Ceiling Fans Installation Tips
Ceiling fans should be properly installed. That’s
crucial for a good performance and high energy savings.
Middle of the room
Ceiling fans should be mounted in the middle of
the room, anchored to a ceiling joist, if possible. For better
performance, fans should be 18 inches away from the walls.
Anchored to a ceiling joist
Attaching the fan to a central ceiling joist may be important,
since many ceiling fans can weigh around 50 pounds… All depends
on the type of ceiling, but if the joist
is not located in the middle of the
room, a possible solution is to use a proper bracket installed
between joists.
Distance from the ceiling and the floor
To achieve maximum cooling, ceiling fans
should be installed at least seven feet above the floor
and 10 to 12 inches below the ceiling.
If you have sufficiently high ceilings, don’t mount the ceiling
fan too close to the ceiling. It will reduce the performance of
the fan.
If you have low ceilings, look for a "ceiling hugger" fan – a
type of ceiling fan
specifically designed for rooms with ceilings
under 8 feet in height. Obviously, hugger fans do not have the
performance of other fans (due to the fact that their blades are
too close to the ceiling), but they minimize the effect of
the ceiling proximity.
The right downrod length
If possible, for better performance install the fan at least 8 - 9 feet above the floor. To that effect you may use extended mounts,
to hang the ceiling fan at the desired height.
Just
purchase the right downrod
length.
Above the ceiling: Electrical Box
Ceiling fans are sold with a metal box that
includes the wiring needed to the operation of the fan. The box
should be mounted above the ceiling, so that the fan could be
connected to it.
Wobbly Fan?
The fan shouldn’t be wobbly after installation.
It that happens, check all connections and if all is tightly
fastened. Check also the alignment of the blades. If the problem
remains unfixed, use a
fan-balancing kit
to get the cause. The fan-balancing kits are usually provided
with the fan (or sent by the manufacturer, at request).
Installing a fan: do-it-yourself?
Be careful before attempting to install a ceiling
fan.
To read and understand the manufacturer instructions
isn’t enough.
You can do the installation yourself if there is already a fan
in a room and you just want to replace it with a new model – and
if you have some experience with wiring and electricity…
But installing a new ceiling fan from scratch isn’t that easy,
and the best solution can be hiring a pro.
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