Table of Contents
What support does a ceiling fan need?
The National Electric Code requires that all fans 35 pounds and over must be supported with an outlet box or outlet box system that is listed for ceiling fan support. The manufacturer must have marked the outlet box system to indicate that it is acceptable for ceiling fan installations.
How do you brace a ceiling fan without attic access?
Without access to space above the ceiling, you must use a brace style electrical box mount. These systems fit through a standard hole for an electrical box and expand to brace between two ceiling joists.
Do you need to reinforce ceiling for fan?
The weight of the ceiling fan is enough reason to make sure that the ceiling fan box is reinforced. This means that the ceiling fan box should be reinforced enough so it will not come loose, or fail while the fan is in operation. Here are some steps to take in order to make sure the box is strong enough.
Can you mount a ceiling fan directly to a joist?
If you’re lucky, the electrical box will be installed directly to a ceiling joist. New Fan Installations: When installing a fan where no fixture exists, you have the same options for structural support: either bracket the fan directly to a ceiling joist or install a support bar between joists.
Can a ceiling fan be mounted on a plastic box?
Most building codes require ceiling fans to be mounted on special fan-rated boxes, which are made of metal or strong plastic and have deep-threaded holes for the mounting screws. The box must be mounted firmly, either by attaching it directly to a framing member or by using a fan-rated brace.
How do you find a ceiling joist?
Hold a flashlight right by the ceiling on a very gentle angle to the surface, so the light shines nearly horizontally across it. Look for dimples in the paint. They usually indicate the presence of a nail behind the plaster, and where there’s a nail, there’s a joist.
Are pancake boxes fan rated?
Quite often, a fan rated pancake box is used when roughing in the ceiling fan installation. Many of these boxes only have a total volume of 6 or 8 cubic inches. Most ceiling fan canopies are NOT marked with a cubic inch volume.
Can drywall support a ceiling fan?
It is two sections that screw out to press against the joists. As Ray and Pugsi are trying say is that the ceiling drywall does not support anything. You must use an approved fan ceiling bracket of the type that Ray shows. It should be very easy to install the bracket since the hole is already there from the can light.
How do you install a fan hook on a plaster ceiling?
Wiring and Installation Punch out one hole on your junction box. Install a wire clamp in the hole you knocked out. Run house wiring into the junction box through the wire clamp. Tighten the clamp. Install your ceiling fan. Carefully follow the instructions included with your ceiling fan.
How much weight can a ceiling fan bracket hold?
Conventional metal or plastic rough-in boxes aren’t supposed to hold any more than 50 pounds, and most fans exert more force than that. Consequently, to hang one you need a support system consisting of a metal box attached to blocking or metal rods that you can secure to the ceiling joists.
How much weight can a ceiling electrical box hold?
All ceiling boxes are required to support at least 50 pounds (NEC 314.27(A)), so you can assume the box will be able to support a simple light fixture. Boxes that are designed to support ceiling fans must be labeled as such, and must have a label listing the weight it can support if over 35 pounds (NEC 314.27(D)).
What is a pancake box?
Round pan, or “pancake,” boxes typically are only 1/2 inch or 3/4 inch deep. They are used most commonly for ceiling- or wall-mounted light fixtures that weigh no more than 50 pounds. These are shallow electrical boxes with only enough space for fitting two or three electrical connections.
Can you hang a ceiling fan where a light was?
There’s really no problem in replacing an existing light fixture with a ceiling fan in terms of the electrical needs. But what you really have to be careful of is to make sure the electrical box that the light fixture is attached to will support the extra weight of the ceiling fan.
Can I install ceiling fan myself?
Installing a new ceiling fan is a thrifty way to reduce your energy bills without sacrificing comfort. A fan installation is a perfect weekend project for any avid do-it-yourselfer because it only requires a few hours to complete, and the payoff is immediate.
How much does it cost to have someone install a ceiling fan?
Ceiling fan installation costs $246 on average and usually runs between $144 and $352. Hard to access or complex installations might hit $600. Labor costs $100 to $250. Residential fans cost $50 to $1,400 with commercial types hitting $3,500 or more.
Are ceiling joists load bearing?
Walls that run perpendicular (at a 90 degree angle) to the ceiling joists are load-bearing. Walls that run parallel (in the same direction) as the ceiling joints are non load-bearing. Ceiling joists are spliced over the wall.
What are three of the main considerations for connecting ceiling joists?
They must be at the same spacing and in the same direction as the main rafters so they can be fixed to, and act as ties between the feet of opposing rafter pairs.
What’s the difference between rafters and joists?
(transitive) To make (timber, etc.) into rafters. (transitive) To furnish (a building) with rafters. A joist is a horizontal structural member used in framing to span an open space, often between beams that subsequently transfer loads to vertical members.
Can I hang a ceiling fan from a pancake box?
Presuming you don’t have access to the ceiling fan from above, you must either use a specially rated hanger and box to mount the fan between joists or, better yet, screw a fan-rated “pancake” box (so called because it’s very thin) directly to a ceiling joist.
How many wires can you put in a pancake box?
Each #14 wire (not cable) counts as 2 cubic inches. So if the box is marked as 6 cubic inches you can have 3 #14 wires. (not cables) As long as there are no internal clamps or nipples.
