Install a Ceiling Fan
Category: Electrical ·
Difficulty: Intermediate ·
Time: 2h ·
Estimated cost: $220
Tools needed
- Step ladder
- Voltage tester
- Phillips and flat screwdrivers
- Wire nuts
- Drill
Materials needed
- Ceiling fan (52" with light) (1 ea)
- Fan-rated metal ceiling box (1 ea)
- Wire nuts (yellow + orange) (1 pk)
- Electrical tape (1 roll)
Execution steps
Kill the breaker
Switch off the breaker for the room. Test wires at the existing fixture with a voltage tester.
Duration: 5 min
Remove old fixture
Unscrew the canopy, disconnect wire nuts (note color matches), remove the existing box if not fan-rated.
Duration: 15 min
Install fan-rated box
Slip the saddle-style fan-rated box up between joists. Expand the bar until tight against joists. Pull wires through center.
Duration: 25 min
Mount the bracket
Screw the fan's mounting bracket directly to the rated box.
Duration: 10 min
Hang motor and connect wires
Hook fan motor on bracket. Match black-to-black, white-to-white, blue (light) to black or its own switched line, ground (green/bare) to ground.
Duration: 25 min
Attach blades and shroud
Screw each blade to its bracket then to the motor. Attach the canopy shroud over the bracket.
Duration: 25 min
Install light kit and test
Plug in the light kit module, screw bulbs in. Restore breaker. Test pull chains and switch.
Duration: 15 min
Safety first
- Ceiling fans MUST be hung from a fan-rated box — a regular light box will eventually fall.
- Two people make this much safer; the motor is heavy.
- Verify zero voltage at every wire before touching, even after flipping the breaker.
When to hire a pro
If there's no existing ceiling box at all, you need a pro to fish a wire from the switch box — that's not a beginner job.
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