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Installing a ceiling fan is not difficult to do. Most people who are comfortable with basic home repairs can take this project on with confidence. If you are not confident in your skills and experience, you can always hire a qualified handyman or electrician.
I don’t think I had ever touched a ceiling fan until I bought my first house when I was 27 years old. None of the homes I had lived in before that point had ceiling fans. I had always liked the idea of having ceiling fans, but just never had the pleasure of owning one.
My first house was a foreclosure. It came with 6 very old, dirty, and ugly ceiling fans. As soon as the house was painted, I proceeded to put in new fans. At this point in my life my home remodeling skills were very limited. I really had no idea how to remove a ceiling fan and install a new one. Luckily my good friend Michael was a ceiling fan pro. He had been installing them since he was a kid because his dad was a major ceiling fan distributor.
I called Michael and he came over to show me the ropes. After showing me how to take one fan down and put the new one up, I was confident enough to take on the next one myself. It took a fan or two on my own, with Michael’s guidance, before I really knew what I was doing but after that I had no problem taking on a ceiling fan install project myself.
Since then, I have installed many ceiling fans. Each install project is a little different, wire colors are different, fan options differ, the size of the fan poses different challenges, etc. I have had to call Michael a couple times when something I found didn’t match my previous experiences, but for the most part it is usually an easy and straightforward process.
Even if you are a home improvement beginner, like I was, you can still take on most ceiling fan replacement projects yourself.
There are a couple questions we first need to consider before we can determine how difficult it might be for you.
Question 1: Is there already a ceiling fan in the spot where you want to install the new fan?
If the answer to this question is yes, then this is a project most people can take on as long as they get a little guidance first. (We’ll talk more about that later.)
If the answer to this question is no, then this is a much more difficult project and you should consider bringing in professional help. If you want to install a ceiling fan in a spot where there is not currently a junction box with power the job becomes much more complicated and will most likely require a licensed electrician. In order to install a ceiling fan where there is no power currently, wires will have to be run from a light switch, through a wall and up over the ceiling. Depending on your local building codes, some people can take this job on themselves, but only if they have been trained and are skilled in electrical work. This isn’t something the unskilled want to try themselves.
Question 2: Does the ceiling fan you want to install have a light kit attached or does it have a remote control?
If the answer to this question is yes, then the job is a little bit more complicated, but not too difficult for most people to figure out on their own or with some guidance from someone familiar with the process. Your new fan most likely will come with directions on how to install and wire the light fixture and remote control unit. Just make sure to follow all the manufacturer directions.
If the answer to this question is no, the job is very basic and most people can take the project on by following the fan installation directions.
If you’ve ever installed a new light fixture, a basic fan install isn’t much different. It basically comes down to shutting off the power breaker, taking the old one down, matching up the wires correctly, hanging the new fan in place, and screwing in a few bolts and screws.
Typically, the only tools you need are a screwdriver, wire stripper/cutter, and maybe a wrench. If you have to install new hardware, such as the ball hanger, a power driver could make it a little easier, but isn’t required.
I recommend that anyone who is installing a ceiling fan for the first time should at a minimum, ask a friend who has done it before to help show you how it is done. It is also always wise to call in a professional installer if you really have no clue what you are doing or don’t feel comfortable doing it yourself. If you go with a pro, watch him or her do the install and ask them to explain the process to you. Perhaps after seeing it done you’ll feel confident trying it yourself the next time.
If you try to do it yourself and find that you can’t figure it out or spot something with the wires or junction box that doesn’t look right, you should definitely call in a pro to finish the job.
Installing a ceiling fan is one of the home improvement projects that most people can take on. After finishing the job you get a great sense of satisfaction every time you use the fan, knowing you’re the one that put it there.