Ceiling Fan's



Tools and Materials.     Balancing a ceiling fan.


There are several different types of ceiling fans on the market today.
There are two basic styles ,  pole mount and Flush mount.

Pole mount fans are hung from the ceiling by a pole and are recommended
for ceiling's that are over 8 feet high.  The poles can be ordered in
different length's to bring the fan down to the height you want.

Flush mount fans are for Ceilings that are 8 to 9 feet in height and mount
directly against the Ceiling to keep the blades at a safe height above
the floor.

No matter which one you pick out,  the most important part of any fan installation
is the mount. The mount needs to be secured to the structure of the house.
This can be done several different ways.


Let's start with the most common installation.   The mounting of a fan
where an existing light fixture is all ready in place.
And you can get to the electrical box of the light fixture through the attic.

IMPORTANT NOTE:     When working in an attic be very careful not to step off of the
ceiling joist's on to the sheet rock or plaster ceiling.   If you do you will go right
through damaging the ceiling and possibly causing bodily injury to yourself.......


(1) Turn off the power to the light fixture at the fuse or breaker box.
Not at the light switch.   This will keep you from having a shocking experience
if some one enters the room and flips the light switch.   To do this turn on
the light and have someone watch for the light to go out while you unscrew
the fuses or flip the breakers.

(2) After you have turned off the power,   Remove the light fixture from the
ceiling,   most light fixtures are fastened with two screws,   Or a center nut
that is held in place by a cross bar and two screws.

(3) In most cases there will be a metal or plastic electrical box under the
light fixture.   DO NOT USE the PLASTIC BOXS TO HANG A FAN TOO...
Make a note on how the wires from the light fixture are hooked up to the wires
coming into the electrical box,   your fan will hook up the same way the light
fixture is.
Check the wires that come into this box for cracks in the
insulation,   In some older homes the insulation on the wiring has aged and been baked
by the light bulbs to the point of being brittle and will crack and fall
off the wire when disturbed.

(4)You must install at least a 2 x 6 block between the joists to hang the fan on.
Measure the distance between the joists at the location of the fan and
cut the 2 x 6 to this length.
Remove the electrical box and Run a short length of romex wire from the box to the
fan location set the electrical box out of the way with a cover plate over the
open side of the box.
Using 3 inch deck screws fasten the 2 x 6 Block between the joists running the screws
through the joists into the block that is laying flat over the hole in the sheet rock or plaster ceiling.
after the block is fastened,   drill a 3/4 inch hole in the block at the center of the fan location
and feed the romex wire down through the hole.
I like this method the best for it allows you to secure the mounting bracket of the fan
right to the block on the other side not just an electrical box.
This method can also be used any where you want to place the fan.
screwing the block in place will also keep you from knocking some of the
nails loose in the sheet rock by not hammering on the joists driving nails.

You are now ready to mount the fan.   Follow the instructions that came with
the fan...


The second type of mount is a Through the hole type system that allows you to
install the mounting bracket through a hole in the ceiling without having to get up
in the attic.
I recommend this type of system for installations where there is a existing
light fixture in a downstairs room where you can not run wires or install
blocking with out tearing out part of the ceiling.

The system can be purchased at your local fan dealer.   Here is what you will
need to do to use this type of system.

First turn off the power to the light fixture,   remove the fixture, attach a
short length of romex wire aprox.   2 feet to the wires in the box black to black,
white to white, ground to ground.
Remove the nails or screws holding the electrical box in place.   if the box
is held in place by a cross bar then this bar must be removed also.
You will need a small flat pry bar to pry the nails out of the box or
to remove the cross bar from the ceiling/floor joists.

The system consists of a hexagon shaped bar that is threaded on one end
and has two spiked pads on each end.   You insert the bar and pads through
the hole in the ceiling and turn the bar to expand it between the joists.
after the bar is firmly in place you will install the electrical box
that came with the system to the bar,   Feeding the wire from the other box
into the new one.

This system works very well.   I have been using it in my home for 10 years
with out a problem.

The key to using this system is,   Make sure that there is nothing in the way
of the bar when you install it.   The spikes must dig into the joists.
when you expand the bar.


If you have any comments or questions,   Send me an E-mail to:   km5am@hotmail.com

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