Ceiling Fan Installation & Other Handyman Services That Can Save You Money

Are you tired of dealing with eye-wateringly high charges on your monthly utility bill? There's no escaping the fact that it takes a lot of energy to run all the appliances and fixtures in your home—not to mention your HVAC system—but it doesn't have to cost THAT much. Most Metro Boston homeowners hate the idea of paying more than necessary for their energy usage, but that is exactly what happens if you aren't actively looking for ways to increase your energy savings, such as professional ceiling fan installation.

It may surprise you to learn that getting ceiling fan installation in Metro Boston—and a number of other services from your local handyman—could go a long way towards lowering your monthly bills and save you a significant amount of money that you would prefer to be spending on other things.

The best part is, you don't have to hire multiple contractors to handle a range of tasks that will make your home more energy efficient. You could save even more money by getting the Metro Boston handyman team at Mr. Handyman of Central - Eastern Norfolk County & South Shore to cross everything off your list quickly and effectively, often in a single day. We are highly experienced with ceiling fan installation in Metro Boston and dozens of other handyman services, so we know exactly what to do to restore your property to great condition so it can operate efficiently and cost you less.

Ceiling Fan Installation in Metro Boston

There are some big benefits to calling a qualified handyman for ceiling fan installation in Metro Boston, and it's not just about energy savings—though that is, admittedly, a huge perk. Ceiling fans increase air circulation in a room, helping to bring in fresh air from an open window or just keep the air moving so it doesn't get too stale and stagnant. That makes the room more comfortable, and it may also help some allergy sufferers, especially when used in combination with an air filtration system.

Ceiling fans usually include a light fixture, so you can get increased air circulation without sacrificing the main overhead light in the room. In fact, if you're thinking of selling your Metro Boston home in the near future, replacing a regular light fixture with a fan-light combo might actually increase your property value. If you're thinking of getting a ceiling fan installed in your home, you may have some questions—and we have answers! Here are our responses to some typical questions about ceiling fan installation in Metro Boston.

How Does Getting Ceiling Fan Installation in Metro Boston Save on Energy Costs?

You may be skeptical that Metro Boston ceiling fan installation can actually reduce your utility bill. It doesn't seem to make a lot of sense on the surface, but it's surprisingly simple and straight-forward once you know what's going on. A ceiling fan can actually change the temperature in a room by as much as four or five degrees Fahrenheit just by improving air circulation. It accomplishes that by pushing down warm air that rises to the ceiling and stirring up cold air that settles near the floor, so the "habitable zone" (the area that is more or less mid-way between the floor and ceiling) stays at a more consistent temperature.

You're probably thinking, "what does that have to do with my energy usage?" Well, here's what: because the fan is doing some of the work to regulate the temperature, you can actually set your air conditioner four degrees warmer during the summer, or your heater four degrees cooler during the winter, and the room will still be at a comfortable temperature due to the increased air circulation from your fan. That might not sound like such a big deal, but it can actually lead to significant annual savings.

Your heating and cooling are likely the biggest expenses by far on your utility bill because your HVAC needs to burn a lot of energy to keep your home at the temperature you have set on your thermostat. So, by changing your thermostat by just four degrees, you give your HVAC a little break and it doesn't need to use as much energy, which is reflected on your bill.

The fan does, of course, also use electricity, but it's almost nothing compared to what your HVAC uses. For example, the U.S. Department of Energy estimates that it costs about 36 cents per hour to operate an air conditioner, which accounts for around 25% of all home energy consumption. A ceiling fan, on the other hand, only costs about one cent per hour to operate. So even with the fan running, you'll still notice a big difference on your monthly bill. In that sense, ceiling fan installation is also a more environmentally friendly option that reduces the strain on energy resources.

Do You Need an Electrician to Install a Ceiling Fan?

Actually, there's no need to call a licensed electrician. Simply rely on your local, licensed handyman for Metro Boston ceiling fan installation instead! Our ceiling fan installation experts know all about the safety rules and best practices to get your installation project taken care of efficiently and correctly. We can also handle more challenging installation locations, such as on double-height or angled ceilings.

What Items are Needed for Ceiling Fan Installation in Metro Boston?

Typically, ceiling fan installation projects involve assembly. Most of the components your handyman will need are packaged together when you purchase a unit. That include parts and items such as:

• Ceiling fan blades
• Fan brace or ceiling bracket
• Ceiling medallion
• Ceiling fan controls such as a wall switch or remote control
• Switch housing
• Cable connector
• Ceiling fan box or pancake box
• Light fixture box
• Light bulb
• Ceiling fan wiring
• Screws and additional hardware
• Basic tools
• Safety glasses

Keep in mind that your ceiling fan installers will also need to be able to access your circuit breaker box so they can shut off the power to the fixture they are working on.

Where Should a Ceiling Fan Be Installed in a Metro Boston Home?

The best ceiling fan location is in a large room where you spend a lot of time, such as the living room, family room, kitchen, dining room or master bedroom. It's almost always going to be located at or near the center of the ceiling, and the following conditions need to be met for the fan to operate safely:

• Ceiling height is important because the blades need to be at least seven feet away from the floor, or eight feet for metal blades
• The unit needs to be well out of reach from bunk beds or any other type of tall furniture that can be climbed on
• It must have full clearance away from cabinets or any other structural elements the blades could bump into
• Blades cannot pass underneath a lighting fixture (except one that is part of the fan unit)
• If it's being installed on a sloped ceiling, an extender kit will need to be used and your handyman will ensure that the lowest part of the fan still meets height requirements

More Money-Saving Metro Boston Handyman Services

Looking for even more ways to save money on your utility bill? We've got your back! Here are more helpful handyman services that can have an outsized positive impact on your energy costs.

Wood Rot Repair

This can be a huge energy-saver if you have rotting exterior trim or your window frames and door jambs have been affected by rotten wood. Any wooden elements on the exterior of your home are particularly vulnerable to wood rot, which is a form of decay caused by wood-eating fungi that thrive in damp timber. Learn more with our answers to your questions about Metro Boston trim repair and installation.

When the parts of your house's exterior that are made of timber begin to rot, they soften and crumble. The deteriorated wood lets air drafts into your home while allowing the warm or cool air from your HVAC system to escape to the outdoors. That changes the temperature in your home and forces your HVAC to operate much longer in compensation, which dramatically increases your energy costs. Our handyman team has completed numerous wood rot repair projects in Metro Boston, and we have the experience to track down and eliminate wood rot from your property so you stop paying to heat the outdoors.

Not sure if your home is suffering from wood rot? Grab a flashlight and examine exposed timber, especially on the exterior of your house, for these signs:

• Wood is discolored with a white, yellow or purple hue, or appears lighter or darker than surrounding timber
• Texture changes in the wood that make it look spongy, stringy or webbed with cracks
• Wood is crumbling into "sawdust" or breaking into cube-shaped chunks

Drywall Repair

Some homeowners might find this one surprising—isn't drywall damage just cosmetic? That's a common misconception. Damage to your drywall such as holes and cracks can actually cause an increase on your utility bill. Normally, the spaces inside your walls are not heated or cooled by your HVAC, which makes sense because nobody is living in there. But holes in the drywall cause your HVAC system to work overtime by allowing warm or cool air to seep into the spaces behind your walls, which means there's a lot more air space for your thermostat to regulate.

Patching up large and small holes and cracks in your drywall will make your house more efficient by reducing the amount of space that needs to be heated or cooled by your HVAC system, saving you a considerable chunk of change over time.

You may also notice water damage problems with your drywall such as brown water stains or patches of drywall that have been softened by excess moisture. Repairing those issues may help somewhat with your energy bills, but more importantly, that excess moisture is coming from somewhere like a leaky roof or hidden plumbing leak. Water leaks can cause a huge amount of damage in a short time, including wood rot that can affect the structural stability of the building. Any moisture damage on your walls or ceiling should be investigated, so the moisture source can be stopped before it causes more trouble.

Water Heater Insulation

Here's a simple but highly effective way to conserve energy in your home. Your conventional, tank-style water heater uses a lot of fuel, whether it is electricity or natural gas, by constantly heating a large tank of water so there's hot water available any time you turn on the tap. Your handyman can add an insulating foil wrap to the outside of the tank, which will help it hold in heat a lot more efficiently. That way, it can provide more thermal energy in exchange for less fuel, reducing your usage and costing you less.

There's another way to save money on your water heater operation: turn down the temperature on the tank. Most manufacturers set the default temperature to 140 degrees Fahrenheit, but that's hot enough to scald anyone who touches the water, which is why most people mix in cold water to bring the temperature down. If you turn it down by 10 degrees or so, your water heater won't need to draw as much fuel but the water coming out of your faucets will still be as hot or hotter than you'd want to use. It's also a good way to avoid scalding if you have small children in the house.

Want to Save Money? Get Ceiling Fan Installation for Your Metro Boston Home

Whether you are in Braintree, Quincy, Weymouth or a nearby area of the South Shore like Marshfield, you can count on the team of service professionals at Mr. Handyman of Central - Eastern Norfolk County & South Shore for expert ceiling fan installation and other handyman services that could reduce your energy expenditure.

Pick up the phone and get in contact with us to book a convenient appointment for ceiling fan installation in Metro Boston, or to chat with our friendly office staff to find out more about how our reliable handyman services can make your Metro Boston home more comfortable, livable and appealing!