How to Secure Ceiling Fans With No Attic Access

Expandable Hanger

• 1

  Feed an expandable metal ceiling fan hanger through the rough opening in the ceiling. Rotate the hanger so that it lies between two joists. These hangers are available in home centers and hardware stores.

• 2

  Twist the expansion mechanism on the hanger until the device is solidly secured between the two joists. The mechanism contains a threaded rod that expands outward as you tighten the hanger.

• 3

  Slip a U-bolt over the hanger and attach a specially designed junction box onto the U-bolt. These junction boxes often come with the expandable hanger as part of a kit, otherwise you can find them in the electrical department of home centers. Make sure the box is labeled as rated for use in ceiling fan installations.

• 4

  Twist two nuts onto the U-bolt arms and tighten them by hand first. Then use a wrench to finish securing the nuts. Move back and forth from one arm to the other to tighten the fixture evenly.

• 5

  Attach the mounting plate that came with your ceiling fan kit to the junction box using the screws provided with the kit. Use a power screwdriver to tighten the two fixtures together.

Directly Beneath Joist

• 6

  Cut a hole for the fan into the drywall directly beneath a joist using a drywall saw. This is not the preferred method of hanging a ceiling fan, so only do so if there is no other way to attach the fan.

• 7

  Attach a 1/2-inch deep pancake-style junction box to the joist with three 1 1/2-inch long tapping screws. These junction boxes are not as deep as typical boxes and only take up the room between the joist and the outside of the drywall.

• 8

  Attach the mounting plate that came with your ceiling fan kit to the pancake-style junction box using the screws provided with the kit.