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Facts About Ceiling Fans and How to Install a Fan
The primary function of a ceiling fan is to move air for comfort, providing cooler air in summer and warmer air in winter, and utilizing minimal energy to achieve this. All ceiling fans move air but it is important to know: How much air is circulated? How efficiently? How quietly? Will it have an annoying wobble? How long will the ceiling fan last? These are all questions wise consumers should ask before selecting a ceiling fan. High quality is measured in more than just dollars and cents. At first glance all ceiling fans may appear to look alike but they are not! Here are some guideline to follow before purchasing a ceiling fan.
The motor is extremely important as it is the 'heart' of the fan, and you certainly do NOT want a fan with a motor that clicks, hums or buzzes during operation (just TRY to sleep in a room with this type of annoyance). Cheaper fans typically have an outer covering or case that is made up of very thin metal. These thin components may vibrate and rattle more than your more expensive models, which are more solid in design. Basically, "You get what you pay for." is very true when is comes to ceiling fans. But don't worry, all the fans on this website are good quality fans and should last a long time.
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| The sweep or span of a ceiling fans blade is critical to overall performance. As the blade increases in length, the ceiling fan will push air over a larger surface area. Conversely, smaller bladed ceiling fans tend to move a larger volume of air over a smaller surface area. Most 52" ceiling fans move air out and away from the ceiling fan, which makes them efficient at circulating air in larger areas. But beware - not all 52 " ceiling fans are created equally. Check the ceiling fan motor size and blade pitch to ensure that the ceiling fan is strong enough to cool your rooms. |
Sizing a Fan to a Room
Blade Size Room Size Square Footage
| 36" |
10 x 10 |
100 square feet |
| 42" |
12 x 12 |
144 square feet |
| 44" or 48" |
15 x 15 |
225 square feet |
| 52" or 54" |
20 x 20 |
400 square feet |
| 56" |
22 x 22 |
485 square feet |
| 60" |
25 x 25 |
625 square feet |
As the amount of ceiling fan blades decrease, the amount of air moved increases. Five bladed ceiling fans are the norm and so we are all accustomed to seeing them in most applications, but the truth is that four blades move more air than five, three blades move more air than four, etc....
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 Most ceiling fan manufacturers offer 3 different mounting systems either included with each fan or sold separately and or 3 different styles of fans. The first most common style is the standard downrod style which comes with anywhere from 4" to 12" downrods depending on the model. Craftmade offers both 4" and 6" downrods which are both included in most models. Longer or extension downrods are also available for higher ceilings (sold separately). Some of these standard mount fans can also be flushmounted depending on the particular style and model. Most all standard Hunter Fans include a unique Installer’s Choice® 3-Position Mounting System that allows for flushmount or standard hanging options. The second style of mounting systems is the actual Low Profile or Flushmount fan. This fan does not include a downrod and mounts directly to your ceiling, maximizing ceiling height (see diagram). The third type of mounting system is an angled mounting system for installation on vaulted ceilings or ceilings that are not flat. Most ceiling fan models come with a standard pivet ball that allow for mounting on vaulted ceilings with pitches as steep as 34 degrees. For steeper vaulted ceilings, most manufacturers offer vaulted mounting systems (sold separately).
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 Ideally, ceiling fan blades should be 7 to 8 feet from the floor for maximum cooling. For ceilings 9 feet or taller, use a downrod to bring the fan down to the proper height above the floor. Ceilings taller than 9 feet will require an extension downrod. For example, a 14 foot ceiling would require a five foot extension downrod to position the blades 8 feet above the floor, since you need to allow one foot for the space from the top of the motor to the bottom of the switch housing. Downrods come in two sizes 1/2" and 3/4". Make sure you know which size downrod you will need before purchasing one as each fan model requires different diameter size downrods. To make it easy, all Hunter Fans use a 3/4" downrod but all other brands are determined by fan model.
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As with any lighting fixture, you want to ensure that your ceiling fan provides the appropriate level of light for your needs. This can vary from room to room. For example, you will want brighter lighting in a kitchen vs. a bedroom, where more subdued light is typical. One option is to install a dimmer switch which will allow you to adjust the lighting to whatever level of brightness you desire.
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| The highest quality ceiling fan blades are seven ply, which are furniture quality. Although most are multi-ply wooden ceiling fan blades with photo finishes. These ceiling fan blades have come a long way and some will make it difficult for most to determine whether they are real wood or not. Hunter Ceiling Fans use a variety of ceiling fan blades including plywood, veneer, molded plastic and hard wood. The molded plastic are ideal for outdoor use as they do not warp. |
It is important to review a few key componants to understanding a ceiling fan before installing one. Above we have highlighted some important facts about ceiling fans that you should know when choosing and installing your fan.
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Tools You Will Need: Screw Drivers; Wire Strippers; Circuit Tester; Step Ladder; Cordless Drill (great if you have one!).
Safety Precautions: Turn off the power source to the fixture!
Inventory Parts: We recommend that you first inventory the individual components provided by the manufacturer, and lay them out in order of installation.
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Remove the Old Light Fixture. Obviously, you must first remove the old fixture. Ensure you have the power to the light source you will be working on disconnected. As a safety precaution, use a circuit tester to confirm that there is no power to the circuit. Take note of which wires inside the outlet box are connected to the original light fixture.
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Disconnect the wiring. In some cases, the outlet will be pre-wired and switched separately for a light and a fan combination. You will have a neutral (white), a black (hot) wire from the fan switch, and a red (hot) from the light switch, all in a 3-wire cable with ground (bare/copper).
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Mount the fan blades. Some fan blades are reversible. Select the desired color that you wish to be exposed and mount the brackets to the blades as per instructions provided by the manufacturer. Typically, this involves a three-bolt system, each insulated with fabric washers.
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Mount Canopy to Motor Assembly. Depending upon the height and slope of your ceiling (as discussed earlier), you have the choice of either a ceiling hugger or the down rod option. If you are using the ceiling hugger option, the canopy mounts directly to the motor assembly without using the downrod. Be sure to review the instructions provided with your fan.
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Mounting the Base Plate to the Outlet Box. Before moving on to this step, you must ensure that the outlet box is securely mounted to the wood structure of the trusses or rafters. If at all unsure, you should go into the attic and add whatever bracing is necessary to ensure the box is mounted solidly - it should be able to support your body weight.
Hang the motor assembly on the hook provided, and make your wiring connections (refer to the instructions provided as they may vary). For example, with some fans, it is a green wire from the fan spliced to the bare copper wire (ground), white fan wire spliced to white wire, and black fan wire to black wire, and the blue wire from the fan light kit to the red wire. Before you finalize installation, it would be wise to test the connections to make sure that you have electricity to the fan, and that the connections are all in order. Again, follow all safety procedures when returning power to the fixture and testing. Tuck your splice up inside the junction box and secure the mounting plate to the outlet box using the 8/32 fixture mounting screws (usually provided).
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Mounting the Assembled Blades to the Fan Motor. Next, mount all of your blades, following the instructions provided. Ensure that the screws are tight. Please note: With some fans, you will need to mount the blades prior to this step (again, make sure to read through your actual fan instructions).
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Installing the Light Kit. Remove the light kit cover and assemble as per instructions provided. Generally the wires are provided with plug-in connectors. Connect your wires together and install your light kit.
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Mounting the Glass. Unless you are installing individual fitters (usually 3 or 4) you are ready to screw in your light bulbs. If you are using fitters you will need to screw the glass into the light kit assembly first (check with your individual fan instructions). Check bulb type and maximum wattage rating of the fixture. Do not exceed manufacturer's ratings! Mount the globe or glass fixture to complete the project (again, see instructions provided with your fan). In this case, the pull chains for fan speed and direction and light switch had to be fed through corresponding holes in the globe (unless you will be using a remote or wall control - see installing a remote or wall control).
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