Ceiling Fans - What do you need to know?

Question

I am looking at putting ceiling fans in my new project in Redwood City CA.    I am also thinking about putting them in units that we have already remodeled as an upgrade if a tenant wants them for a price.  The units do not have AC as it is not standard for this area.  I do think this might be a nice perk to help get our units at the top of potential tenants list.   It does get up to 80% ten days a year or so and depending on the way the unit is facing it could get hot.  The work install will not be much, as right now we have standard lights so no new electrical is needed although some might need a new box to support the fan.

• What brands do people like?  I tend to go with great value for things that move in the units as I dont want the lowest cost that will become a headache.  
• Do you go with pull chain or remote (seems like remote could be an issue long term)?
• Do you put them in the family room or the bedroom?  I dont want to do both as this would be 3 fans for a 2bdr unit.
• Has anyone offer the fan to a current tenant for a monthly increase or flat fee?  My labor cost would be $150 to install plus the cost of the fan.
• Any other thoughts?

Jim Adrian · Answer

Fans should all be the same style within the unit otherwise it looks odd.  Avoid remotes as these are one more thing to maintain and will get stolen.  Harbor Breeze and Hunter brands are what you will find in the big box stores and work well.  I would stay above the $80 range.  Fans should come with light blubs so I wouldn't waste extra money changing them to LED as they may already be.  I charge $20 a missing or burnt out light bulb at move out time.  Its a great bonus to have the light on a switch and the fan on the switch vs using the pull chains, but you still have use the chains for the fan speed. To me its not worth the extra cost to wire a second switch.  I don't charge extra for this.  I like them in bedrooms and living rooms.   Make sure you have the right j-box for them.  It should be braced (metal bracket) back to the joist on both sides.    Check the size of the room for blade sizes, prefer 52" blades.  Stay away from 2 bulbs light fixtures as it doesn't give off enough light.  At move out these must be cleaned as they are left covered in dust, suggest adding cleaning fee in lease.

I believe this is what I have in my rental and primary house (5 of them).

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Harbor-Breeze-Springfield-Ii-52-in-Brushed-Nickel-Downrod-or-Close-Mount-Ceiling-Fan-with-Light-Kit/3476833

Bob H. · Answer

Pull chains are a pain, especially in rentals. They don't work smoothly, and tenants often break them, requiring you to replace the chain switches. Remotes are convenient but can be lost. Run 14-3 (for a 15-amp circuit) or 12-3 (for a 20-amp circuit) electrical cable from the switch box to the ceiling box so that you have one hot conductor for the fan motor and another for the light. Then you can have two wall switches -- one for the light and another for the fan. That eliminates the need for a pull chain for the light, but you still need one for the fan speed. Even better, use the cable I mentioned but a special fan switch that allows you to change the fan speed from the switch. Then you don't need pull chains at all, and there is no remote for tenants to lose.

Next, try to get the tenants to clean the fan blades and the light bulbs and glass shades when they leave. :)

Johann Jells · Answer

I keep hearing this here, but have yet to have a ceiling fan break on me, even the one that was in my own LR when we moved in 20 years ago. I've installed at least a dozen <$100 units since, oldest in 2004, with no failures.

Johann Jells · Answer

Agree with the double switch at the wall and Walmart fans. I put them in the MBR, LR & K. I love a fan in the kitchen, takes the edge off the heat. One thing to look for if you can is ones that use standard bulbs rather than candelabra. I don't know why they've been moving them all to candelabra, in LED or CFL the bulbs are far more expensive.

Jassem A. · Answer

Walmart has some pretty nice ceiling fans for around $50-60 usually

Johann Jells · Answer

There are cheaper fixtures, but I find most of the ones under $40 ugly or incredibly flimsy.  That makes a $50 or $60 fan seem like a good deal.  I know that sounds like they won't last, but they do.  I don't subscribe to "you get what you pay for". I have a Price-Pfister vanity light in my own bath that's rusting through the nickel plate. So much for a big name, even though my Pfister kitchen faucet has held up 20 years with routine maintenance.

Matt Nolan · Answer

It may just be a matter of poor luck, but I've had three go in the last three years.  Each fan was in the $125-$150 range. Nothing fancy.

Light fixtures are cheaper and more durable from what I've experienced, so I always go that route.

Matt Nolan · Answer

I'd personally advise not putting ceiling fans into rental units.  Ceiling fans absolutely love to break, and I've had to replace too many of them to make it worth it.  I'd go with nice/affordable light fixtures if you're upgrading.  I have a clause in the lease stating that all broken fans will be replaced by light fixtures.  They last forever and help me avoid some headaches down the road.

Bennie Miller · Answer

I agree.

+1 Walmart

Though can also try for some online shopping sites as well.

Anthony Addessi · Answer

Hi All

Thanks for the comments.

I think we will go with pull chains and wired switch.  @Bob Hucker  We did not have new wire run to separate the fan from the light so for now the pull chains will be used to start the fan but I bet they will be used only once in a while as our weather is pretty consistent.

For the fan I am going to go with the one that does have regular bulbs that I can swap to LED this way I can boost the light with lower wattage and will not have to change it out.  Thinking about $100-$130 range.   I want them to add a little style to living room get that wow factor.  But I will see as we lease them up and re-evaluate.  The first two units will come on at $2800-$3000/m so we can spare little extra.

@Jeff B. - Thanks for pointing this out as a lot of people might not understand it is not plug and play in all situations.  We did have the electrician swap the boxes.  Westinghouse does make a cool kit that does not require attic access that I used in my house but it did take some time to get it in.

Ceiling Fans - What do you need to know?

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