Ceiling Fan Installation Tips And Information

Posted on: July 14, 2016
By: Alan O'Neill
Posted in: Ceiling Fans, Electrician

Does Houston Homeowners Can Save Energy Using Ceiling Fans?

In most homes, ceiling fans do NOT save energy. It’s not that they can’t save energy; it’s just that most people don’t understand how to use them to do so, and the potential savings are pretty small.

Ceiling fan installation is the best thing you can do to keep air moving and to keep cool through the hot, humid weather. 

INSTALLING A CEILING FAN WITHOUT EXISTING WIRING

Ceiling fans are a very popular addition to install in bedrooms, patios, and living rooms. When you want to add a ceiling fan, the most difficult step tends to be getting it wired into your electrical system, especially if you do not have an existing fan or light fixture already in place. Installing a ceiling fan without existing wiring means you will need to run cables to connect it to a power source. Electrical wiring can be tricky if you do not know what you are doing; many people will opt to let a professional do the job for them.

The first thing you will need to do is figure out where exactly the fan will be placed. The electrical junction box that the fan will attach to needs to be in between two joists for support and will be installed from the attic above the room where the fan will be located. Cut a hole in the ceiling about the size of the box and then bolt it to the two joists so that it is flush with the ceiling. This junction box needs to be extremely secure as it will be bearing the weight of the fan in addition to the vibrations it generates.

Your next step is deciding where to run the wires from the fan to. You have a couple different options here; the one that is best for you will depend on your house’s design and your existing wiring. If you already have an outlet in the same room, or another ceiling fixture in a neighboring room that you have access to from above, these will likely be the best places to connect your fan to. If there is no nearby existing wiring, you will need to run a new line to your home’s main electrical panel. Check out this guide for an in-depth guide to fan installation without any existing wiring, and this one for connecting your fan to an existing fixture or outlet. Be sure to turn off your main circuit breaker before handling any live wires. Once your wiring is in place all you need to do is mount your fan to the ceiling and it should be ready to use.

How To Save Energy (and Money) with Ceiling Fans

If you’re going to run ceiling fans constantly in your home on a hot day, raise the temperature on your thermostat by a few degrees. Your ceiling fan doesn’t directly cool the air by itself, but it helps circulate the cool air better. It also creates a breeze effect that makes the room feel cooler than it actually is. Call us (713) 812-7070 for home service and repair needs.

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