Should You Install Your Own Ceiling Fan?

Ceiling fans are a great investment. They look nice, and act as a light source and save energy in both summer and winter by circulating air more efficiently. But should you risk this investment by attempting to install it yourself?

There are several things you should consider before attempting this project, including your electrical skills, mechanical skills and physical attributes. First, the electrical wiring, though not complicated for a professional, is a little more than screwing in a light bulb. A junction box must be installed, if there is none present, and the wiring must be connected correctly. If you have no experience in electrical wiring, it might be better to leave this job to a professional.

Second, most ceiling fans are heavy enough that the junction box must be supported to the structure of the house, usually the ceiling joists. If this part of the job is done incorrectly, you risk a heavy fan crashing to the floor, creating a risk of injury. Even if the ceiling fan is on a sufficient mount, the junction box must be mounted perfectly level, to ensure that the fan rotates without a wobble. Insuring that the junction box is level is crucial, and not easily done.

In addition, when mounting the fan, you have to remember that the average ceiling fan weighs approximately fifty pounds. It's not easy for a typical DIY homeowner attempting to connect a 50 lb. piece of electrical equipment over your head, standing atop a step ladder. While trying to hold it overhead, you'll be attempting to ensure that it is properly wired, the wire connections are tight, that everything is aligned, tight, level and straight. This is no easy combination of tasks if you are attempting to do it for the first time.

Further, the fan itself has several components to install, including a mounting plate, motor, covering and blades. If any of these components are not installed correctly, it can cause the fan to wobble and lead to vibration.

The vibration can causing mountings to loosen, wires to become disconnected, causing a dangerous short circuit, motor failure, and at worse, cause the fan itself to eventually fall from the ceiling. Remember that a ceiling fan, when running will make thousands of rotations per day, and that even a slight imbalance can become a more pronounced wobble. What may seem like a slight problem in the beginning can become a serious situation if left uncorrected.

It is not easy to detect a wobble, and sometimes more difficult to determine the source of the wobble. There are a number of things that can cause a fan to wobble, including misalignment of the fan blades, incorrect weight of the blades, mismounting of any of the components, loose fittings, or loose screws or bolts.

A professional can better detect an improperly installed fan, and better understand how to correct it. Because you are placing a 50 lb. weight in the middle of your ceiling, connected to electricity, it is a job best left to an experienced and competent professional. And because, like every other homeowner, you probably have a few other minor problems around the house that need fixing, you now have a professional in your home that can fix those problems too.