How to Install a Ceiling Fan: A Step-by-Step Guide

Installing a ceiling fan in a particular room of your home is a great way to add a stylish touch while ensuring year-round comfort. At Right Electrical Services, we know that many homeowners have been led to believe that installing a ceiling fan is a DIY job. Unfortunately, those inexperienced with installing a new ceiling fan can run into some serious trouble if they aren’t prepared. For this reason, our electricians always recommend contacting a certified electrician when planning ceiling fan installation. While we do not recommend taking on this installation by yourself, for those that are curious about how to install a ceiling fan, we’ll cover that here along with some other tips to consider.

For those who know what they’re doing, installing a new ceiling fan can be a fairly painless process. This process is made even simpler when the space above is accessible from an attic. Today, Right Electrical Services will be showing you how to replace an old light fixture with a new ceiling fan and light in a worst-case scenario where the room has no attic above. Following each of these steps, the process of installing a ceiling fan in your home can be an easy enough process. As always, if you find yourself in need of a local electrician to facilitate the process of installing a ceiling fan, be sure to contact Right Electrical Services! We’ll be happy to help. 

Step 1: Select the Right Fan For the Room

There are a few different factors that you should consider when selecting the best ceiling fan for your room. These factors include ceiling fan size, location, style, lights, control options, and airflow. Taking each of these factors into account, you can ensure that your chosen ceiling fan is the best fit for the room, offering both style and function. 

Ceiling Fan Size

Determining the right ceiling fan size for the room where you will be installing your ceiling fan is crucial. Due to the fact that a ceiling fan’s main purpose is to both regulate the temperature of the room and circulate air, it is crucial that the right size is chosen. As a rule of thumb, it is best to select a bigger fan for a bigger room. Likewise, smaller rooms are best suited by smaller fans. 

In order to determine the best fit, take the time to measure the room in question before purchasing your new ceiling fan. It is best to measure from the floor to the ceiling in order to determine mount type. Mount types include standard, downrod, and flush. 

Another rule of thumb to follow when selecting fan size and mount type is that any room 300 square feet and larger should use a 52-inch or larger fan. Rooms that are larger than 300 square feet should use two fans in order to circulate air around the room. In terms of smaller rooms, such as bathrooms and small guest bedrooms, small ceiling fans are by far the best fit. 

In order to determine the best possible fit for the room where you will be installing your ceiling fan, there is a recommended fan width used based on the length of the longest wall in your room:

• Length of the longest wall is less than 12 feet, your fan’s width should be 36 inches or less
• Length of the longest wall is 12 to 15 feet, your fan’s width should be 40 to 48 inches
• Length of the longest wall is greater than 15 feet, your fan’s width should be 52 inches or more

The next thing you’ll want to consider is mounting types. When choosing your fan, you will likely come across the terms “flush” and “downrod”. In order to determine which mounting type is best suited for the room you’re in, you’ll need to pay close attention to the height of your ceiling. In an ideal world, your ceiling fan’s height (from floor to blade) to should be roughly 8 feet. 

Downrod mounts are the best option for ceiling fans installed in living rooms or rooms with ceilings higher than 8 feet. That being said, ceilings of significant height may require a longer downrod so take note of this when purchasing your ceiling fan. 

Flush mounts are best suited for rooms with low ceilings and are mounted to the ceiling itself. 

Location

Before you can make the best selection in the ceiling fan that you will be installing, it is crucial that you have a good idea of where you plan to hang it. This is due to the fact that ceiling fans come with a wet/damp rating as a way of indicating whether or not a fan should be placed indoors or outdoors. 

If you are planning to install a ceiling fan in a damp area such as outdoors or in a bathroom, you’ll want to be sure that your chosen fan meets UL’s wet/damp rating. This means that your fan is able to withstand environments with excessive moisture. In order to meet this rating, your fan will need to be outfitted with stainless steel hardware, all-weather blades, and housing that is resistant to rust. As an important note, all outdoor fans can be used indoors but indoor fans are not suitable for use outdoors. 

Ceiling Fan Style

This part of choosing your ceiling fan is all about aesthetic preference. The right fan will pair well with your home’s existing decor. Install a ceiling fan that possesses the appropriate finish, shade, and cabinet knobs.

Blades typically come in a variety of finishes and some can even be found with a reversible finish. In terms of light shades, you can typically expect glass with either a frosted or non-frosted finish. For the best results, try to match each of these components related to the ceiling fan style to your home’s decor. This will create a stylish effect that you and your family can enjoy. 

Lights

While most ceiling fans come equipped with a light kit, hanging a fan in an area that either already has good natural lighting or already existing lighting installed means that you don’t necessarily need your ceiling fan of choice to possess a light kit. If you decide to purchase a fan that does include a light kit, you’ll have a choice between LED, fluorescent, and halogen bulbs.

LED bulbs tend to be the best choice for those concerned with consuming the least amount of energy possible. Fluorescent bulbs, while still consuming more energy than LED bulbs, are a cost-effective choice that still uses less energy than incandescent bulbs. Finally, halogen bulbs consume the most amount of energy (while still less than incandescent bulbs) and tend to be the most cost-effective choice of the three.

Control Options

How you are able to control both the speed and lighting of your ceiling fan depends on the accessories included with your chosen fan. There are three main types of ceiling fan controls and these include the old fashioned pull chain, wall control, and remote control. 

Pull chains are used in the majority of standard ceiling fans and are the ideal choice for rooms that are either not used often or that possess low ceilings. 

Wall control ceiling fans allow you to control the speed and lighting of your fan via a button. 

Finally, remote control ceiling fans tend to be best for ceiling fans that will be installed on high ceilings. These are the ideal choice for bedrooms and living rooms as they are convenient and handheld. 

Airflow

Finally, the last factor to consider when selecting a ceiling fan for installation is the airflow. This depends on your ceiling fan’s motor as, depending on the motor type, you can expect a high or low amount of airflow. Ceiling fans come equipped with either an AC or DC motor. DC motors are known for both consuming less energy and producing less heat. It is, again, important to consider where you will be placing your fan when thinking about the ideal motor for you. Fans with a high airflow are ideal for outdoor areas as they will circulate more air. 

Step 2: Remove the Existing Light Fixture

Once you have chosen the perfect ceiling fan for your space, it’s time to learn how to install your ceiling fan. To start, you will want to remove the existing light fixture. It is crucial that you start by cutting the electricity to the circuit to eliminate your chances of electric shock. Once this is done, carefully remove the globe or shade from the existing light fixture before unscrewing the retaining screws that are keeping the fixture attached to the ceiling. Finally, remove the fixture and disconnect all existing wiring. 

Step 3: Remove the Existing Kit and Cut a New Hole

The next step to take involves removing the existing electrical box from the ceiling. Your existing electrical box will either be nailed to a joist or suspended from a bar and, depending on the case, you will have to utilize different methods for removal. If your electrical box is nailed to a joist, you will need to use a flat bar to pry it away from its place on the ceiling. If it is suspended from a bar, it is likely that you will have to remove the metal box in order to be able to unscrew the box. Once this is done, follow the same process as is required with a joist by prying it free from the ceiling. 

Once you have successfully removed the existing electrical box from the ceiling, it’s time to cut a separate hole into the drywall. While keeping centered on a joist, carefully trace a circle with a pencil. Next, cut along the line with a drywall saw.

Step 4: Affix a New Electrical Box

Once you have successfully removed the existing kit from the ceiling and cut a new hole in order to install your new ceiling fan, it’s time to affix the new electrical box. 

It is important to note that you will need to install a new electrical box that is designed to hold ceiling fans as the electrical boxes used for ceiling lights aren’t sturdy enough to withstand the weight and vibration of a ceiling fan. You can do this by feeding the electrical cable that extends from the ceiling through the hole you have cut. You’ll want to make sure that there is a cable connector attached to the hole. 

Next, set the box into the hole, pressing tightly against the underside of the joist. After that, attach the box to the joist using your ceiling fan’s provided screws. Finally, wrap the cable’s bare copper wire around the grounding screw found inside of the electrical box before allowing the wire end to hang down. 

Step 5: Glue on the Ceiling Medallion

In our fifth step, we’ll be placing the provided ceiling medallion against the ceiling. Using a urethane-based adhesive, apply a small amount of glue to the back of the ceiling medallion. Next, pass the wires that are extending from the electrical box down through the center of the ceiling medallion. Center the medallion and press before fastening it in place with your fan’s finishing nails by driving them into the joist. To complete this step, set the nailheads before filling with caulking. 

Step 6: Mount the Ceiling Plate

Once the ceiling medallion has been properly affixed, hold the fan’s ceiling plate up to the box before pulling the extended wires through its center hole. Using machine screws, attach the ceiling plate to the box securely. As an important note, you should remember to paint the ceiling medallion before mounting the ceiling plate if you are planning on doing so.

Step 7: Assemble Your Fan’s Components

Next, we will be assembling your ceiling fan’s components. Working from the floor, feed the wires that extend from the fan’s motor through the center of the canopy before setting the canopy on top of the motor. After doing so, pass the wires through the hollow downrod pipe. Next, thred the downrod pipe into the top of the motor itself before using a wrench to tighten the square-head locking screw found on the side of the pipe.

Step 8: Connect the Electrical Wiring

In our eighth step, we’ll be doing the often complicated work of actually connecting the electrical wiring. This is where things can get a bit tricky (and dangerous) for those that are inexperienced as to how to install a ceiling fan. We, again, highly recommend consulting with a licensed electrician to ensure that your ceiling fan is properly wired. 

Using twist-on wire connectors, join the two green wires to the bare copper wire extending from the cable. Next, join the two white wires before connecting the two black wires. Finally, rotate the fan into position against the ceiling medallion before securing it with two canopy screws. It is important to note that the room where you are placing your ceiling fan may be wired differently than outlined in these instructions. Again, if this is the case, it is highly recommended that you contact your local electrician in order to avoid trouble.

Step 9: Attach the Lights and Blades

Finally, attach each fan blade to the bracket that holds the blade to the fan, otherwise known as a blade iron, before fastening the blade irons to the motor with the provided screws. You will then want to plug the ceiling fan’s light fixture housing into the wire extending from the underside of your fan’s motor. Then, it’s on to the easy job of installing the bulbs and shades. All done!

Contact Right Electrical Services to Install Your Ceiling Fan

Now that you have an understanding of how to install a ceiling fan, it’s time to call your local Raleigh electricians for the job! Our electricians are highly-trained and knowledgeable concerning proper ceiling fan installation practices. We would love to help you install your new ceiling fan and can ensure quality work at a fraction of the price. Contact us today to schedule your appointment!

Renee Rose

Renee is a freelance copywriter and blogger known for her expertise surrounding topics like marketing, freelancing, mental health, and more. She has written for hundreds of small business websites and is the Marketing Director here at Right Electrical Services, LLC. Renee believes that when a business prioritizes entertaining, engaging, and informational content for their readers, they can expect a loyal following that trusts their company.