Ceiling and exhaust fan installation across south-east Melbourne
A bathroom that stays damp for hours, or a bedroom that is unusable in February. Both are fan problems, and the one that matters most is whether the exhaust actually vents outside or just into your roof space.
- 5.0 from 216 Google reviews
- Registered Electrical Contractor REC 20101
- 25 years trading
Heat upstairs, and steam that never leaves the bathroom
Both problems are about moving air, and both are cheaper to fix than the consequences of leaving them.
- The bathroom mirror stays fogged long after a shower and the walls feel damp.
- Mould appearing on bathroom or laundry ceilings despite cleaning.
- An exhaust fan runs but the room does not clear, which usually means it vents nowhere.
- The fan is noisy, rattling, or has stopped turning altogether.
- A bedroom or living area is unbearable in summer and there is no air conditioning.
- You want a light, fan and heater combination in a bathroom off one switch plate.
- The ceiling has no fan point and you are repainting or renovating anyway.
- A rangehood or bathroom fan discharges into the roof cavity rather than outside.
What a fan installation actually covers
A replacement into an existing point is straightforward. A new fan means a new point, ducting and somewhere for the air to actually go.
- Check where the existing fan actually discharges to, which is the fault more often than the fan.
- Ceiling fans installed on a correctly rated and braced mounting point.
- Bathroom and laundry exhaust fans ducted to an external vent, not into the roof space.
- Three-in-one light, fan and heater units installed and wired to separate switching.
- Timer and humidity sensor switching so the fan runs on after the room is empty.
- New ceiling points run where none exists, with the switch position agreed first.
- Existing fans removed and the ceiling made good around the new fitting.
- Testing and a Certificate of Electrical Safety where required.
About Ceiling and exhaust fan installation
The fault is usually the duct, not the fan
A bathroom that stays foggy after a shower usually has a working fan. What it does not have is anywhere for the moisture to go. The single most common defect we find is an exhaust fan discharging straight into the roof cavity.
It clears the bathroom and dumps the humidity into your insulation and roof timbers instead. That is how you get mould in a ceiling with no visible leak, and it is a problem no replacement fan will fix on its own.
Ducting it properly
Discharging to an external vent is a National Construction Code requirement and it is the part of this job worth paying for. That means insulated duct where it crosses a cold roof space, a fall away from the fan so condensate cannot run back, and a vent or cowl through the roof or an external wall.
If your bathroom fan has no visible vent outside, it is venting into the roof. It is worth checking before you spend money on a new unit.
Ceiling fans need a proper mounting point
A standard ceiling rose is rated for a static light fitting, not for the moving load of a fan. Retrofitting a ceiling fan generally means getting into the roof space to install a mounting braced into structure.
Where there is no ceiling access, such as under a second storey or a cathedral ceiling, it is still usually possible but the approach changes. We will tell you what is involved before starting rather than discovering it halfway.
Three in one units and bathroom zones
Combination light, fan and heater units work well in a small bathroom and save fitting three separate things. In a larger bathroom the heat output disappoints and separate units perform better. We will tell you which yours is rather than fitting whatever is on the van.
Fan and heater units sit within defined zones relative to the shower and bath, and those zones decide what can go where. Switching is worth thinking about too: separate switches for light, fan and heat, and a run on timer or humidity sensor so the fan keeps working for the ten minutes after the shower stops, which is when most of the moisture actually leaves.
We quote the job in front of us
No rate card, because the honest number depends on things nobody can see from a website. Estimates are free.
03 9889 3341Not urgent? Send the details and we will come back to you within one business day.
Standards this work is held to
The single most common defect we find is an exhaust fan discharging into the roof cavity. It clears the bathroom and dumps the moisture into your insulation and roof timbers instead, which is how you get mould in a ceiling with no visible leak. Ducting to an external vent is a National Construction Code requirement and it is the part of this job worth paying for.
Ceiling fans need a mounting point rated for a moving load, not a standard ceiling rose. Fan and heater units in a bathroom sit within defined zones relative to the shower and bath, and those zones decide what can be installed where. Everything is wired and tested to AS/NZS 3000.
How long it takes
- Quote
- Over the phone in most cases for a like-for-like replacement.
- Replacing an existing fan
- One to two hours where the point and the duct are sound.
- New fan with ducting
- Half a day, including the external vent.
- Three-in-one unit
- Half a day, more if new switching is needed.
Rated 5.0 across 216 Google reviews
-
Symon did a brilliant job replacing my bathroom fan. He quoted me $700 when another company quoted me over $2k for the same job! Symon was easy to communicate with, performed the job quickly and tidied up after himself. Would…
Aretha Peethamparam, Google review -
We recommend Simon unreservedly. Tired of overpriced superficial service and competency? Don’t look any further than Simon @ STL Electrical. And to boot, he’s a good guy. Simon will now be our go-to sparky.
Nigel Bird, Google review -
Highly recommend Simon and STL Electrical. One of our mains tripped during a freak thunderstorm resulting in no power to part of our kitchen (incl fridge) and internet. Simon was a lifesaver and kind enough to respond to an after…
Nat Chen, Google review
Ceiling and exhaust fan installation questions we get asked
How do I know if my exhaust vents outside?
Look for a vent or cowl on the roof or an external wall near the bathroom. If there is none, it is discharging into the roof space. From inside, a roof cavity that smells damp or has staining around the fan is the tell.
Can a ceiling fan go on any ceiling point?
No. A light point is not rated for the moving load of a fan and the fixing needs to be into structure. Retrofitting usually means getting into the roof space to install a proper mounting.
Are three-in-one units any good?
For a small bathroom, yes, and they save you three separate fittings. In a larger bathroom the heat output is underwhelming and separate units work better. We will tell you which your room is.
Will a fan fix my mould problem?
It will fix the cause if the mould is from shower moisture and the fan is ducted properly. If the moisture is coming from a leak or from rising damp, a fan will not touch it, and we will say so.
Can the fan run on after I leave the room?
Yes, with a run-on timer or a humidity sensor, and it is worth doing. Most of the moisture leaves the room in the ten minutes after the shower stops.
Related
Talk to an electrician now
Fastest way to get an answer is the phone. It is answered 24 hours a day, seven days.
03 9889 3341Not urgent? Send the details and we will come back to you within one business day.