How do I Install a Ceiling Fan in an 1850's Farm House?

Locate the circuit breaker box in the farm house and turn off the power to the light fixture you will be working on.

Put on eye goggles and a protective dust mask. Old homes may contain many contaminants that can be released when installing a ceiling fan.

Unscrew the existing light fixture with a screwdriver. Test the wires with a circuit tester to make sure the power is completely turned off before touching them. If the circuit tester indicates that the power is off, remove the wire nuts from the wires and finish removing the light fixture from the ceiling.

Check the electrical box to make sure it is rated for use with a fan. Because the home is older, the electrical box will most likely need to be updated to support a ceiling fan. Replace the electrical box with one that is rated for ceiling fan support. Remove the old box by unscrewing it from the ceiling joist inside the ceiling. Install the new electrical box to a brace between the ceiling joists. The brace can simply be a two-by-four installed from the attic. In the attic, locate the two ceiling joists where the electrical box is to be located. Screw a two-by-four board between the joists while in the attic. The electrical box will screw directly to the newly installed two-by-four brace in the attic. If you cannot get into the attic, an expandable metal ceiling fan hanger bar can be purchased and positioned between the ceiling joists from below. Follow the directions for the metal fan brace support and the electrical box.

Attach the mounting bracket to the electrical box with a screwdriver. The electrical wires should come through the hole in the center of the mounting bracket.

Attach the fan canopy to the motor housing per manufacturer directions for the fan.

Remove approximately ½ inch of plastic sheathing from the ends of the wires in the ceiling fan with wire strippers. Locate the black wires in both the ceiling fan and the electrical box. An older farm house may have a blue wire instead of a black wire. Pair that wire with the black wire in the fan. Twist together the ends of the wires and screw a wire nut over the top of the exposed ends. Repeat with the white wires. Wrap the ground wire in the fan around the ground screw in the electrical box.

Gently push the connected wiring up into the electrical box. Screw the ceiling fan into place on the mounting bracket with a screwdriver.

Attach the fan blades to the fan per manufacturer directions. In most cases, the fan blades will simply screw onto the fan motor with fan brackets and screws.

Turn on power to the fan.