I live in a two-story townhouse that has no ceiling fans. All the light switches controll the lamps plugged into the outlets. We would like to install one ceiling fan in the living room and one in our bedroom. I have tried to search online, but all I can find is how to replace an light with a ceiling fan. Anyone provide a link or advise on how to tackle this?
2007-11-30 03:42:18 · 7 answers · asked by mpbclutch33 2 in Home & Garden ➔ Do It Yourself (DIY)
A good website is http://www.howstuffworks.com/
I have found great information here.
You need to get electric to the spot where you want to put the fan.
So, you may be better off hiring an electrician.
2007-11-30 03:52:03 · answer #1 · answered by tom p 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
This could either be a medium project or a real bear depending on the access you have. If you have attic access above the ceiling it might not be a bad job. Your home center will have a selction of 4" round boxes specifically designed for mounting a ceiling fan. There are 3 basic styles of fan boxes. They either mount on the side of a joist, over a joist or come with an adjustable bar that will span between two joists. The location and access will determine which style will work best for you.
Getting a wire to the fan may be the hard part. If you would like to have the existing wall switch control the light you may be able to get a wire from the new fan box to the switch. If you are lucky you can drill from above into the cavity where the switch is an fish the wire down.
I would run 14/3 wire from the switch to the fan. This will allow you to control both fan and light from the wall switch. #14 wire is all that is required for a light and fan. The larger #12 wire is not required for this application, it's stiffer and harder to work with. (Note if the circuit has a 20 amp breaker you should use #12 wire, if it's a 15 amp breaker the smaller #14 is fine.)
There are two ways a switched outlet may be wired (see links below). If it is wired so that power is feed into the swich (1st link) you can keep your switched outlets. If it is wired so that power is feed to the receptacle you will need to use existing switch wire as a power feed to the fan and you won't be able to keep the switched outlets without more work getting another wire from the receptacle to the switch box.
I assume your bedroom is upstairs and your living room is downstairs. You may have attic access for the bedroom but probably not for the living room. It's not impossible but getting a wire to the living room can be a bear. If you are planning on painting or happen to have some leftover paint cutting small access holes to get wires routed might be your only option. Sometimes you can cut small access holes inside closets so the wall repairs aren't as critical.
Electricians charge a significant amount for doing instalations in old work. It's not easy and sometimes fishing wires requires the patience of saint!
Good luck.
BTW I installed 3 ceiling fans in our new to us house just 2 weeks ago. My Dad was an electrician and I worked with him as a summer job while in HS and college.
2007-11-30 13:19:41 · answer #2 · answered by R P A 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you want to do it correctly, you'll need to find a power source, like an outlet close by.
Run a piece of 12/2 with ground to a double switch box where you want your switches to be. Cut a hole in the wall where you are going to mount your switches. Then figure out where you want to hang the fan. Cut a hole there in the ceiling for the box. If there's a stud right there your all set. If there's not (and I bet there won't be) you'll need to add a cross support between ceiling joists to hold the weight of the fan. Use a 2x4 or larger. You'll have to make the hole big enough to be able to screw the support piece to the studs.
If you have access to the area above the ceiling fish 2 wires from above to the hole where the box will be. You may have to drill through the wall's top plate. Two wires is so you will have seperate controls for the fan and light. Bring the other ends to the hole in the ceiling. Mark the wires so you know which one is the fan and light.
Back at the wall box. Take the power coming in and attach to pig tails (short wires) to the black wire, one power line for each switch. Be sure to cap them and tape them. All the white wires should be capped and taped together. Attach one pig tail to each switch, and one black wire from the ceiling to the appropriote switch. (one for the fan and one for the light). Before mounting the fan, I would patch any hole you had to make and finish them, (paint etc).
Mount the fan according to manufacturer's instructions,
It's a little bit of labor but it is not hard if you have some basic knowledge of electricity and carpentry.
2007-11-30 07:35:15 · answer #3 · answered by captbob552 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I don't know what kind of ceiling you have or if the beams are
visible . If not , buy a stud finder to locate the beam .
Mount the base plate onto the beam , attach a long piece of lamp cord to the 2 wires on the fan , and attach a plug at the of it end ........just strip 1/2 inch of insulation from the lamp wire
and wrap around each screw tighten down the screws , making sure that they're not touching each other or you'll have a short and the breaker will trip when you turn the fan on. If you have a problem with this ,
just get a long extension cord and cut off the end.
Attach the lamp cord to the 2 wires on the fan . If there's a light with the fan , twist the 2 white wires together , and then the 2 black wires .......making sure you keep them separate.
Okay , now that everthing is connected mount the fan/light
to the base plate. You can hang the wire from the ceiling on a decorative chain or hide it in a wire mold ( it's like a case
for the wire )
That's it , stay cool .
Hope this answers your question.
2007-11-30 05:53:48 · answer #4 · answered by twocrabs@verizon.net 2 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Determine where you want it & remove drywall so you can install stronger backing where the new box will be. Call a "sparky" to do whatever he needs to, to make it hot (extend some romex from one of your wall outlets), then patch the drywall & paint. He can shove the wire down to the plate, go along the angle to the socket bay & bingo. You may not even have to drill holes in any wood. The wire can be stapled into the groove you cut in the Sheetrock & flat-taped over. If you have texture, you're screwed, it never matches. Get a "drop-rod" so you can put it anywhere, and one with a remote to avoid the switch hassle. Don't attempt the patchwork yourself, you'll suck at it. Barter with someone who knows how.
2016-03-15 03:17:23 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It will not be easy. You will need to run the wire and install an electrical box and support for the weight of the fans. Fishing the wires through the walls to the area in the ceiling will be trying.
2007-11-30 03:58:55 · answer #6 · answered by sensible_man 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Why not just use a swag kit? It is a long cord that you weave into a white, gold or black chain. You just have to put a support hook in the ceiling and plug it in??
HD and Lowes carries them.
Yoda out
2007-11-30 05:33:58 · answer #7 · answered by Yoda 5 · 1⤊ 3⤋
you need an certified electrician to make these adjustments not knowing exactly how and when your house was wired.
definitely a not do it yourself project...
please check in your area electrician and ask for an estimate
2007-11-30 04:28:14 · answer #8 · answered by lynda l 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋