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JFletcher

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Williamsburg, VA
Hello guys. Right now I do mostly reno residential work, with some new construction. I think I've got the basics down, as well as a fair amount of the code.

Anyway, I know speed is always a factor.. what is giving me fits are ceiling fans. I'm pretty mechanically inclined, and have the proper tools... that said, is there a 'standard' time for completing one of these from opening the box to having it installed and tested? I'm not doing tract housing where I might see 40 of the same exact fan in 8' ceilings in a week; all different makes, models, some are remote controlled, some have lighting kits, some are on sloped ceilings, some 14' up, flushmount/downrod, etc.

Is there any way to get fast at these w/o installing a ton of them, or is it just something that comes with experience?
 
JFletcher said:
Hello guys. Right now I do mostly reno residential work, with some new construction. I think I've got the basics down, as well as a fair amount of the code.

Anyway, I know speed is always a factor.. what is giving me fits are ceiling fans. I'm pretty mechanically inclined, and have the proper tools... that said, is there a 'standard' time for completing one of these from opening the box to having it installed and tested? I'm not doing tract housing where I might see 40 of the same exact fan in 8' ceilings in a week; all different makes, models, some are remote controlled, some have lighting kits, some are on sloped ceilings, some 14' up, flushmount/downrod, etc.

Is there any way to get fast at these w/o installing a ton of them, or is it just something that comes with experience?
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Right out of the gate you could be fighting a loosing battle should the box not be rated to mount a ceiling fan securely.
 
usually takes me average of 1 hour, except only 55 minutes for "5 minute fan"

sometimes 2 in 75 minutes

a few weeks ago had one took 5 hours to swap out, 24' high in a furnished living room, 10 blades, 82" fan
 
Maybe only two or three basic designs that are most common and they are all still pretty similar. With only a few years of handling them you can almost put them together with eyes closed.

Tips, tricks, use a cordless drill/impact driver as much as possible for assembly, when you have several units to install, set up an assembly line of some sort - do same task to several units all at same time when possible - it does speed things up when you have repetition of tasks.

Don't forget to place canopy cover before installing down rod - or you will be either removing the rod to install the canopy cover later or at least disassembling the ball hanger to get the canopy cover into place later. Check switch housing for loose wire nuts or other loose/missing components - or if they are loose/missing you will be taking it apart after you find it doesn't work.

Don't mess with balancing kits. If the fan is new and needs balancing it was cheap, and your time to balance it will cost more, possibly well more, then purchasing a reputable quality fan in the first place.

If you have a helper, having one person hand tools or parts to the other when on a ladder makes things go smoother. The helper can hopefully be assembling things or cleaning up packaging, etc. when there is nothing needed from the guy on the ladder.
 
JFletcher said:
what is giving me fits are ceiling fans. is there a 'standard' time for completing one of these from opening the box to having it installed and tested?
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readydave8 said:
usually takes me average of 1 hour, except only 55 minutes for "5 minute fan".
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I would say that one hour per fan is about average. Eight foot ceiling and a fan box already there.

There are some models that are very hard to assemble. fans are normally purchased by the owner so you never know what they will come up with. I have more problems with the cheaper off brand fans.
 
growler said:
I would say that one hour per fan is about average. Eight foot ceiling and a fan box already there.

There are some models that are very hard to assemble. fans are normally purchased by the owner so you never know what they will come up with. I have more problems with the cheaper off brand fans.
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1 hour maybe fine if the job is to come in hang a fan and then pick up and leave.

If you are doing multiple fans at same site you should be able to average less then an hour per fan - for typical 8 or 9 foot ceilings,and for most common fans that are not too complex to assemble.
 
kwired said:
1 hour maybe fine if the job is to come in hang a fan and then pick up and leave.

If you are doing multiple fans at same site you should be able to average less then an hour per fan - for typical 8 or 9 foot ceilings,and for most common fans that are not too complex to assemble.
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OK, how much time would you bid to install 8 ceiling fans (with light kits) on a job. Brand of fan unknown. Normally you do end up talking down a light fixture.

How long does it take you to install the average fan with light kit ?
 
thanks for all the comments/tips. the biggest thing burning up my time is actually the darned box; if they are inset (not flush with the ceiling drywall) it causes all sorts of problems, if the fan bracket is made to suck up to it (rather than a larger footprint made to go to drywall). What products do you use to correct this problem, short of installing a new box/bracket?
 
growler said:
OK, how much time would you bid to install 8 ceiling fans (with light kits) on a job. Brand of fan unknown. Normally you do end up talking down a light fixture.

How long does it take you to install the average fan with light kit ?
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If you have to take something existing down - that changes what I was thinking before - I was figuring new installation and the time it may take to hang fans at trim out.

I wouldn't bid your job described without knowing what was behind those existing fixtures first.
 
kwired said:
If you have to take something existing down - that changes what I was thinking before - I was figuring new installation and the time it may take to hang fans at trim out.

I wouldn't bid your job described without knowing what was behind those existing fixtures first.
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I always bid these figuring I will need to remove the old light fixture and box and install a ceiling fan bracket/box.
 
elf friend said:
I always bid these figuring I will need to remove the old light fixture and box and install a ceiling fan bracket/box.
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In that case you may need more then an hour per unit.

I think OP was mostly asking about tips and tricks to speed up installing the fan itself more so then preparing an outlet box to receive a fan.
 
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