Electrician in Los Angeles? Tips from Dale Hoffer: Installing a Ceiling Fan
Aside from their main function of cooling down the air in summer, people choose to install ceiling fans today as a decorative piece. Installing one in your home can help you save on energy costs while affording you comfort all year round. Although you can plan the installation as a DIY project, it’s recommended that you hire a professional electrician in Los Angeles to install the ceiling fan, especially in the absence of an existing fixture.
- Determine the location
As any electrician in Los Angeles will tell you, start the installation by determining where you want to install the fan. Most people place it in the middle of the designated room. But there could be some problems with this.
Ceiling fans can weigh as much as 20 pounds. This means that you have to place it between two ceiling joists to provide support. Unless your ceiling has such support beams, you may have to think about where to put your fan.
Also, remember that the electrical box of a ceiling fan differs from a traditional box of a light fixture. Ceiling fan boxes include braces allowing you to attach it to the ceiling joists to support its weight and the vibration it makes when used.
- Prepare the wiring
To prepare the wiring, make marks and cut out holes for the ceiling fan’s electrical box. However, you shouldn’t install the box until you have run the wires. Some boxes have templates – all you have to do is to follow them.
If your box doesn’t come with a template, trace around the edges of the electrical box using a pencil. Use a sheet-rock knife or keyhole saw to cut the holes.
- Install the electrical box
Installing the box of the ceiling fan is quite easy. First, push the box and bracing through the hole you have made in your ceiling. This attaches them to the ceiling joists.
Before proceeding any further, remember the danger that comes with working on your home’s electrical system. Therefore, if you become uncomfortable with what you’re doing, just stop the project and call a professional electrician in Los Angeles.
If you plan to DIY the whole process, the first step you need to do before touching anything is to turn off the electrical breaker for the circuits that you’re working on.
- Install the wires and switches
Pull all of the wires into the electrical box and mount the box into the ceiling or wall as per the instructions on the manual. Don’t run the power wire into the main electric power source or panel until you have accomplished everything else.
When preparing the switches in the absence of screws, you can tighten the switches all the way in. This minimizes the risk of short circuits from the screws getting in contact with another wire or the electrical box.
Call us for your installation needs
It’s easier to install a ceiling fan with an existing fixture. This can easily be a DIY project. However, in the absence of an existing fixture, the work becomes more complex. This time, you need the services of one of our experienced electricians at Hoffer Electric.
Our electricians will update wirings to make the installation of your ceiling fan much easier. Call us at (323) 922-5205 if you’re in need of an electrician in Los Angeles, from Culver City, Encino, Sherman Oaks, Bel Air, Pasadena, Santa Monica, Woodland Hills, Tarzana, and Manhattan Beach to get your project started.
