You Should Install One of These Remote Controls for Your Old Ceiling Fan
Ceiling fans, which make our homes more energy efficient and provide a cool breeze, are a popular choice here at Lifehacker. We’ve praised the new bladeless varieties and explained why you should switch them up during the colder months. Now we’d like to suggest a relatively inexpensive but game-changing upgrade for your current ceiling fans: installing a remote control.
Some homes have multiple ceiling fans, so we’ll narrow our recommendation down to ceiling fans in bedrooms, living rooms, and anywhere else you relax. Who wants the hassle of having to stand up and reach down—and then pull down—on a chain hanging from above every time they want to adjust the fan or its lighting? That’s right: no one.
This is especially true if you wake up in the middle of the night, either in the cold (and need to turn off the fan) or in extreme heat and need to turn it on. All that moving and stretching to reach the chain will disturb your sleep much more than pressing a few buttons on the remote control from the comfort of your bed. If you’re not familiar with ceiling fan remote controls, here’s what to expect in terms of pricing, features, and installation process.
What to Look for When Buying a Ceiling Fan Remote Control
To give you an idea of what’s out there, here are some examples of highly rated ceiling fan remote controls and their outstanding features:
-
YukiHalu Universal Ceiling Fan Remote ($15.08): A solid basic option. The receiver is smaller (2x3x1 inches) than the ones that come with other remotes, making the installation process a little easier. It also comes with a wall mount for the remote control, so you have the option to use it as a switch and remove it when it’s more convenient. Besides turning the lights on and off and controlling the fan speed, the remote control also has a sleep timer. A family member has used this remote for four years without any problems.
-
Humpptom Universal Wifi Ceiling Fan Remote ($30.59): A Wi-Fi-enabled remote control that can be controlled by your phone, Alexa, Google Assistant, or the Smart Life app. While it doesn’t have a shutdown timer, it does have a dimming option for compatible bulbs.
-
Nexete Universal Remote Control and Wall Switch ($39.97). The package includes both a remote control and a wired wall switch, so you can control the fan without searching for the remote. The downside is that the installation process is more complicated.
Installing a ceiling fan remote control involves basic electrical work such as connecting wires. The general process is almost the same for most remote controls with minor modifications as noted in the product descriptions above.