Ceiling Fans

[LarryFine]

I have to balance the cheap import fans some people buy. I charge for the time, though.

I always start with making sure the blade tips are on the same plane, and on complaints, that the pitches match. If they aren't, or if they don't, it's impossible to balance out the wobble, because the problem isn't balance, it's a difference in 'lift'.

 

[LarryFine]

Who here will balance a fan?

Look up.

 

[LarryFine]

I din't see anyone talk about the trip or time or the fact they had an expensive stocked truck on site, they just talked about, the fan install time, and even that can vary, some fans may require assembly, then the missing parts problems can ruin your planed time. In my opinion, a fan install is not a rubber stamp price.

I did, sort of, when I said I charge (at least) my 1-hour minimum of $150, which includes the trip, unless it's "far", which I decide.

I agree about the one-price-fits-all point. Most work really is "custom" work. Example: I won't price a service change on the phone.

 

[LarryFine]

Hunter makes a lot of wobble fans by the way, they do not deserve the reputation of higher qualiity they have.

They used to.

 

[480sparky]

Look up.

Not you, then. It shakes more than a Weeble. :grin:

 

[rt66electric]

save the weights

save the weights

I've probably hung a thousand fans in my career, and have used those little balancing kits that come with the fan exactly zero times. I always....

-Make sure the blades are tight and at equal angles.
-Don't hang super cheap fans.
-Don't drop the fan motor on the floor.

Every time I've done those three things I have had close to zero wobble.

I'll be honest, I wouldn't even know what to do with those little weights that come with the fans. I would be curious to see if there was anyone that had the patience to mess with them.

Those little wieghts are excellent for BSA pinewood cars. peel and stick.

 

[jaylectricity]

Can we get a ratio on these prices?

Can we get a ratio on these prices?

sorry...wrong place

 

[LarryFine]

Not you, then. It shakes more than a Weeble. :grin:

"Weebles wobble, but the don't fall down!"

 

[aline]

I would rather program a universal remote for $150 than hang a ceiling fan for less than a 100 bucks. http://www.geeksquad.com/services/tvVideo/service.aspx?id=2901

Or hang a flat panel TV. (No balancing required) http://www.geeksquad.com/services/tvVideo/service.aspx?id=2891

Then you get to sell a dedicated circuit with surge protection for the A/V equipment. Also throw in a few audio grade receptacles. http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=110-439

Don't forget to sell them some cables and speaker wire at these prices. http://www.higherfi.com/cables/1

Electricians are too cheap.
The A/V guys know how to make some money.

 

[satcom]

I would rather program a universal remote for $150 than hang a ceiling fan for less than a 100 bucks. http://www.geeksquad.com/services/tvVideo/service.aspx?id=2901

Or hang a flat panel TV. (No balancing required) http://www.geeksquad.com/services/tvVideo/service.aspx?id=2891

Then you get to sell a dedicated circuit with surge protection for the A/V equipment. Also throw in a few audio grade receptacles. http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=110-439

Don't forget to sell them some cables and speaker wire at these prices. http://www.higherfi.com/cables/1

Electricians are too cheap.
The A/V guys know how to make some money.

They sure do, there was a contractors van across the street last week, I did work for the guy in the past, and I assumed he just found another electrician, the other day he was working in the yard, and we talked, as it turned out the EC was hanging flat panel TV he bought from an AV dealer, and he also installed the AC outlet and coax cable and plates, he told me the guy did a nice job, it was only $500 and because he did such a nice job he gave him a nice tip, the truck was there for 2 hours.

 

[shermansfather]

I would rather program a universal remote for $150 than hang a ceiling fan for less than a 100 bucks. http://www.geeksquad.com/services/tvVideo/service.aspx?id=2901

Or hang a flat panel TV. (No balancing required) http://www.geeksquad.com/services/tvVideo/service.aspx?id=2891

Then you get to sell a dedicated circuit with surge protection for the A/V equipment. Also throw in a few audio grade receptacles. http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=110-439

Don't forget to sell them some cables and speaker wire at these prices. http://www.higherfi.com/cables/1

Electricians are too cheap.
The A/V guys know how to make some money.

Aline, you hit that nail on the head.

I do some flat screen installs. A couple years back, the first time someone asked I said " I don't screw around with TV installs, you couldn't afford me on this"

 

[aline]

It's just a matter of time before every electrician in town is hanging flat panel TVs and the price will drop to around $75.

 

[satcom]

It's just a matter of time before every electrician in town is hanging flat panel TVs and the price will drop to around $75.

Thank you for the laugh, I needed an ice breaker today, yes, sad but true, the lack of self worth can really destroy the ability to make it in business.

 

[SPARKS40]

Electricians are too cheap.
The A/V guys know how to make some money.

All i can say is "Gold plated is overrated".....

 

[quogueelectric]

They sure do, there was a contractors van across the street last week, I did work for the guy in the past, and I assumed he just found another electrician, the other day he was working in the yard, and we talked, as it turned out the EC was hanging flat panel TV he bought from an AV dealer, and he also installed the AC outlet and coax cable and plates, he told me the guy did a nice job, it was only $500 and because he did such a nice job he gave him a nice tip, the truck was there for 2 hours.

Thats what I charge and I usually spend a good portion of the day and have many times gotten as much as a 100$ tip. I never rush an install and have put in at least 50 of them.

 

[Ohmy]

Ditto on the flat screen TV's. We hang a couple a week. Its not unusual to see a flat screen TV ticket over a grand. Plus, surge protection is a giveme on these calls.

 

[VoltageHz]

I have to believe any real EC who does fans for $45 is fishing for customers and goodwill.

OR, that contractor drops off his $11/hr second year apprentice to change out the fan for an hour while he goes off to pick up material, do an estimate, or perform some other money making activity.

 

[jmsbrush]

OR, that contractor drops off his $11/hr second year apprentice to change out the fan for an hour while he goes off to pick up material, do an estimate, or perform some other money making activity.

The apprentice who is making $11 an hour is really costing the contractor around $18 to $22 depending on his benefit package. Not only that, you have one trip with two guys in the truck dropping one guy off, then leaving ,then going back to pick him up, then leaving again. That's a total of 4 trips.
A sure way to go out of business.

 

[VoltageHz]

The apprentice who is making $11 an hour is really costing the contractor around $18 to $22 depending on his benefit package. Not only that, you have one trip with two guys in the truck dropping one guy off, then leaving ,then going back to pick him up, then leaving again. That's a total of 4 trips.
A sure way to go out of business.

What you said is certainly one possibility.
OR, the house could be on the way to where ever the contractor was going and the apprentice might not have been completely needed at the time.

 

[bradleyelectric]

Spin it how you want. He isn't covering expenses hanging fans for $45. It doesn't matter if he didn't even slow down when he pushed the kid out. He has to slow down somewhat to get the ladder back on the truck.