Since there was already a ceiling fan in place, replacing one is simple. The mounting brackets for the new fan are normally included in your installation kit, and if not, can be purchased separately at the store you buy the fan from. Since there is existing wiring, basic electrical wiring and minor skills are required for the replacement of a new fan.
You will need:
Step 1: Shut off the power to the room you are installing the new fan in by going to the main electric box in your home and flipping the breaker for that room. This can be tested by simply trying a wall switch or even using a circuit tester on the light.
Step 2: Remove all mounting bolts form the old fan, and make sure to get a good grip on the fan at this time. Disconnect the electrical wires. Normally there are only 2 colors: black and white, or 3 where a green color or bare copper wire is the ground. Hold on to the wire nuts you will remove from the wires, as these will be reused.
Step 3: Check the electric box in the ceiling to make sure it is properly in place, so that it does not move or wiggle. This should be anchored to a beam or rafter in the ceiling to make sure you have a strong mounting point for the new fan.
Step 4: Attach the mounting bracket to the outside of the electric box. The screws should be placed in tight, or according to the manufacturer’s specifications. There are some fans where the manufacturer will instruct you to leave some screws loose for proper hook up, so read the directions that came with your fan for an exact requirement of tightness of these screws.
Step 5: Attach the fan to the mounting hook that is on the bracket, as this will hold the fan while you work on wiring. Attach the wires according to corresponding colors. The ground wire is to be wound around the screw for the ground wires, and then cover the connections with the wire nuts you removed earlier. Push all wiring up into the electric box.
Step 6: Place the fan motor on the mounting bracket with the screws that came with the unit. Turn on the power to the fan and make sure that all connections are good. Before trying to undo all the work you have done, make sure the switch on the fan is in the on position before testing.
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