Originally Posted By goodgirl On the ceiling of my guest bathroom is a combination fan and light. The light works; the fan does not. I turned off the power. Popped off the light cover, removed the bulb, removed the thingy attached to the screw that holds the unit to the fan device up in the ceiling. (By thingy, I mean one of those things that has six sides and a hole in the middle.) I popped the unit off. There are two sets of wires pluged into sockets (is that the right term). One is assoicated with where the light bulb goes; the other is for the fan. I unplugged the fan wires and reseated them. Turned the power back on. Tried the fan. Still doesn't work. All along the way, I took photos of what I did. Printed them out and headed to Lowes today. Asked for help in the lighting department but the ditsy girl in that department had never heard of a unit like I showed her and described. "I can sell you a recessed light, if you like." "No," I replied, "I need a combination unit that has a fan. Is there someone else who can help me." No. There wasn't. So I went to Home Depot. The guy in their lighting department escorted me to the plumbing department and turned me over to a guy there. He showed me what they have. The two choices aren't the same brand I have but either one should work. (The "pretty" light combo is $88; the other one which looks similiar to what I already have is $118) I asked if it was something I could install on my own. He said it might be kind of frustrating but I could. My questions to the handymen and women of LP: What do you think I should do? Hire an electrician? Hire a handyman? Or try and do it myself? (Anyone ever install one of these?) Any idea how long this project will take?
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA <What do you think I should do? Hire an electrician? Hire a handyman? Or try and do it myself? (Anyone ever install one of these?) Any idea how long this project will take?> While I've done some replacing of light fixtures here in Casa de Merced, I did have some ceiling fans installed by a professional. And while I understand your fan/light isn't the same as a ceiling fan, it might be worth the extra $$ to have someone who know's what he's doing, to just come in and do it. Your time and sweat and angst is worth something too, goodgirl!
Originally Posted By Big Thunder how weird... i have almost exact same problem in our extra bath. I popped off the cover cuzz the fan was making too much noise, as if it spun bearings, except those fan motor probably don't have bearings on the armature. Anyway, this one also has a heating element that we'll never use, I unplugged what I *thought* was the fan, but apparently not. I figured oh well i will just buy a light/fan combo and replace.... fast forward about 5 out of town business trips later, the cover is still off and the fan still made noise, but we rarely use that bathroom, outta sight outta mind. Add it to my honey do list. last week I got a call from home, Mrs Thunder was in a panic cuzz all the lights were out, I told her it must be a breaker and walked her through the fix over the phone. When i got home, I arrived to a small party of in-laws, since the house was full of people they used the extra bathroom, and I noticed that when people were in it I didn't hear a noise anymore. I realized that the fan finally shorted itself out and that's what probably tripped the breaker the day before. Now my dilemma is.. do i just replace the cover and forget about it? or do I go buy a new fan/light maybe fan/light/heater combo and install it?
Originally Posted By peeaanuut I am going to agree with hiring a professional. While its great to learn how to do something you do not know how to or know a small amount about, the damage that can be done by an improper wiring job is staggering.
Originally Posted By Autopia Deb As someone who (with help) took down and put back up a ceiling fan last summer I can tell you...If you can afford it, get a pro. Those things are a PITA to put up, just holding them in place while you re-atatch the wires, oy!
Originally Posted By LuLu Hire a professional! I had a contractor (but not an electrician) do a lot of work here, and later had to have an electrician come in because my circuits were overloading frequently. He had a lot to say about the way the house was wired! I'd go with an electrician from the start.
Originally Posted By DAR In the two years I've lived at my house the ceiling fan/light in my bedroom has a glitch. If I pull the cord to turn the light on and flick the switch up, the light turns on like normal. If I pull the cord to change the speed of the fan the switch could be either up or down. So I actually have to pull the cord until on the fan until it turns off. I know what to do, I just haven't gotten around to it.
Originally Posted By TALL Disney Guy I have a fear that if I pull the cord to change a ceiling fan's speed, I'll pull it out of the ceiling and it will spin down into me, shredding me, not stopping until my mutilated body gets too tangled in the blades. Ah, the joys of being me...
Originally Posted By goodgirl Just to be clear, this is not one of those fans that suspends from the ceiling. This is one of those combo light and fans that are in a bathroom. They are recessed up into the ceiling. Anyway, I went back to Lowes today and went to their bathroom fixtures department and found many more choices there. The cost will be about $85 to $120. So I called an electrician. Cost is $71 per hour. He said it will be a minimum of 2 hours, could be more. So if I go that route I should budget $250 to $325. Before I do that I got the bright idea to call my cousin who has a contracting business on the side. If I can con him into doing it then maybe I can bring the cost down. If he doesn't want to do it then I'll go the electrician route.
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA <I have a fear that if I pull the cord to change a ceiling fan's speed, I'll pull it out of the ceiling and it will spin down into me, shredding me, not stopping until my mutilated body gets too tangled in the blades.> I used to have that same fear -- back when Kar2oonMan and I were dating.
Originally Posted By peeaanuut <<I have a fear that if I pull the cord to change a ceiling fan's speed, I'll pull it out of the ceiling and it will spin down into me, shredding me, not stopping until my mutilated body gets too tangled in the blades.>> I take it you are waiting anxiously for Saw 3. << If I can con him into doing it then maybe I can bring the cost down>> Bribe with beer, but when he gets there have blue ribbon or milwaukees best on ice. Should bring the cost down. lol
Originally Posted By TALL Disney Guy Ack! If that's what kinda stuff is in the "Saw" movies, I don't think I wanna see 'em after all, lol. Though it was cute in the theatre seein' Jim frightened and holdin' onto 2oony.
Originally Posted By bloona Oh I saw the word ceiling then and got all excited since I have learnt how to tear down a ceiling, reboard it, (couldnt re plaster) then put up plaster coving in the last few weeks.....ah well..... anyone need a new ceiling? good luck with your problem tho!
Originally Posted By avromark As well with an exhaust fan you may want to check out the duct size it requires, if it doesn't fit you ain't in luck. Hooking up is pretty much as easy as any light fixture whether it's a ceiling fan or track light. The problem lies when you want to add a new exhaust fan (how comfortable do you feel crawling in insulation?) or if you want to install a ceiling fan with a new wall switch (how comfortable do you feel with a snake?) Or if you add a pot light to an existing ceiling (how good are you with a saw?) If you buy the same model it's literally a matter of popping in the new one where the old one was and making a note of the connections. But as a side note, my exhaust fan "died" because wasps decided to build a nest in the casing, once the nest was removed my fan was resurrected.
