A Guide to Installing Ceiling Fans

Ceiling fans are becoming quite popular as people realize the energy savings they can bring to a home. When you install a ceiling fan, the average temperature of the room goes down several degrees. If you are heating a room with a tall ceiling, a ceiling fan works great to circulate the hot air at the top through the rest of the room. Installation is fairly easy and can be done in a few hours. Follow these steps for installing ceiling fans.

Use Existing Light Wiring

Installing a ceiling fan is relatively simple, especially if the fan will be located nearby an attic. Even when it isn't, the job is still quite doable and doesn't take a master carpenter. It's easiest if you take an already existing light fixture to install the ceiling fan, as that way you don't have to do any rewiring. Why call an electrician when any ceiling light can become a circulating fan? You can just connect the fan to the existing cable from the light.

Replace the Electrical Box

Realize that the electrical box from your average ceiling light won't be strong enough to hold a ceiling fan, especially when you crank up the power in the middle of a sultry summer day. You should replace the existing electrical box with one specially designed for ceiling fans. You must use a specially rated hanger and box, mounting the fan between ceiling joists. An even better idea is to screw a fan related “pancake” box (its thinness earned the name) directly to the joist.

Removing the Light Fixture

Be sure to turn off all electricity to the circuit for the light fixture where you'll install the ceiling fan. Carefully remove the glass globe from the light fixture. Unscrew any retaining screws or nuts that hold the fixture to the ceiling. Lower the fixture, disconnecting the wires by twisting off the plastic connectors from the ends of the wires.

Remove Electrical Box and Cut Hole for the New

Remove the old electrical box, prying it free from the ceiling with a flat bar if its nailed secure. Hold the pancake box against the ceiling where the ceiling fan will be, and trace a hole with a pencil. Cut the hole with drywall saw. Use a vacuum wand to catch the dust.

Installing Ceiling Plate

Mount the ceiling plate, pulling the wires through the hole. If you want to paint a decorative design around the fan, do it before mounting the ceiling plate. Assemble the fan components. Hook one side of the canopy to the ceiling plate. Join the 2 green wires to the bare copper wire coming down from the cable. Join 2 white wires, and then the 2 black wires. Swing the fan into position and secure it. Attach blades and lights as specified in the instructions.

And there you go- you've got your own brand new ceiling fan installed in just a few hours. Cut down on your electric bill and improve the comfort of your home with the energy savings of ceiling fans.

Chris Juarez is the author of this article on Ceiling Fans. Find more information about Ceiling Fan here.

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Ceiling fans are becoming quite popular as people realize the energy savings they can bring to a home. When you install a ceiling fan, the average temperature of the room goes down several degrees.