One of the best ways to make your home a true investment is to improve the property in simple but significant ways.
The best projects to tackle are the ones that will bring more value to the home than the actual cost of completing the project. One fantastic DIY home improvement project to consider is installing a ceiling fan.
But if you’re not experienced in DIY you may be wondering, are ceiling fans hard to install?
The answer is generally, no. This post will briefly cover the main steps for installing a ceiling fan in your home.
It should be noted, however, that the process can differ slightly for each home and each ceiling fan.
How to install a ceiling fan
1. Remove the existing light fixture
First things first make sure that the power to that room is off before doing this by locating your breaker box and turning off the circuit switch.
It’s not a good idea to just turn off the power from the wall switch. If it is dark in the room, use flashlights or lamps hooked to another circuit to aid you.
The next step will be to take out the fan and light fixture that is already there. You will need to remove the cover and take out the bulbs and brace that are there.
Once you have removed the old fixture, you will see the electrical box attached to the ceiling joist. You are already a good part of the way to seeing your new fan working at this point.
2. Install the support bracket
Most ceiling fan light kits will come with their own support bracket but some do not. This will be attached to the ceiling joist. Look at the box and check the section that lists all of the contents.
If you do not see a support bracket there, purchase one that will work for that model. It should be listed on the box.
If you have any questions, be sure to ask someone who works at the store you are at. They will be able to help you.
3. Put in the fan mounting bracket
In your ceiling fan light kit, there will be a mounting bracket. This bracket needs to be put in place before any of the wiring can be done.
The instructions will differ depending on the fan, so follow the instructions that come with the kit you purchased.
You will be working kind of upside down to get this done, and it can help a lot to have someone else there to hold up the bracket while you screw it all in.
4. Hook up the wiring
Now you will connect the fan wiring from the light fixture to the wiring in the fan. Again, there will be some clear-cut instructions in the fan kit.
Make sure you pull the electrical wires through so they are easy to work with. Depending on the kit, you may need some electrical tape to secure the wires together.
One of the big things here is to identify the ground wire from the instructions.
If you are still a little wary, try looking at some YouTube videos. These can give you a good visual of how it should all look.
This is another step where it will be much easier to have someone supporting the fan so you can focus solely on the wiring.
This is the step that scares most people, but it really is a very simple process. Don’t be discouraged. It is safe and easy if you can follow directions.
5. Put on fan blades and other decorative pieces
Now that you have everything in place, it is time to finish it off with all the little decorative pieces.
This will change depending on which kit you buy but usually involves putting on the fan blades using the blade brackets, attaching the fan, and hooking up the pull strings.
Turn the power back on.
The final step will be to enjoy the new and useful features in your home. The process is simple but can have a lot of great dividends in both the aesthetic and practical worlds.
Final thoughts
So, are ceiling fans hard to install? After reading this article, you can see that ceiling fans are a fast, easy, and affordable way to improve the look of your home while adding value.
Ceiling fans help relieve summertime humidity and circulate warm air in the winter, lowering your utility bill costs.
Ready to invest in a ceiling fan?
Ready to buy a ceiling fan? If so, read our reviews of the best-rated ceiling fans. You may also want to know how to repair a ceiling fan so you can take care of your investment over its life span.
Make sure you’re making an informed decision before you install a ceiling fan in your home. If you’re prone to sinus issues you’ll want to read up on if ceiling fans cause sinus problems.
And if you have a baby in your home, find out if ceiling fans are safe to use around babies. You should also know that ceiling fans help dispel radon gas, making your home overall safer for your family.
