DIY Difficulty (1 easy-10 difficult) 5
Time to completion: 1-1 1/2 hours
Material cost: All parts are included with a fan kit. $75 -200
Labor and misc. parts $ 75-110
TOTAL $ 150-310
A ceiling fan is a nice addition to most rooms. In addition to an
attractive fixture they allow the are in a room to circulate. A fan
reduces hot spots and mixes air to provide pleasant comfort for any
room.
In our business we install hundreds of fans. Today I will talk about a
recent job for one of our customers. The fan is a basic 5-blade fan
with a light kit. Nothing complicated or fancy about it. This project
had a ceiling light so there was no additional electrical work. In
future articles I will discuss how to adda ceiling fan work box where
one does not exist.
Time to completion: 1-1 1/2 hours
Material cost: All parts are included with a fan kit. $75 -200
Labor and misc. parts $ 75-110
TOTAL $ 150-310
A ceiling fan is a nice addition to most rooms. In addition to an
attractive fixture they allow the are in a room to circulate. A fan
reduces hot spots and mixes air to provide pleasant comfort for any
room.
In our business we install hundreds of fans. Today I will talk about a
recent job for one of our customers. The fan is a basic 5-blade fan
with a light kit. Nothing complicated or fancy about it. This project
had a ceiling light so there was no additional electrical work. In
future articles I will discuss how to adda ceiling fan work box where
one does not exist.
STEP 1
Cut off the power source. This is as simple as flipping the
switch. However, all the install manuals suggest to turn off
the main breaker.
Remove the existing ceiling fixture. There are three wires
you will be concerned with; the black (red) which is the hot
wire. The white is a neutral and a green wire as the
ground. There may be other wires bundled together in the
work box. Don't do anything with them. You are only
concerned with the wires that connected to the old fixture.
These are the ones you will use to install a fan. In some
cases the fan will have a black and a blue wire
designating the light and the fan. This is used if there are
separate switches for each. If not then the fan and the light
wire and connected as one.
STEP 2
The work box to the left is adequate for this application. In
some cases you may have to swap out the existing work
box for one that can support the weight of a fan. There are
many types of fan-approved work boxes. Basically the
work box should be tight and not wobbly. If you suspect
the box may not be adequate my suggestion is to take a
photograph of your existing box and show it to the clerk at
the hardware store or electrical supply. Someone there
can show you the proper box.
Cut off the power source. This is as simple as flipping the
switch. However, all the install manuals suggest to turn off
the main breaker.
Remove the existing ceiling fixture. There are three wires
you will be concerned with; the black (red) which is the hot
wire. The white is a neutral and a green wire as the
ground. There may be other wires bundled together in the
work box. Don't do anything with them. You are only
concerned with the wires that connected to the old fixture.
These are the ones you will use to install a fan. In some
cases the fan will have a black and a blue wire
designating the light and the fan. This is used if there are
separate switches for each. If not then the fan and the light
wire and connected as one.
STEP 2
The work box to the left is adequate for this application. In
some cases you may have to swap out the existing work
box for one that can support the weight of a fan. There are
many types of fan-approved work boxes. Basically the
work box should be tight and not wobbly. If you suspect
the box may not be adequate my suggestion is to take a
photograph of your existing box and show it to the clerk at
the hardware store or electrical supply. Someone there
can show you the proper box.
STEP 3
Whether I am installing a ceiling fan, unassembled
furniture or anything with many parts it pays to organize
ahead of time. Once the parts are laid out on a table or the
floor it is easy to determine if anything is missing or
broken. If everything checks it is much easier to complete
the assembly. There have been times I skipped this step
only to find I had to undo everything because I had missed
a part early in the assembly.
STEP 4
Anything that can be assembled off the ladder is a time
saver and physically easier. Sometimes a fan kit will have
very tiny screws or other parts. Standing on a ladder and
attempting to thread a small screw in tiny hole is surely
the best time to drop the screw if you want to see it
disappear forever. It is amazing how a dropped screw can
cause so much frustration. Sometimes a customer has
not a tidy home and sniffing around on the floor for the lost
piece becomes a health hazard. In times like these the
screw is a goner. Unless I have another part (usually
never) it is time to become creative.
Fan blades easily attach to the brackets with screws and
washers. Most kits allow for one extra of a screw and a
washer, just in case.
STEP 5
Install the main bracket. Fan kits usually always include
the machined screws to tap the large bracket to the
electrical work box. If you organized your project ahead of
time you can easily find the only screws that will work
properly.
The screws have to thread properly and should not be
forced or stripped. The main bracket should be tight to the
ceiling. Once installed give a sharp tug to the bracket to
make sure it is firm. It also must be installed level,
otherwise there is a risk of the fan not functioning properly.
The electric wires should be threaded through the hole in
the bracket and not on the outside.
STEP 6
On the main bracket is a hook. The hook is to hang the
motor housing. Note that the fan blades are not installed
at this time. It would be cumbersome to complete the
assembly with the blades attached.
Once the motor housing is installed it is a matter of
connecting the wires. If the work box has a separate wire
each for the light and the blades the wires on the fan will
be clearly marked. It doesn't matter which of the wires to
use (not the green or white), usually black or red. If a
simmer switch is present then this is best for the light. A
typical dimmer cannot effectively handle the load of a fans
motor. There are specialty switched to vary the speed of
the fan blades and most supply houses will carry an
assortment.
Tighten the wires securely with the wire nuts and give a
slight tug to make sure the wires are securely tightened.
Once complete push the assembled wires through the
central hole and raise the motor housing through the
bolts and tighten.
STEP 7
Test for operation. You do not want to have your fan
completely installed only to find a wire nut is loose. If the
fan goes on, check the speeds. Then check the light.
STEP 8
Install the shroud over the motor housing. Install the fan
blades. Install the light kit.
That's all there is to it. Good luck.
Whether I am installing a ceiling fan, unassembled
furniture or anything with many parts it pays to organize
ahead of time. Once the parts are laid out on a table or the
floor it is easy to determine if anything is missing or
broken. If everything checks it is much easier to complete
the assembly. There have been times I skipped this step
only to find I had to undo everything because I had missed
a part early in the assembly.
STEP 4
Anything that can be assembled off the ladder is a time
saver and physically easier. Sometimes a fan kit will have
very tiny screws or other parts. Standing on a ladder and
attempting to thread a small screw in tiny hole is surely
the best time to drop the screw if you want to see it
disappear forever. It is amazing how a dropped screw can
cause so much frustration. Sometimes a customer has
not a tidy home and sniffing around on the floor for the lost
piece becomes a health hazard. In times like these the
screw is a goner. Unless I have another part (usually
never) it is time to become creative.
Fan blades easily attach to the brackets with screws and
washers. Most kits allow for one extra of a screw and a
washer, just in case.
STEP 5
Install the main bracket. Fan kits usually always include
the machined screws to tap the large bracket to the
electrical work box. If you organized your project ahead of
time you can easily find the only screws that will work
properly.
The screws have to thread properly and should not be
forced or stripped. The main bracket should be tight to the
ceiling. Once installed give a sharp tug to the bracket to
make sure it is firm. It also must be installed level,
otherwise there is a risk of the fan not functioning properly.
The electric wires should be threaded through the hole in
the bracket and not on the outside.
STEP 6
On the main bracket is a hook. The hook is to hang the
motor housing. Note that the fan blades are not installed
at this time. It would be cumbersome to complete the
assembly with the blades attached.
Once the motor housing is installed it is a matter of
connecting the wires. If the work box has a separate wire
each for the light and the blades the wires on the fan will
be clearly marked. It doesn't matter which of the wires to
use (not the green or white), usually black or red. If a
simmer switch is present then this is best for the light. A
typical dimmer cannot effectively handle the load of a fans
motor. There are specialty switched to vary the speed of
the fan blades and most supply houses will carry an
assortment.
Tighten the wires securely with the wire nuts and give a
slight tug to make sure the wires are securely tightened.
Once complete push the assembled wires through the
central hole and raise the motor housing through the
bolts and tighten.
STEP 7
Test for operation. You do not want to have your fan
completely installed only to find a wire nut is loose. If the
fan goes on, check the speeds. Then check the light.
STEP 8
Install the shroud over the motor housing. Install the fan
blades. Install the light kit.
That's all there is to it. Good luck.
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