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DIY Basic: Installing a Ceiling Fan with Light-Fixture From "Ask DIY Home Improvement" episode DADH-212

A ceiling fan doesn't just add charm and cool breezes. It actually makes both the heating and cooling of your home more efficient.

Installing a ceiling fan is a good way to dress up a room while saving money on both your heating and cooling costs. Home-improvement expert James Young gives you the basics for doing it yourself.

Materials:

Ceiling fan with light kit
Wire nuts (included in kit)
Electrical tape
Screwdrivers

Important: This is a summary of the basic steps for installing a ceiling fan with lights. Installation may vary somewhat depending on the model you select and your particular application. Read and follow the manufacturer's directions and diagrams that come with the fan you select.

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Figure A

Installing a Ceiling Fan with Light-Fixture

• When you visit your home center to pick out a ceiling fan, you'll be faced with a lot of choices. Pick one that visually suits your taste and your existing décor. Installation is pretty much the same regardless of the style. However, the size is important. Pay careful attention to the size of the fan blades (figure A). For a small room, such as 12'x12', a 36" fan is fine. For larger rooms, you'll want to select one with a 52" span.
  

  	Figure B
  	Figure C

• Typically, fans with integrated lights are used to replace existing light fixtures, so the existing wiring (figure B) can be used for the fan.

• Safety Alert: Before you begin work on the wiring, at the breaker box, turn off the power at the switch that supplies electricity to the fixture where you'll be working. For extra safety, place a sign on your breaker box indicating that work is in progress, so that someone doesn't turn the power back on while you're working.

• The first step in the installation is to attach the fan's mounting bracket to the outlet box (figure C) using the screws and lock-washers provided.

• Pull the electrical wires through the center hole of the bracket.
  

• Study the wiring diagrams and existing wiring before you begin hooking up the fan. In this kit, the black wire is the "hot" wire for the fan, and the blue wire is the "hot wire" for the light kit (figure D). The green wire is the ground (figure E). This is typically the standard set-up, but check your instructions to be certain.

  Figure D

  Figure E

  
  

• While connecting the wires, it's best to have some help supporting the fan since it's fairly heavy.

• Attach the canopy to the housing (figure F), and carefully pull the wires through to make the connection.

• Be certain to cover all exposed wire-connections with the wire-nuts provided before pushing them into the electrical box.

• Install the fan blades (figure G), following the manufacturer's instructions.

  Figure F

  Figure G

  
  

• Now you can hook up the light kit. Remove the cover plate and plug.

• Feed the wires through the hole, and attach the cover plate to the light kit (figure H).

• Secure the cover tightly (figure I) so that it can't come loose from vibrations.

  Figure H

  Figure I

  
  

• Connect the wires according to the manufacturer's instructions (figure J). Again, use wire-nuts and electrical tape to make sure that nothing will come loose when the fan is operating.

• Push the wires into the switch-housing and attach the light kit.

• Install light bulbs (figure K).

• Once you're done, turn the power back on at the breaker box, and test your fan and lights.

  Figure J

  Figure K

  
  

RESOURCES :

HGTV's Complete Fix-It
Author: HGTV