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How to Convert a Hanging Ceiling Fan to a Flush Mount

Cleveland Van Cecil

Although a ceiling fan is a low-energy way to cool the home, the body of the ceiling fan takes up a lot of room. If you are not seeing the benefits of your fan, you may want to replace it with a light. A flush-mount light hugs the ceiling, keeping wasted space to a minimum.

Installing a flush mount light in place of a ceiling fan requires changing the electrical box.

Domed lights can be quite attractive, adding a soft light to the room. Luckily, changing a fan to a light does not involve running any new wiring through the wall.

  1. Turn off the electricity to the room at the circuit breaker.

  2. Remove the body of the ceiling fan, covering the mounting bracket at the ceiling, by taking out the screws or the bolt holding it in place. Use a screwdriver or a wrench, depending on the fitting.

  3. Remove the wire nuts from around the wires connecting the ceiling fan to ceiling electricity.

  4. Unscrew the down rod from the mounting bracket and lower the fan to the floor.

  5. Remove the mounting bracket from the ceiling by taking out the screws.

  6. Place a piece of wood into the metal box in the ceiling. Hit the block with a hammer to knock out the old box. Pull the box out of the hole.

  7. Reach inside the hole and remove the ceiling brace.

  8. Set the new box inside the hole, feeding the old wiring through.

  9. Measure the height of your flush light and adjust the mounting strap to the correct height by turning the nut on the strap to move the long threaded tube. Tighten the tube down with a wrench.

  10. Attach the strap to the ceiling with the supplied screws.

  11. Cut a piece of copper wire and wrap one end around the screw in the electrical box and the other around the screw on the mounting strap.

  12. Connect the wires from the light to the wires coming from the ceiling. Connect the white neutral wire and the black hot wire to their counterparts in the ceiling using wire nuts.

  13. Place the base of the light over the threaded tube. Push a washer over the threaded tube, then tighten the base down with a nut, using a wrench. Screw in the light bulbs and attach the globe.

The Drip Cap

  • Although a ceiling fan is a low-energy way to cool the home, the body of the ceiling fan takes up a lot of room.
  • A flush-mount light hugs the ceiling, keeping wasted space to a minimum.
  • Remove the wire nuts from around the wires connecting the ceiling fan to ceiling electricity.
  • Place a piece of wood into the metal box in the ceiling.
  • Cut a piece of copper wire and wrap one end around the screw in the electrical box and the other around the screw on the mounting strap.