Installing a ceiling fan in bedroom with no existing light fixture?

Question

I want to install a ceiling fan in a bedroom. There is no existing light fixture in the room. The switch in the bedroom just powers on an outlet. I want to install the ceiling fan and have the switch control it.

Will this be possible?

Answer 1

With all due respect to other answers, and depending on your aesthetic desires, you could take two other options.

You might have to install a double switch box anyway, to control lighting if you choose a fan and at any point choose the lighting add on frequently offered.

If you don't wish to go through studs and drywall you can add surface mount wiring molding from the fan unit and to the switch. Not knowing where you are, I suggest Home Depot and Lowes both sell this item, plus all it's peripherals. Certainly it can be formed to follow corner lines, door moldings, etc.

Another option, also still used is the swagged chain/cord, from the unit, and can also be enclosed if you are able. That would allow that you could either use the switch on the fan itself, or hard wire it to the wall switch.

Certainly the first option, installing the fixture wiring, inside walls is possible, and can be accomplished in a couple of ways. Again, without details I suggest this. In your attic/crawlspace might be electrical cable? Here in FL, it's common. If that's the case in your case, OR NOT, locate the wiring to the switch, by removing the switch. In the attic or crawlspace, locate the area directly above where the switch is below, and drill a hole. Using appropriate gauge wiring, feed down enough to connect to the switch. Hopefully you have some knowledge of connecting service. Take what length you then need, from the ceiling, and after locating the fan placement, drill another hole in the ceiling.

Hopefully between rafters/ centered in the room. Brace that area with a 2 x 4 or the bracketing made for ceiling fan hanging, cut your hole large enough to install the BOX, secure the box to what form of bracing you use, and pull your wires. Install the fan, turn the breaker back on, and test your efforts.

You also don't state if the switch operates anything else in the room: IE: wall receptacles. Check the amps at that particular breaker, and note the amps you need for anything in that room to function.

Steven Wolf

Answer 2

It is possible, if you have an attic above the bedroom, and it is difficult.

First decide where you want the fan to go. Drill a small hole in the ceiling there, and push a stiff straight piece of wire up into the attic. A wire coat hanger works good. Then get up in the attic and find the wire. Clear out the insulation to expose the ceiling sheetrock. Trace a metal ceiling fan box around where the wire came through, and cut out the hole. Install some 2x4 bracing, connected to the joists, to support the box and fan.
Now the real fun begins. Find the top of the wall above the switch you want to control the fan. Drill a 1/2 to 5/8 hole through the top plates, as close to direclty above the switch as possible. Then kill the circuit that controlls the switch. Remove the cover and pull the switch as far out of the box as possible. Remove one of the tabs from the top of the box.
If it was a 15 amp circuit breaker or fuse controlling the switch, you will need 14 gage wire. For a 20 amp breaker, use 12 gage wire. Your going to have to fish the wire through the hole you made above the switch, down inside the wall, and into the box where you removed the tab. You may want to buy or borrow a fish tape for this. The other end of the wire will go to the box where you want the fan.
Connect white, black and ground(bare wire) to the top terminals on the switch. Hook up the fan according to the directions that come with it. Turn the power back on, and you should be all set.
If you don't have an attic, you can either cut into the ceiling to run the wires or use conduit to run the wires on the surface of the wall and ceiling, and surface mount the box to the ceiling. Just be sure the box is securely anchored to a joist. If the box is not securely mounted you risk haveing the fan come crashing down onto whatever is under it.

Answer 3

I can tell you what I did-it is not to "City Code" but it is as safe as standard hard wiring
Get a chain swag kit from DIY/Home Depot-
swag kits are electrical cords that are snaked thru decrotive chain.
To install the ceiling fan-find a stud in the ceiling near the center of the room-(use a stud finder-fan must be screwed into wood stud not the dry wall)
Ceiling fans come with a metal pan to which everything is mount-srew this pan to the ceiling using as large of a screw that will fit into the pans slotted mounting holes. -screws should be 2 1/2" lg min.
Assemble the fan per instructions-when you go to mount the decrotive bonnet cover-take a hacksaw and cut two slots on the edge that meets the ceiling. The slots should be 1/2" apart and 1/2" deep. Take a pair of pliers and bend this 1/2" tab down 90 degress-drill a hole in this tab large enough that the end chain link and be threaded thru it (tab is just to hold the end of the chain)-thread the power cord thru the 1/2 tab opening and wire to fan wires
Finish assembly of the fan.
With the swag kit-there should be two decorative hooks-mount one hook in the ceiling 2 feet away from the fan and install the second hook in the ceiling by the wall. The hooks should be installed inline with your exisitng, switch operated, electrical outlet on the wall.
The fan speed and on-off controls are pull chains that are part of the actual fan
Hang the chain/power cord on the hooks-plug it into the exisitng wall outlet and enjoy.
I have done 10 fans like this and have had trouble free performance for years.
When you move-the inspector will tell you this is not to code (they want hard wire) you will need to dismantle the fan from the ceiling-heck-take it with you when you move-the holes in the ceiling can be easily hidden with a little toothpaste of spackling compound.
This may sound confusing but if you sit back and picture it with a nice cold beer-before you start-you will envision this better

Answer 4

Sure. If you access above the ceiling from a craw space or attic, it should be a piece of cake. You will want to mount something between the rafters to support the electrical box (recessed) and you will have to drill into the wood plate above the wall switch. (there might already be wires coming up through he attic above the switch)

If you don't have access, the installation is more complicated. At a last resort, you can use surface mount wiring like Wiremold.

Answer 5

Possible.... yes, Difficult... yes. You need to fish a wire down from your attic to the outlet and run a new wire back up the wall from the switched outlet over to where you want the cieling fan. Install 2x4 blocking and an square outlet box to support the fan and wire it up as the directions state for the fan. It would be a good idea to get a book on home wiring and look over the diagrams first to make sure you know what you are doing.

Answer 6

Overhead Lighting Without Wiring

Answer 7

Go into the switch controlled outlet box, there has to be a neutral wire at the receptacle. Run it in wire mold, up to the fan, mounted on the ceiling. The switch can be made to energize the fan, and the outlet recepacle, but if it's a variable speed switch, I would keep it separate. I did it that way a while ago, and installed a surface mounted, unobtrusive wall switch, to control the fan.

Answer 8

1. Fish wire from outlet up to ceiling fan location.
2. Install fan rated outlet box in ceiling and mount securely.
3.Buy and install remote control fan/lite switch in new fan canopy.
4. Enjoy!!!

Answer 9

Having a switch box does not always mean that a neutral, or return is in the switch box, as it may only be a switch leg. Look into the outlet box as well, as the feed may be in it, and only a conductor pair ( black, white ) going to the switch. Don't just poke or drill a hole in the ceiling, as suggested, you may regret to repair/paint later. Have someone with past experience look at it, as there may be something overlooked by an untrained eye.

Answer 10

Red Rooster has the simplest way (not the prettiest). We had no choice. Plastic surface channel up the wall from the receptacle and over to the fan. (We have concrete walls and ceilings and 2 bedroom fans and one in the living room) AND best of all they work just fine and over the years three coats of paint make the channel hard to see.