This Video Covers
- Why fit a ceiling fan
- How does a ceiling fan save money
- What size of ceiling fan should I use
- Making existing wiring safe for fitting of ceiling fan
- Installation of a ceiling fan
- Testing and Troubleshooting your ceiling fan
Why Fit a Ceiling Fan?
An example of a modern ceiling fan
Fitting a ceiling fan can save you a great deal of money on your energy bills. A ceiling fan will move hot air round the room efficiently in winter when your central heating has a tendency to waste energy by sending heat straight up to the ceiling. A fan will distribute that heat much more quickly round the room.
Similarly, in the summer, any cool air there is tends to stay still if there is no breeze. By installing a ceiling fan however, the cool air can be pushed round the room.
What Size of Ceiling Fan Should I Use?
The video shows which size of fan to fit for a given room length but this is quite a general idea as some rooms can be very off shapes. While the length of the room is important, the actual floor (or ceiling!) area of the room is far more important. Here is a table to supplement the how to video, on the size of fan you should use in your room.
Width of fan blades | Which room is this for | How big is the room |
27 – 40 inches (700-950mm) | Utility – Bathrooms – WC | Up to 100 sq ft or 10 sq m |
42 – 50 inches (1050 – 1270mm) | Kitchen, bedroom, dining room | Up to 200 sq ft or 21 sq m |
52 – 60 inches (1320 – 1524mm) | Large bedrooms, lounges | Up to 400sq ft or 37 sq m |
Making Wiring Safe for Installation of Ceiling Fan
This video shows the installation or fitting of a ceiling fan with a ceiling light built into the unit. As you turn on the light, so the fan comes on. Not all ceiling fans are like this and some will need a special box installed into the ceiling to accommodate the new fan. Please read the manufacturers instructions for your ceiling light as suggested in the video.
The video points out the importance of understanding the function of all the wires in your existing ceiling rose. The electricity should also be completely turned off at the mains before any type of dismantling or installation takes place.
The image below shows how your existing ceiling rose works and which wires lead to the light switch and which to the light themselves.
The brown (live) and blue (neutral) wires to the light will be the ones that are fitted to the ceiling fan and the fan itself, as it has a running motor, will usually have an earth wire leading from it also. This earth wire should be fitted directly to the earth block shown in the diagramme.
How to identify the wiring required for fitting a ceiling fan
Installing a Ceiling Fan as Shown in the Video
Now you understand the wiring in your ceiling rose and can identify the wires which need to be connected to the fan you should remove the existing light fitting and follow the manufacturers instructions closely on how to fix the bracket required to hold your new ceiling light solidly in position.
Sometimes this may involves, as shown in the video, the installation of a span bracket which will attach to the floor joist either side of the light fitting. This will give the ceiling fan a good anchor in the ceiling as some ceiling fad are quite heavy.
You should not fit your fan until its fixing point is completely solid. Follow the instructions in the video to get a good fix and always use a circuit tester to make sure no wires are live when you are fitting your fan.
Testing your Ceiling Fan
As long as you have followed the video (and manufacturers) instructions the fan should test itself! Double check each connection, make sure your circuit is continuous when all wires are connected and then turn the switch on.
- If nothing works check your wiring at the switch and the fan. Is there a loose connection? Have you flicked the right switch back on in the consumer unit?
- Check if there is a switch in the fan unit itself as well as the one on your wall
- If the fan works but the light does not, check the bulb. Take it out and put it into another light fitting. If its OK in there, put it back and make sure it is fitted tight into the bulb holder.
- If the light works but the fan does not, turn everything off again and check there is no wire (or pieces of timber, metal or plastic cable etc) blocking the motor from running freely. Look for loose wires inside, or running into, the motor housing unit. Check your wiring.
- Is the fan wobbling as it rotates? If you you really need to check your mounting plate in the ceiling. The only moving parts on a ceiling fan should be the blades.
Resources for the Fitting of a Ceiling Fan – How to Pages
The following links will take you to web pages on the DIY Doctor website which may help you with the installation of your ceiling fan.
- Wiring lights and switches
- Wiring a ceiling rose
- How a light circuit works
- What is different about kitchen lighting
- Replacing a light fitting
- Am I allowed to fit a ceiling fan under Part P of the Building Regulations
- Where can I find an electrician to fit a ceiling fan for me
Resources for the Fitting of a Ceiling Fan – How to Videos
The following videos will give you some guide lines on general practice regarding using electrical tools and how to stay safe when doing electrical work.
- Using a cable, stud and pipe detector
- Making electrical cables safe using rubber grommets in patress boxes
- Using wire cutters to cut and strip cable
- Using electrical VDE pliers
- Understanding domestic Electricity part 3 – Light circuits
- Understanding domestic Electricity part 4 – Ring main
Resources for the Fitting of a Ceiling Fan – Tools you Might Need
The following six tools will help you to fit a ceiling fan. You may need more. If so please visit the electricians section of our toolstore
Just click on any of the tools below to be taken straight to them in our tool store
