Install a Ceiling Fan

Things to Consider Before You Install a Ceiling Fan 

Before Instaling a ceiling fan.

The ceiling fan is the ideal electrical appliance to control the climate in a room or rooms of your house. Before you can install a ceiling fan you first need to know where it will be installed. Most ceiling fans are installed in the center of the ceiling where there may have been,or is a light fixture. This can prove to be a relatively easy installation and an energy saver because the ceiling fan draws the same amount of power as does the light fixture. However, if there was no light fixture or, there is not a light fixture there now than electric power will have to be pulled through, from a circuit now in existence, to accommodate the ceiling fan. When the decision is made as to where the ceiling fan will be installed,  the next decision will be what kind of ceiling fan will be installed. There are many ceiling fan styles, designs and sizes to choose from.  To make your decision you should first take into consideration the size of the room and the height of the ceiling. Next take into consideration the décor of the room and last but not least consider the color of the fan. All the decisions have been made and you bought the fan. Now you are ready to install a ceiling fan.

Be sure that the power is off at either the circuit breaker or the fuse box. Just shutting off the light is not enough. You need to turn off all of the power leading to the fixture you are about to remove. Now remove the fixture. Cut a hole large enough to accommodate the junction box and fasten it securely a joist or in between joists. The junction box that will be used should be metal and not plastic. Be sure to check your local electrical codes so that you know whether a 4” or 3” box should be used  Some local codes do not allow the use of a 3” box.. It is important to give some thought to what weight fan the building structure will support. The average ceiling fan can weigh up to fifty pounds. When installing your ceiling fan also take into consideration that the fan vibrates when it is moving. Is that junction box securely mounted to a proper beam? Will you need an extender to drop the fan down to make it level? Different beams need different types of mountings. Most important in the installation process is to be sure that all mountings are secure, tight and safe to avoid having your fan fall from the ceiling. 

These instructions are meant to be a guide to help you install a ceiling fan but we cannot stress enough that together with this guide you also follow the instructions that the manufacturer included with the fan and take all precautions when working with electricity.  When the installation is complete it is your turn to sit down and relax in cool comfort.