How to Install a Ceiling Fan in a Hard Ceiling

Identify the ideal location for the placement of your ceiling fan. Whether you have a hard ceiling or not, the ideal location for a ceiling fan is in the center of the room, where it can evenly distribute airflow. This makes the location of the room's central light fixture the ideal place to install the ceiling fan. You should also check the ceiling clearance. When working with a hard ceiling, the ceiling fan will ideally be at least 7 feet from the floor, with at least 12 inches of space between the ceiling fan blades and the ceiling.

Turn off the power. Installing a ceiling fan onto the hard ceiling involves working with electrical wiring. It is important to terminate all electric current going to the junction box for your light fixture. Although turning off the light switch will turn off the power, it is recommended that you go one step further and turn off the circuit breaker for the entire room. This prevents someone from inadvertently turning on the switch while you are working with electrical wires.

Install the hanger pipe for your ceiling fan. Place the hanger pipe into the appropriate hole above the ceiling fan motor, then push the wires through the pipe. Tighten down the "set screw" that is included with the ceiling fan. When the "set screw" is tightened onto the hanger pipe, it secures the pipe in place.

Apply the decorative ceiling cover. Most contemporary ceiling fans have a decorative cover that adds a touch of style and elegance to the area where the ceiling fan's hanger pipe joins the ceiling. These decorative touches are especially useful to a hard ceiling or beam, where they beautify the functional aspects of the fan. In most cases the decorative cover has a hook that simply slides over a pin on the hanger bar, and may also have a single screw that passes through the side of the decorative cover to secure it directly to the hanger bar.

Attach the blades to the ceiling fan that is being installed on your hard ceiling. These ceiling fan blades typically come in two parts: the laminated blade and a metal flange. Start by attaching the blades to the flange by using the screws provided. In some instances, the fan blades may already be attached to the flange. Once the blades have been attached, you can mount the flange to the ceiling fan by screwing it to the motor housing with the screws that are included in the ceiling fan assembly kit.

Install the hanger bracket onto the junction box where the light fixture was previously located. There are two types of hanger brackets that can be used with a ceiling fan on a hard ceiling--the half ball hanger and the hook hanger. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for the particular style that you have, then screw the bracket into place. It is recommended that you use lock washers with the screws to prevent fan vibrations from working the screw loose.

Connect the wiring for the ceiling fan. Use plastic connector caps to join the wires of the ceiling fan to the house wires leading to the junction box of the light fixture. The wires will be color-coded. Simply connect the black wire to the other black wire, and the white wire to the other white wire. The ground wire of the ceiling fan will be either green or bare copper. Use a screw to attach the ground wire directly to the ground point on the junction box in the hard ceiling. After the wires are connected, slip the ceiling cover all the way up and tighten it into place.

Turn the power back on and test the installation. If the fan wobbles, the fan blades may be unbalanced. This can usually be fixed by switching the positions of the two adjacent blades.