By Victoria | No Comments
Last updated: Thursday, October 9, 2008

The purpose of a ceiling fan is particularly to cool off a room during a hot summer day. They reduce the amount of energy you are using to cool off the room by creating a cool breeze. They are also used in the winter on a lighter level to pull heat away from the ceiling where it tends to group up.

Ceiling fans are both functional and used for decoration.

Ceiling fan installation involves two main aspects: mechanical and electrical.

Before the actual ceiling fan installation procedure starts, consider a few constructional aspects of your home.

First of all, get the wiring of the house examined by a professional electrician. You have to make sure that proper wiring for ceiling fan installation is available in the house. Also remember that some ceilings may need to be braced to support the additional weight of a ceiling fan. So a ceiling bracing must be inserted during the time of construction itself.

Now mark the area from where you intend the fan to hang. Hanging the fan from the middle of the ceiling ensures best air circulation. Avoid ceiling fan installation directly over a bed. The actual ceiling fan installation can be broadly divided into assembling the fan and mounting it.

What Tools Will I need?

Some tools and accessories you will need to install a ceiling fan include a ceiling fan kit, and outlet box, wire nuts, wire cutters, goggles, pliers, adjustable wrench, electric tester, electrical tape, and a screw driver. These are all small tools that will not cost you a lot of money.

Assembling the fan

• The assembling procedure varies with different brands. In order to assemble the various parts of a ceiling fan you have to follow the manual provided with the unit.
• If the fan blades are less than 10″-12″ away from the ceiling, there is no harm in installing the blades before hanging the fan.

Mounting

• Fix the mounting bracket to the electrical box tightly with the screws.
• In the time of the wiring, use the “working hook? provided with the mounting bracket to hang the fan on.
• Match the wires by following the standard color coding system (white to white, black or blue to black or blue and so on). Each connection should be covered with a securely screwed-on wire nut.
• Push back all extra wiring up into the electrical box.
• The fan should be electrically grounded to the metal box with the green or bare copper grounding wires. Connect the ground wires from the box, the fan and the power supply together with a wire nut, or a pigtail like wire which you have to attach to the box with a screw.
• Next slip back the ceiling cover to its full height and make it tight so that it does not move from its place.
• If you have a beamed ceiling you have to use a special beam mount for ceiling fan installation.

Remember when working with electricity for the light fixtures, you need to start by turning off the power. This will reduce any risk of getting electrocuted. Once you have turned off the power, it is always smart to check the wires and make sure the power is off.

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