Installing a Ceiling Fan – The Home Depot

Safety: Before beginning, turn off the power to the fan from the electrical panel, then use a testing device to ensure the fan is not receiving power.Inspect the existing junction box to make sure its rated for ceiling fans. There should be an inscription on the box to indicate this. The box is usually metal. If not, replace it with a fan-rated junction box and a fan brace between the ceiling joists to help support the fans weight. This process will be shown in Step 2.

Insert the fan brace through the hole in the sheetrock and onto the ceiling. The square tube of the brace should be centered with the hole. Rotate the square tube with your hand until the teeth are firmly locked into the joist. Feel around to gauge your results. Attach the U-bolt bracket to the fan brace. It should be centered in the hole with the bolts facing downward. Thread the cable wire into the junction box. Slip the box up so that the bolts slide through it and tighten the nuts to secure the box into place.

Thread the main wires through the center of the mounting bracket.If the fan has a slide-on bracket, you can leave the mounting bolts on the junction box and simply slide the fan bracket over the mounting screws. Tighten them securely.If your fan doesn't have the slide-on fan bracket, place the fan bracket over the mounting bolts that poke through the bracket and fasten it with the nuts provided.

Using a flat surface, slip the canopy onto the ceiling fan downrod and run the main wires through. Insert the clevis and cotter pins to the downrod, so that it connects to the fan's base.Attach the bulb-shape fitting at the top of the downrod to the mounting bracket on the ceiling.

Connect the ceiling fan wiring to your household wiring. Some fans come with additional wires, so be sure to follow your owner's manual for specific instructions. Use the wire nuts supplied with your ceiling fan installation kit to secure the wires. This step will be much quicker for ceiling fans without lights. When wiring a ceiling fan, remember to match up the wires: In many cases, the fan's copper or green insulated wire connects with the ground wire. The fan's motor black wire connects with the supply black wire. The ceiling fan light kit's wires, blue or striped, also connect with the supply black wires. The fan's motor white wire connects with the supply white, or neutral, wire. Once these wires are securely connected, push them into the junction box. Use wire cutters to cut the wires if they can't fit into the box. This will keep them from vibrating against the canopy when the fan is running. Clip the canopy onto the mounting bracket and tighten the screws.

Tip: When wiring a ceiling fan with a light, follow manufacturer's instructions to ensure a correct connection. If you have additional questions on how to wire a ceiling fan, check the manufacturer's instruction for your specific model.

Some fans have quick-install blades that can make the installation faster. Simply align the blade arm posts through the blade keyhole slots and slide them outward until they click and lock into place.For fans without quick-install blades, screw the fan blades onto the blade arms. The side of the blade that you want shown should face downward.Ceiling fans with accu-arm blade brackets can also speed up installation. These brackets come with the blade screws attached. Also, there's an alignment post on the bracket that will help in mounting the blade arm without stripping the mounting hole.For fans without the accu-arm feature, fasten the blade assembly to the motor with two screws. Drive the screws in slowly to avoid stripping and bending the blades, and tighten securely. Install the globe and light bulbs that may be included in your kit. Restore power and test out your ceiling fan remotes and wall controls to make sure you can turn on the fan.

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Installing a Ceiling Fan - The Home Depot