ceiling fans installation

Ceiling fans should be properly installed and located to achieve maximum cooling performance and high energy savings. Be careful with wobbly fans.

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.

Joists

Attaching the fan to a central ceiling joist may be important, since many ceiling fans can weigh around 50 pounds… The final solution depends on the type of ceiling, but if the joist is not located in the middle of the room, you may use a bracket installed between two joists.

Distance from ceiling and floor

To achieve maximum cooling performance, ceiling fans should be installed at least 7 feet above the floor and 10 to 12 inches below the ceiling.

If you have very 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 height. Hugger fans aren't as effective as other fans, but they are the better solution for low-ceiling situations.

down rod length

For better performance ceiling fans should be mounted at least 8-9 feet above the floor. To achieve it, you may use extended mounts to hang the ceiling fan at the desired height. Just purchase the right down rod length.

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.

Wobbly Fans

The fan shouldn’t be wobbly after installation. It the fan is wobbly, 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 ceiling fan

Be careful, before attempting to install a ceiling fan yourself.

Installing a new ceiling fan from scratch isn’t that easy, and the best solution can be hiring a pro. Unless... there is already a fan in the room and you just want to replace it with a new model, and if you have some experience with wiring and electricity...