How to Take Down a Ceiling Fan

Taking a ceiling fan down is a task that can be accomplished quite quickly when working alone, and even more quickly with a helper. Very few tools are required, often nothing more than a screwdriver and a stepladder.

Stepladder
Screwdriver
Pliers
Electrical Tape

Instructions

- 1
  Turn off the power source to the fan.
- 2
  Open your stepladder and place it where you can reach all of the retaining screws for the fan easily. Be certain the ladder is steady and that you aren't reaching far to reach the screws. Keep your weight on the ladder.
- 3
  
  Removing the fan blades reduces the weight and bulk of the fan, making it easier to take down if you do not have a helper. Each fan blade will be mounted to the fan motor with two screws. Remove them while holding the fan blade with your free hand.
- 4
  
  Remove the light from the fan if necessary to further reduce the weight and bulkiness of the fan. You may also need to remove the light to access the screws which retain the fan blades to the motor. The light will be held to the fan by screws located near the top of the light.
- 5
  
  Remove the screws holding the fan motor to the mounting base. On some fans there will be four screws, two of them will be on slotted holes. Remove the two screws not on the slotted holes first, then loosen the screws at the slots and turn the fan to remove it from the base. On other fans there will only be two screws holding the fan motor to the mounting base. Be sure to support the fan with one hand before you remove the last screw.
- 6
  
  Hang the fan on the built-in pin or hook on the mounting base. This will allow you to use both hands to disconnect the wiring. This step is accomplished by turning the plastic wire nuts counterclockwise to unscrew and remove them. You may need pliers to start turning the wire nuts.
- 7
  Remove the fan.
- 8
  Remove the mounting base from the ceiling by removing the two screws holding it to the electrical box in the ceiling.
- 9
  Reinstall the plastic wire nuts to the bare ends of the wires in the electrical box. Turn the wire nuts clockwise until they are finger-tight and secure with electrical tape.

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