How to Disassemble an Old Ceiling Fan

Removal and disposal of a worn-out ceiling fan is a cathartic experience—out with the old, in with the new. Since fans can be quite heavy, you want to take the ceiling fan apart before trying to remove it from the ceiling. Follow these steps in sequence to disassemble your old ceiling fan.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Drill
• Screwdriver

1. Remove the globes and light bulbs from the ceiling fan. These should go first so you reduce the risk of dropping the fan and breaking the glass. Most globes have three screws that you must loosen before removal.

2. Take off the lighting kit (if the fan has one). Most lighting kits consist of two sections. It is easiest to unscrew the screws in the top section so that both parts come off at once. Take off the protective wire nuts and pull down the lighting unit.

3. Use a drill to take the blades off the ceiling fan. Most blades screw directly into the top of the fan, so using a drill in reverse makes removal easy.

4. Get rid of the canopy that covers the fan motor. Most canopies have four screws to remove. Some ceiling fans have a decorative ring that obscures these screws. After removing the first couple of screws, press the canopy to the ceiling with one hand to avoid having the fan motor fall to the ground. After you remove the last screw, pull down on the canopy.

5. Dispose of all the old ceiling fan parts appropriately.

Tips & Warnings

• Always make sure to turn off the fuse box or circuit breaker for the room before attempting any lighting repairs, wiring or when you disassemble old ceiling fans.