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| Installa Service |
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| Ceiling fans are both
functional and decorative. |
Ceiling fans are both functional and
decorative. They are particularly useful in the summer, since
they effectively reduce energy usage while creating a cool breeze.
They can also be used in the winter to gently pull heated air
away from the ceiling where it tends to collect. Light kits can
be added to increase the usefulness of many ceiling fans. A wide
range of both fan and light kit styles is available, providing
choices that will contribute to the beauty of any room. This
how-to provides general instructions for installing a ceiling
fan and should give you a feel for what is involved. Remember,
however, to always consult the manufacturer's instructions during
actual installation. Lowe's is happy to provide this information
as a service to
you. |
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| What Size Fan Do You Need? |
- Use a 30" diameter ceiling fan if the largest room dimension
is 10M2' or less.
- Use a 36 " diameter ceiling fan if the largest room
dimension is 10M2' to 12M2'.
- Use a 42 " diameter ceiling fan if the largest room dimension
is 12M2' to 18M2'.
- Use a 48 " diameter ceiling fan if the largest room dimension
is 12M2' to 18M2.
- Use a 30 " diameter ceiling fan if the largest room
dimension is 15M2' to 18M2'.
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| Tools & Materials |
Click
a text link below to shop for that item.
Click the information icon for a product
buying guide.
- Ceiling
fan kit
- Outlet
box (ceiling
or "paddle" fan installation
approved)
- Wire nuts
- Downrod (optional)
- Expandable cross
brace (optional)
- Light
bulbs (if fan
has lights)
- Ceiling medallion
(optional)
- Electrical Tape
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- Ceiling Fan Outlet Box
- Step
ladder
- Philips and
slotted screwdriver
- Wir
cutters
- Electrical tester
- Adjustable
wrench
- Pliers
- Goggles
- Dust
Mask
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| Before You Begin |
To ensure that your fan is securely mounted to the ceiling
and for your safety during installation, read all of the instructions
packed with your fan. Since ceiling fans are usually used to
replace existing light fixtures, the wiring to the fan should
already be complete. Installation is not difficult, and only
requires that you pay attention to the instructions included
with the fan. If additional wiring must be done to install
your fan and you are not familiar with wiring, consult a professional
electrician. All wiring must conform to local and national
codes.
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When working with electricity
always:
- Turn off the power.
- Test the wires to ensure the power is off.
- Lock the panel box, so no one can accidentally
turn the power back on while you are working.
- Check with local authorities to see if a permit
is required.
- Have your work checked by an inspector.
- Wear eye goggles and a dust mask.
- To avoid overloading the circuit, consult
a licensed electrician.
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Read ALL instructions and safety
information completely. To reduce the risk of fire
or electric shock, do not use the fan with any solid-state
speed control device or variable speed switch unless
specifically designed for use with a ceiling fan. Do
not mount the ceiling fan to a plastic electrical box.
Use a metal box securely fastened to the building structure.
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| Mounting Options |
Fan blades must be mounted at least seven feet above the floor.
For maximum efficiency, they should not have any obstruction
within 24" of the blade tips.
An appropriate junction or outlet box securely attached to
the building structure is required. Replace the old box with
one labeled as approved for ceiling fans or ceiling suspended "paddle" fan
installation. The box and its support must be able to support
the moving weight of the fan. Use the installation hardware
recommended by the junction box manufacturer. Fans of over
35 pounds, with or without accessories, require additional
support independent of the outlet box.
Secure the new box to a brace between ceiling joists.
If there is no 2" x 4" wood brace between the joists but you
have access to the framing through the attic, add a brace.
Otherwise, install an expandable metal ceiling fan hanger bar.
These may be positioned either from the attic or from below
the ceiling, through the rough opening. Secure the box to the
bracket with a U-bolt.
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| Installation of Mounting Bracket |
Remove the fan motor screws. These screws will
be used later to secure the blade arms to the motor.
- Remove the mounting bracket from the fan canopy.
- Secure the mounting bracket to the ceiling electrical box
with mounting screws and lock washers. If the fan comes with
a J-hook, install the mounting bracket with the J-hook towards
the floor. The hook will support the weight of the fan motor
housing for a hands-free wiring installation.
- Pull the electrical wires through the center hole of the
mounting bracket.
- At this point, if you have a fan with a three position
mount, you will need to decide whether to use a close mount
or downrod installation. (Downrod installations are used
for both standard and angled applications.)
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| Downrod Installation |
- Install the downrod into the mount with the ball end toward
the ceiling.
- Thread the lead wires from the motor (black, white and
blue) through both the canopy and downrod. Take extra care
not to pull on electrical wires.
- Insert the downrod into the collar yoke and rotate until
the holes match. Insert the connector pin through the holes,
and secure with a cotter pin. Be careful not to damage or
cut the fan wires. Bend the two legs of the cotter pin to
ensure that the connector pin does not slip out.
Affix the hanger and downrod to the motor assembly
by tightening the setscrew on the side of the downrod. Some
fans have two setscrews and some have lock nuts for the setscrews.
- Insert the ball into the hanger bracket. The tab opposite
the hanger bracket opening should fit into the slot on the
ball. Make the appropriate wire
connections.
- After the connections are made and the wires are carefully
tucked into the outlet box, make sure the tab in the bottom
of the hanger bracket is seated in the groove of the hanger
ball. Slide the canopy up the hanger bracket and permanently
attach it with the supplied screws.
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| Close Mount Installation |
Some fans allow mounting without the use of a downrod. This
type of mount places the fan closer to the ceiling.
Remove the larger screws and lock washers from
the top of the decorative fan motor housing.
- Secure the canopy to the housing using the same screws.
- Hang the fan on the J-hook (if applicable) by using one
of the holes at the top of the canopy.
- Make the appropriate wire
connections. After the connections are made and the
wires are carefully tucked into the outlet box, remove
the canopy from the J-hook on the mounting plate.
- Permanently attach the canopy to the mounting plate with
the provided screws.
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| Attaching Fan Blades |
- Mount each blade bracket to a fan blade using the screws
and washers supplied. Start all screws before tightening,
then tighten each. Repeat for the remaining blades.
- Follow the same process to mount each blade/bracket assembly
to the fan. Make sure all screws are tightened securely.
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| Installing a Light Kit |
If your fan comes with a light kit, it may already be wired
and in place requiring only that you install the bulbs and
globes. In some instances, however, you may need to wire the
light kit yourself. Do this as follows.
- Remove the switch housing cover plate from the fan.
- Remove the plug from the center of the cover plate.
- Feed the light kit wires (black and white) through the
holes in the cover plate and screw the plate tightly to the
light kit to prevent it from vibrating loose.
- Locate two wires within the switch housing labeled "for
light" (white and blue). Connect them to the light kit wires
with wire nuts¡ªwhite to white and blue to black. Secure the
connections with electrical tape to prevent the wire nuts
from vibrating loose during operation.
- Carefully push wires back into the switch housing, and
attach the light kit to the switch housing with the provided
screws.
| ENERGY STAR labeled ceiling fans move at least 20 percent
more air than a typical ceiling fan per watt of power
consumed. ENERGY STAR labeled ceiling fans use about
60-70 percent less electricity for lighting than equivalent
incandescent models. |
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