How to Install a Ceiling Fan

Installing a ceiling fan where there is existing wiring from a previously mounted lighting fixture involves basic electrical wiring and minor mechanical skills. Here are a few steps that we'll walk you through and soon you'll be enjoying cool breeze.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Mounting brackets
• Screwdrivers
• Ceiling Fan

Remove the Old Fixture

1. Steps:
   Pick the ceiling fan for the job after checking out the related eHows "Decide to Install a Ceiling Fan" and "Choose a Ceiling Fan."

2. Make sure that power is shut off at the main electrical box for the fixture that you intend to work on. This can be tested by flipping the wall switch or using a circuit tester on the light fixture itself.

3. Remove the mounting bolts and take down the old light fixture. (Make the fixture easier and safer to handle by first removing all light bulbs, glass globes or glass covers.)

4. Disconnect the electrical wires. In most cases there will only be two (power - usually black or blue in color, and neutral - usually white in color), sometimes three ( black and white, plus a ground wire - (usually green in color or a bare copper wire).

5. Keep the wire nuts you'll find holding the wires together - they can be reused (see Tips).

6. Inspect the electrical box once the old fixture is out of the way. Make sure it is firmly anchored to a rafter or other structural support of the ceiling. The fan is fairly heavy and needs a strong mounting point.

Mount the Fan

7. Attach the mounting bracket to the electrical box. Make sure that the screws are good and tight - loose attachments anywhere other than where specified by the manufacturer can allow the fan to wobble and cause excess noise or wear.

8. Use the "working hook" that is usually provided on the mounting bracket to hang the fan on while you hook up the wiring.

9. Attach the wires by following the standard color coding system: white to white, black or blue to black or blue, green or bare copper). The ground wire for the house circuit will usually be attached directly to the junction box. Loosen the screw, wrap the ground wire around and then tighten the screw to hold the ground wires. Cover the power connections (black and white wires) with a securely screwed-on wire nut.

10. Keep all extra wiring out of the way by pushing it up into the electrical box.

11. Attach the fan motor to the mounting bracket with the provided screws. Turn the power back on and make sure the connections are good - remember to have both the wall switch and the pull-cord switch on the fan in the "On" position (see Tips).

12. Turn off the power and put on the decorative motor cover - it's frustrating to realize after you have mounted the fan blades that you forgot to put the cover on.

13. Attach each fan blade to its mounting bracket.

14. Start mounting the blade/bracket assemblies to the fan motor. This can sometimes be an awkward job needing three or four hands if the blades are large - so calling in a favor from a friend is a big help on this.

15. Turn the power back on; test the fan again. Look for wobbling or excessive noise that can usually be corrected by pushing the unit gently until it hangs level. Some of the larger or more expensive fans come with a balancing kit that uses small weights to even out the rotation.

Tips & Warnings

• If either the wall switch or fan pull-cord is off when you test the fan, you might mistakenly think there's an electrical problem when there isn't.
• Remember, if you use the existing wiring you will be limited on fan control through the wall switch. Most people leave the wall switch "On" and control the fan and light (if applicable) from the pull-cord switches on the fan and lighting unit.

[ceilingfan]

on 10/2/2009 This was very helpful and easy to read. I was able to understand the steps and put them into action. Thank you very much.

There is a website to buy great and inexpensive fans for all different styles. You can visit it at

http://www.ceilingfantasia.com

Hope you all find it useful. I know I did.

[lsisburge45]

on 9/22/2009 My ceiling wires are blk and brown and on my fan they are blk green white and blue don't knoe how to match them please help

Thank you

[satindoll1014]

on 9/15/2009 When I turn the breaker on, the ceiling fan goes on, even though the wall switch is in the off position! Then, when I turn the wall switch to the on position, it trips the breaker and the fan goes off. Help!

[exhausted]

on 3/18/2009 I have an old house 1973. Went to change the ceiling fan and found one copper wire and one black in outlet box. I have 2 greens, a white and blue/black wires. I connected the black/blue to black and white to ground wire. I connected 2 greens together. One was on bracket, one in fan motor. Is this correct? Please tell me yes, because the chap at The Home Depot told me to attach the green and white to the copper. If it shorts that way, it will short my breaker. If I just connect the green to green, it will short my fan only. Which is correct, please?

[pattyboy20]

on 8/19/2008 I hooked up a ceiling fan to a house built in the 40's/50's... No box, no ground wires... All the outlets have no grounds!I mounted it to something rigid, not nessaceraly a beam... Thats fine tough (It is sterdy!) The problem is there are two wires... I don't even think thier colored!I hooked it up and I'll be damned if the fan switch turned on the light as did the light switch!!! I pulled the fan switch three times and the light stayed on and off on the forth pull!!! Now what did I do and how do you suggest I fix it??? Also, she has a damned dimmer switch to the fan!