Although air-conditioners are a common sight in most tropical households yet no one can deny the significance of the good old ceiling fan. Through this blog, Gharpedia brings you the ceiling fan installation guide so that you can know how to install a ceiling fan in your room.
Every calamity brings with it learning…COVID-19 also has brought to the fore important learning regarding air circulation and good ventilation. With air-conditioners mandating closed windows, they are viewed as a ‘risk element’ when it comes to virus-free air. So, many households across the globe are putting up ceiling fans, which besides keeping us cool also facilitate air circulation (thereby keeping us safe) as windows and doors are generally left open in rooms where ceiling fans run.
Why Ceiling Fans?
Ceiling fans are the option when you want to reduce your dependence on air-conditioning or simply circulate air throughout the house. The fan helps in air change in your room. On warm nights, it’s nice to turn the ceiling fan too low instead of having the ice-cold air of the AC blowing on you, isn’t it? And since most modern-day ceiling fan models include lights, you don’t have to give up a light source. At the end, you’re getting a twofer – breezy air and illumination. Then again, fans don’t end up shooting your electricity bill through the roof like ACs do! And if you are already facing a high electricity bill problem then you must read our blog-
Add to this, the indisputable fact that ceiling fans come in a plethora of mind-boggling styles and finishes, and no small wonder that ceiling fans are fast becoming a fad! Know more about how designer fans improve your home aesthetic.
So, shop around to find a ceiling fan that works with the décor in the room. A good point to remember here is that more expensive models will run quieter and last longer.
It’s Easy to Control a Fan
The ceiling fan and its attached light can be controlled by either a pull chain or a wall switch. Or the light can be controlled by a switch and the fan by a pull chain, or the light can be controlled by one switch and the fan by another. The wiring differs for each application and depends on whether the power source first enters the switch box or the housing box. If the light fixture you’re replacing is operated by an existing switch, you should be able to use the same wires to connect the fan’s light to the switch. However, if a new switch is required to operate the light, commission an electrician to install one. Another option is to buy a ceiling fan with a remote control, so you don’t have to worry about wiring to the switch.
Support is Crucial for Putting up a Ceiling Fan
Ceiling fans are heavy and need more support than light fixtures. If you know that your housing box is metal and firmly attached to the ceiling joists on either side, then you’ll be fine. If not, remove the existing housing box and buy an expandable fan brace (sometimes called a hanger bar) that you can insert into the ceiling opening and align between two joists. As you rotate the centre of the brace, it lengthens and drives the barbed end brackets into the wood. Get a ceiling fan mounting bracket, and a matching housing box with a mounting strap you can tighten from inside the box.
Ceiling Fan Installation Tools
The Following are the ceiling fan installation tools –
- Ceiling Fan
- Expandable Fan Brace and Housing Box (If Needed)
- Ladder
- Screwdriver or Drill
- Wire Coat Hanger (If Needed)
- Wire Cutters
- Wire Nuts
- Wire Stripper
Duration of the Task
As this project is only slightly more complicated than installing a ceiling fixture, you could wrap it up within an hour or so.
The Process: How to Install a Ceiling Fan
Can you install a ceiling fan yourself? If not, then no need to worry; go through this step-by-step procedure to learn how to install a ceiling fan–
- Switch off the circuit that powers the fixture you’re replacing. Flip the switch that controls that fixture a few times to ascertain that the power is off
- Remove the old fixture. Carefully read the instructions that come with the ceiling fan to figure out what parts you have and how they fit together. In case you need to install an expandable fan brace and new housing box, then this is the time.
- Before you climb up the ladder, insert the down rod of the fan (if your model has one) into the canopy. Feed the wires from the motor through the down rod and/or canopy. Tighten the screws that secure the fan to the down rod.
- Standing on the ladder, feed the wires from the housing box through the ceiling plate, which holds the weight of the fan against the housing box. Use the screwdriver or drill to attach the plate to the box. Most ceiling fans have a hook for holding up the fan during ceiling fan installation, so you don’t have to hold it. If yours doesn’t then you can make something from a wire coat hanger.
- Ceiling fans with attached lights can have a number of different coloured wires in them. Don’t be confused. Refer to the manufacturer’s instructions to figure out which is which. This can guide on how to wire a ceiling fan. You’ll need to connect each wire to its mate in the housing box. A single error here could land you in a hot soup! Use the wire stripper to remove enough of each wire’s insulation to connect them together. Start by connecting the black wire from the fixture to the black wire in the housing box by twisting the ends of the two wires together. Then snip about half-inch of the wires off, so the ends are even.
- Place a wire nut over the wires and twist clockwise until it’s tight, and no bare wire is exposed. Tug on the wires to see if they come loose. If they do, you’ll need to start again.
- Connect the white wires, the grounding wires, and any other matching wires (refer to the instructions of your fixture) in the same way.
- Attach the canopy to the ceiling plate and tighten the screws.
- If your fan has a light fixture, connect the socket to the bottom of the switch housing, and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
- At this point, it’s advisable to restore power to the circuit and test to make sure the fan motor turns on. Otherwise, you’ll have to dismantle more parts to troubleshoot it. If all is well, attach the fan blades and light bulbs. If not, refer back to the instructions to see if you can figure out what’s wrong and if you still can’t then call an electrician.
Go ahead and switch on the ceiling fan and enjoy the whiff of clean and fresh air!
I hope, this ceiling fan installation guide will help you to install a ceiling fan and to save a ceiling fan installation cost. If you are replacing a ceiling light fixture with a fan, then you can do this project yourself. If you want to put a ceiling fan where there was no fixture before, it means tapping into a circuit and running wires through the guts of the ceiling… We’d recommend that you hire an electrician to do this job.
Along with the ceiling fan, if you are planning to improve your ceiling’s look, then the following blog is a must-read for you.
Things to Know About False Ceiling for Your Interior!
Image Courtesy: Image 4, Image 5, Image 6
Author Bio
Huta Raval – An English Literature and Journalism Topper, Huta Raval has graduated from the L D Arts College, Ahmedabad. Post serving for 23 years in the NBFC and Public Library Sectors her desire for ‘writing the unwritten’ brought her to the creative field of content writing. Her clientele comprises of NGOs, Blogging Platforms, Newspapers, Academic Institutions, et al.