Q: Can I install my own ceiling fan?
A: Yes, you can. Ceiling fans can reduce air-conditioning costs by as much as 40 percent in the summer and heating costs by up to 10 percent in the winter. If a home already has ceiling fans, replacing each fan with an Energy Star-rated fan can save $13 to $24 a year on energy consumption.
Here is how to install one:
1. Turn off the power.
2. Remove the ceiling box of light fixture by removing the screws and prying the box out. If the box is nailed to a joist, you may need to cut around the box to enlarge the hole and tap the box loose with a hammer.
3. Next, slip in the brace, which provides the support for the fan box. Place the brace so the legs at each end rest on the top of the drywall. Measure to make sure the brace is centered in the hole. It needs to be positioned so the box will be flush with the surface of the ceiling.
4. Now rotate the brace to tighten it between the framing. You can use an adjustable wrench or channel-type pliers. Be careful not to over-tighten because it can cause the ceiling to crack.
5. Attach the box so the assembly is centered and the bolts face down. Next, thread the cable. Slip the box up so the bolts slide through it and tighten the nuts to secure the box.
6. Install the mounting plate. Thread the wire through the center so the bolts poke through the plate.
Read more at: http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/jul/21/tp-installing-a-ceiling-fan-can-put-a-dent-in/
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Green Real Estate Appraiser 