|
ceiling fans
>
ceiling fan tips > How To Install A Ceiling Fan
Installing your New Ceiling Fan
In order to cut costs, a lot of homeowners are choosing to
install ceiling fans in their homes without calling in an
expensive electrician. The real advantage to having ceiling
fans is to increase the circulation of air in your home and
increase the comfort level for the home’s occupants. Ceiling
fans are also very practical during the winter months,
because warmer air rises towards the ceiling, and a fan will
help push the heat down to where you’re living.
When ceiling fans first came onto the market in the 1980s,
there were only a few models to choose from. Today, though,
you’ll find many different models in a broad range of styles
and finishes. Some of these kits include attached lighting.
In order to install your fan, start by taking down the
existing light fixture. If you don’t have an overhead
fixture in a room, you’ll need to have an electrician run
the appropriate wiring.
Before you take down the light fixture or try to make any
connections, you need to throw the breakers for the circuit
that the light fixture runs on. After all, getting yourself
a jolt of electricity won’t be any fun. Once the breakers
are shut off, it will be safe to go ahead and remove the
light fixture and disconnect its wires.
When you take the light fixture down, check on the junction
box to make sure it is firmly attached to the ceiling joists
so that it will adequately support the weight of the fan.
Following this, you will attach the mounting bracket to the
ceiling and install the housing of the fan.
If you check the stability of the junction box and discover
that the fan could use a little more support, you will need
to access the box from above if at all possible. For
example, if you can find the box by going through the attic,
you can put a 2x4 brace between the joists and on top of the
box in order to keep it in place. Screw the brace into
place, and then go back downstairs and screw the box to the
2x4. If you can’t easily access the box like this, you can
add a metal brace by running it through the opening in the
ceiling and then attaching the box to it.
You need to be aware that if you’re replacing a light
fixture with a fan that also has a light fixture attached,
you won’t be able to operate both features using the wall
switch you used in turning on and off the original light.
What usually happens is that you will use the switch to
operate the fan while using pull chains to control the light
and the fan speeds.
Most likely, when you take down your original light fixture,
you’ll find that the wiring you’ll be using is supplied by
only one circuit. This means that you’ll be able to turn the
fan on and off through the wall switch, but you’ll need to
use the pull chain in order to control the speed. Adding a
light will mean adding another pull chain to operate it.
Each ceiling fan comes with factory-designed assembly
instructions that will help you proceed step by step through
the installation process. After you’ve installed the
mounting bracket, you’ll need to install a hanging frame if
one was included in the kit. This frame allows you to
suspend a down rod. If you don’t have one, continue to
install the fan using the method outlined in the directions.
Another item that may be included in your kit is a “J” hook
which conveniently gives you a place to hang the motor
housing while attaching the wiring.
There will be a wiring diagram included with the kit that
shows you how to hook up the wires and which wiring nuts you
need to use. If you’re lucky it may be as simple as hooking
two black wires together, two white wires, and two ground
wires. After making sure your connections are secure, you
can finish installing the fan as per the instructions.
If you have a light kit to attach, you will remove the cover
from the bottom of the motor housing to connect the lights.
After everything else is finished, you can add the fan
blades by first screwing the mounting hardware into the
blades and then attaching the blades to the housing. Once
the blades are on, you’ll be able to turn the breaker back
on and try the fan. If it doesn’t work, don’t panic. You
probably just have a loose connection, and that’s easily
remedied. If you see a slight wobble while the fan is
running, it may be that your blades aren’t balanced
correctly. However, once everything is running smoothly, all
you’ll have to do is sit back and enjoy.
|