet, use a 29-inch fan, for a room 75 square feet, use a 36-inch fan, for a room 100 square feet, use a fan 42-inch fan, and for a room 225 square feet, use a 52-inch fan.
An electrician will charge $775, including labor and material, to replace a 52-inch fan with an existing overhead light fixture in the correct position. If there is no overhead light fixture, hire an electrician to run a new electrical line; it’s not a job for a DIYer. If a new line isn’t needed and you have experience with electrical projects and tools, you can buy the fan for $400, make the swap and save 48%.
If the electrical box in the ceiling is not designed to support a fan, you may need a fan mounting bracket for an additional $10. To install a bracket you cut a hole in the ceiling just large enough to slip the bar through the framing and then secure it to the joists so there’s something to attach the fan to.
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Pro Cost — DIY Cost — Pro time — DIY Time — DIY Savings — Percent Saved
$775 — $400 — 3.5 — 5 — $375 — 48 Percent
