What kind of electrical wiring is required for ceiling fans?
Southard: Builders will often have the line run to the ceiling and ready to go, and in that case, it’s no more difficult than changing a light fixture. Heskin: You have to verify if the existing backbox is secure and rated for a ceiling fan. The older, shallow pancake boxes aren’t made to accommodate a ceiling fan. Sparrow: A lot of Chicago homes have old cloth wiring, which is not safe and needs to be replaced. A ceiling fan can be easy or complicated, depending on what wiring is already there. What should I keep in mind when purchasing a fan? Southard: Pay attention to how far down it goes, especially in a room with an 8-foot ceiling. Heskin: Talk to the salesman and make sure it’s going to be appropriate for the room size. Sparrow: You get what you pay for with ceiling fans. The cheap ones might last only a year or two. How does a fan’s rotation affect my home? Southard: You can reverse the direction in summer to pull warm air to the ceiling, but you won’t get a breeze. So it’s a tr
