Installing a ceiling fan isn’t too difficult. As long as you can climb a ladder and use a screwdriver, you can do it. Even though it involves doing some wiring, installing a ceiling fan is not a job that requires specialised technical knowledge. It just takes a couple of hours and the right tools, assuming you already have a light fixture or an existing fan in the space where you want to hang your fan. If not, you will need to have an electrician in to add wiring to the circuit. Otherwise, follow these steps to hang your own ceiling fan.
Get Your Materials
You will need a screwdriver, a tape measure, a circuit tester, a step ladder, and a wire stripper and cutter. You should also wear safety goggles.
Prepare for the Job
Before you start the job, turn off your main power. Use the circuit tester to make sure the power is really off before you start installing the fan.
Assemble the Ceiling Fan
All ceiling fans for sale will come with assembly instructions in the box, and you should follow them. You will have to attach the fan downrod to the top of the motor housing, then pull the wires from the top of the motor housing up through the downrod. If you bought a fan without a downrod, you will have to attach the fan canopy, which covers the electrical box, to the top of the fan motor housing.
Install a New Junction Box
Ceiling fans are heavy, and they need a more robust junction box than a light fixture. If you are replacing an old fan, you probably already have the proper junction box in your ceiling. Check that the junction box in your ceiling is rated for use with fans and anchored to a joist or fan brace.
If you don’t have a fan-rated junction box in your ceiling, use a pry bar to remove the old junction box from the joist. Attach the new fan-rated junction box to the joist with 50 mm wood screws. If you can’t attach the junction box directly to the joist, attach it to a brace between joists instead.
Wire the Fan Motor
House wiring is colour-coded, so wires in the fan should connect to the same colour wires in the ceiling. You will need to attach the fan mounting plate to the junction box and pull the house wiring down through the mounting plate. There should be a hook on the mounting plate to allow you to hang the fan motor while you are making the connections.
Make the wiring connections by twisting the bare ends of the wires together. Use the wire stripper to remove more of the plastic coating if necessary. Secure the wire connections with caps. Tuck the wire connections into the junction box.
Hang the Fan Motor from the Ceiling
Attach the downrod to the mounting plate. Usually, there will be a knob on the end of the downrod that will sit in a socket in the mounting plate. Raise the canopy and secure it in place with the screws provided.
Put the Blades On
Each blade should come with a bracket, at least for most fan designs. Attach the brackets to the blades before you commence to attach the blades to the fan motor housing. Use the tape measure to make sure you are hanging the fan 2.1 to 2.4 meters from the ground. If the fan turns out to be wobbly, you can use a balance kit to repair the wobble.
Wire the Light Fixture
The final step in hanging your own ceiling fan is to wire up the light fixture, if there is one. The light fixture may have colour-coded wires like the fan motor did, or it may have a plug that you should plug into the fan motor housing. After you do the wiring, attach the light fixture to the fan using the screws that come with it, then add the bulb covers and light bulbs.
Install Wireless Wall Controls
Not all ceiling fans come with wireless wall controls. Some come with remote controls and many ceiling fans today are “smart,” meaning you can control them from your phone. If you have wireless wall controls to install, do them after you have finished installing the fan itself.
Restore Power
Now it’s time to turn the main power back on for the house and see if your ceiling fan works. Enjoy your new fan!
