Creating A Beautiful Home

How To Install A Ceiling Fan

by Serenity Harris

Adding a ceiling fan to any room of your home can help make the temperature more comfortable and can actually add value to your home. Replacing a simple home lighting fixture and adding a ceiling fan in it's place is fairly simple to do. All you need is a handful of tools, some general know-how and the instructions below.

Tools For The Job:

  • Circuit tester
  • Screwdrivers
  • Power drill
  • Wire strippers
  • New fan with mounting kit
  • Wire nuts
  • Drywall saw

Instructions:

  1. Turn Off The Power. Turn the power off to the light you will be removing. You'll need to turn off the fuse for that light. If your circuit breaker isn't marked, you can turn the light on and when you turn off the right fuse, the light will go off. You can also test the power with your circuit tester to be sure the power is off.
  2. Remove The Old Light Fixture. Once you have the power turned off, you can remove the old fixture. You'll need your screwdriver or other tools depending on the old fixture you have in place. Be sure to take off any cover plates attached to the ceiling. Place your wire nuts over the wires.
  3. Inspect The Electric Box. The electric box that was used in place with the old light fixture needs to be inspected. See if it is attached to the drywall or attached to the joist in the ceiling above. This task may require you to go into your attic to get a closer look at the box. A ceiling fan can be quite heavy, so you need to be sure the electric box can support the weight.
  4. Install A Support Brace. If your electric box was already attached to a support brace, you can skip this step. Cut a 2 x 4 to length to fit in the space between your ceiling joists. Attach the wood in between your ceiling joists and above your electric box using wood screws.
  5. Install The Mounting Bracket. Your ceiling fan kit most likely comes with a mounting bracket kit. Install the bracket to the ceiling box using the instructions that came with your fan. 
  6. Connect The Wiring. Attach the fan motor to the bracket and connect the wiring. Connect the black wires together with your old wires that were left hanging, then connect the white wires to the white wires and a neutral green or copper wire will be connected to the ground wire. Use your wire nuts to keep the wires together.
  7. Add The Fan Blades. Install the fan blades using a screwdriver and the screws that came with your ceiling fan kit. Add the cover plate that covers any wiring or the motor as well. 
  8. Install The Light Fixture. If your fan comes with a light fixture as well, be sure to install the bulbs and the fixture plate or glass shades. Follow the manufacturer directions if need be.
  9. Test Your Fan. Test if your fan works properly by turning the power back on at the circuit breaker and turning on the switch to power it on. Be sure the fan works in addition to the light. If you notice any wobbling with your fan, check that your blades are fastened tightly. This can cause wobbling if any are loose.

Enjoy your new ceiling fan all year long. Ceiling fans not only cool a room in warm months, it helps to circulate air, so it is useful in winter months as well.

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