A ceiling fan cools a room in summer and helps push warm air down in winter. It also has to hang from the right box and be wired the right way. If not, it can wobble, hum or work loose over time.
Chris Electric handles ceiling fan installation in White Bear Lake and nearby towns. We hang new fans, replace old ones and fix fans that stopped working. A licensed electrician does the work, and you get the price before we start.
What We Do
We install, replace and repair ceiling fans, and we handle the wiring behind them. Here is the fan work we do in homes around White Bear Lake.
We install new fans in bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens and covered porches. Each fan goes on a fan-rated box fastened to the framing, so it stays steady at high speed. We connect it to a wall switch, a wall control or a remote.
We take down the old fan, check the box and wiring, and hang the new one. If the old box is not rated for a fan, we replace it.
A fan that wobbles, hums or will not start often has a loose part, a worn switch or a bad connection. We find the cause and tell you if a repair is worth it.
Want a fan where a light hangs now? We remove the fixture, add a brace between the joists and set a fan-rated box. Often the wiring already there can stay.
An attic fan pushes hot air out of the attic on summer days. We mount the fan, run power to it and set up the switch or thermostat that runs it.
Some rooms have no ceiling box, or one switch runs both the fan and the light. We can run new wiring, add a second switch or set up a remote so the fan and light work on their own.
Tell us what is going on and we will point you to the right fix.
Call (651) 382-9397Step by Step
A fan weighs more than a light, and it moves the whole time it runs. That is why it takes more care than a simple fixture swap. Here is how our electricians do it.
We shut off the circuit at the breaker and test the wires to be sure they are dead. Then we take down the old fan or light and check the box behind it. Many older boxes are made for a light only and cannot carry the weight and shake of a fan.
The fan hangs from a fan-rated box tied to a joist or to a brace between joists. We pick a downrod that keeps the blades at least 7 feet off the floor and clear of walls. Sloped ceilings get a mount made for the angle.
We join the wires for the fan, the light and the ground, and secure each one. If you want the fan and light on separate switches or a remote, we set that up here. Every connection sits tight in the box with no pinched wires.
We turn the power back on and test each speed, the reverse setting and the light. We check for wobble and balance the blades if needed. Before we leave, we show you how the controls work.
Safety First
The box in your ceiling holds more than wires. With a fan, it carries the full weight of the motor and blades, plus the shake that comes with every turn.
A box made for a light is not built for that load. Over time the screws can loosen and the fan starts to wobble. In the worst case, it can pull free from the ceiling.
A fan-rated box is marked for fan support and fastens to the framing. If yours is not rated, we replace it before the new fan goes up.
Not sure what is in your ceiling? We check the box on every fan job before anything goes up.
Fan Repairs
Most calls for ceiling fan repair come down to a handful of problems. Each one gives clear signs. Here is what we look for when we come out.
If the breaker for the fan keeps tripping, the problem may be in the panel, not the fan. Our breaker repair and replacement service covers that too. Remotes and wall controls have small circuit boards, so a whole home surge protector helps keep them safe.
Smell burning or see sparks at the fan? Turn it off at the breaker and call our emergency electricians right away.
New Fan Locations
Not every room is ready for a fan. Some have a light in the middle of the ceiling. Others have no ceiling box at all. Here is how we handle each one.
This is a residential ceiling fan retrofit. Power already reaches the ceiling, so the main job is making the box strong enough to hold a fan.
Here we run new wiring to the ceiling and add a switch on the wall. We plan the route to keep openings in your walls and ceiling as small as we can.
Plaster ceilings, finished rooms above or a full circuit can change the plan. We look first and give you a clear price before any work starts.
Ask About Adding a FanCustomer Reviews
Why Chris Electric
A ceiling fan hangs over your bed, your couch and your family. It should go up with care. That is why homeowners call our electricians in White Bear Lake for fan work.
Minnesota License #EA701047
A licensed electrician hangs and wires your fan. You can look up our license, EA701047, before we come out.
We look at your ceiling, the box and the wiring, then give you the price. You decide before any work starts.
If an old fan costs more to fix than to replace, we tell you. You only pay for work that makes sense.
Our Service Area
Lake homes, older houses with plaster ceilings and newer builds all have their own quirks. We handle ceiling fan installation in White Bear Lake and the towns below. Do not see yours? Call and ask.
FAQs
It depends on the room. Swapping a fan on a box that is already fan-rated costs less than a job that needs a new box, a brace or new wiring. High ceilings and heavy fans can add time too. We look at the space and give you a price before any work starts.
In most cases, yes. The wiring is already at the ceiling. What matters is the box. If it is not rated for a fan, we add a brace and a fan-rated box before we hang the fan.
A fan-rated box is marked as acceptable for fan support, but the marking is hard to see with a light in place. If you are not sure, leave it to us. We check the box on every fan job.
Yes. Sloped ceilings need a mount made for the angle and a downrod long enough to keep the blades clear of the ceiling. We match both to your ceiling and your fan.
Loose screws and blades that are out of balance are the usual causes. If the whole fan shifts when you push it gently, the box or mount may be loose. Turn the fan off and have it checked.
Often it is. A bad switch, capacitor or remote receiver is a simple fix. If the motor is worn out, a new fan usually makes more sense. We tell you which one you are dealing with.
Yes. If the wiring allows it, we set up two wall switches. If not, a remote or a fan wall control can run the fan and light on their own without opening the walls.
A simple swap is often done in one visit. A new fan location with new wiring takes longer. We give you a time estimate along with the price.
Licensed, Bonded and Insured
Tell us about the room and the fan you have in mind. A licensed electrician will check the box and wiring, give you a clear price and hang your fan the right way.
