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Replace a Fixture with a Ceiling FanOverviewIn any season, a ceiling fan helps to keep you more comfortable. On a humid summer afternoon, it’ll create a soothing breeze; on a chilly winter day, it’ll move rising warm air downward to where it can keep you feeling toasty. Nowadays ceiling fans are available in many sizes and styles to suit the needs of any room. The difficulty is in selecting the right one for your needs. Before buying the new fan, make sure the proposed location offers ample space. There must be at least 24 inches between the tip of the fan blade and nearby wall, and for safety the bottom of the fixture must clear the floor by at least 84 inches (7 feet). There should also be a minimum of 12 inches between the top of the blades and the ceiling. Three different basic installation configurations you should consider are: downrod, next-to-ceiling, and duo-mount. The downrod is the traditional style and incorporates an 8-inch (or longer) downrod from the ceiling to the top of the fan motor. This design is tailored to rooms with high ceilings--those over 8 feet. The next-to-ceiling style is for ceilings 8 feet high or less to permit maximum safety clearance in rooms that have high traffic. The duo-mount permits a traditional downrod installation or a next-to-ceiling installation. For best results, choose a fan with the right blade span (distance from the tip of one blade to the tip of an opposite blade). For kitchens, bathrooms, or large closets up to 9 by 12 feet, select a fan with a span of 36 inches. In contrast, small bedrooms, large kitchens, and family rooms up to 12 by 15 feet will need a 42-inch model. Living rooms, dining rooms, large porches, master bedrooms, recreation rooms, and family rooms larger than 12 by 15 feet will need a 52-inch fan to provide adequate cooling. The number of fan blades is also important in your ceiling fan selection. Many fans have four blades; others have five or six blades. The additional blades permit a smaller fan to produce air movement similar to that of a larger fan. For example, a smaller fan with more than four blades is about equal to a larger fan with four blades. Ceiling fans also vary in the way they are installed. Some will be wired to wall switches to control fan speed and light, while others will be in line with other electrical fixtures. In some cases, you may instead want to use a surface wiring system, or a swag kit. In addition, before installing a fan, make sure that the ceiling box is approved by the National Electrical Code (NEC) and that the fan will be attached to a brace capable of withstanding the weight and vibration of the fan. If you are not comfortable with any aspect of installing the fan, hire a licensed electrician to do it for you. Installing the FanThe instructions below are for replacing an existing ceiling fixture with a ceiling fan whose light will be controlled by a wall switch and the fan by a pull chain. Use them as a guide while following the instructions that accompany your fan. Tools and Materials:
Time Required4 to 6 hours Level of Difficultymoderate
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Do It Yourself Projects» Replace an Existing Fixture with a Ceiling Fan |