Before you begin removing a ceiling fan, there are a few precautions you should take to ensure that you don’t hurt yourself or damage the fan. First, you will want to turn off the power so you don’t accidentally turn the fan on while you’re working on it. Second, you will need to use a ladder, so you also want to ensure that your ladder is secure. It can be a good idea to have someone there to hold onto it, just for extra safety.
Once you have removed the ceiling fan, you should balance it on the top of the ladder and adjust your grip so you’re able to safely climb down the ladder with it in hand. Lastly, if the fan comes with lights, you should remove the bulbs and covers before you remove the ceiling fan. If one of these breaks while you are looking up at it, it could cause major damage to your eyes.
If you want to know how to take down a ceiling fan, you need to first have the tools to get the job done. You will need a screwdriver to take out all of the screws and a ladder to ensure that you can reach the ceiling to remove the screws and brackets. Most ceilings fans won’t require any more than this. However, the downrod ceiling fans will require a pair of pliers.
If you have a flush mount ceiling fan, then you will follow these steps to remove it:
Step 1: Turn off the power
No matter what kind of ceiling fan you have, you should always make sure that the electricity is off before you begin the removal process. You don’t want to risk the fan getting turned off while you’re holding it.
Step 2: Remove Bulbs and Covers
If the ceiling fan that you have comes with lighting in the form of bulbs with light covers, you will need to remove both of these pieces before moving on to anything else. The covers of lightbulbs are usually removed by simply unscrewing it. This should be done to every cover attached to the fan.
Then, you will want to carefully remove the lightbulbs one at a time. Be careful not to put too much pressure on these bulbs because they could break fairly easily. If one of these bulbs breaks while you are removing it, there is a chance that the glass could fall in your eye because you are looking up at the ceiling. So, be extra careful.
Step 3: Remove the light kit
The light kit is what holds the light’s wiring inside of it so that it is not in view. This cover also encloses the screws that hold the body of the ceiling fan to the ceiling. You will need to use the screwdriver to undo the screws that hold the light kit to the ceiling fan body. Once they are unscrewed, you can slowly remove the cover from the fan.
Step 4: Disconnect the wires
Once the wires are exposed, you will have to disconnect them so you’re able to take the light kit cover off. Most of these wires are simply connected using wire nuts. These are simple to disconnect because the nut just needs to be twisted in a counter-clockwise movement to undo.
Step 5: Remove the blades
Most ceiling fan blades are connected to the body of the fan by brackets. You can choose to remove the blades from the brackets, and then unscrew the bracket from the body of the fan, or you can just remove the screw from the bracket while keeping the blade attached. If you plan on using the ceiling fan in another room, it would be better to keep the blades attached.
Step 6: Unscrew the fan bracket
In order to do this, you will need to first loosen the screws that secure the bracket to the ceiling. Make sure to not unscrew them all the way just yet. Many fans will have a hinge that comes on one side of the bracket that lets it hang down once the screws are undone. This lets you disconnect the wiring without having to hold the bracket up.
Step 7: Unscrew wire nuts
Once the bracket is unscrewed and hanging from the side hinge, you can unscrew the wire nuts that are connecting the wires inside of it. To unscrew them, just twist them counter-clockwise until they unloosen and slide off.
You should put the nuts back on the ends of the wires so you will have them to connect the new ceiling fan when you decide to put it up.
Step 8: Remove the fan bracket
After the wires have been disconnected, you can now unscrew the hinge on the side of the bracket and slide it off the wires. All that you should see after taking this piece off is the mounting bracket and the wiring.
Step 9: Remove the mounting bracket
The mounting bracket can be easily taken off by unscrewing the two screws that secure it to the electrical box. Hold the bracket with one hand, and undo the screws with the other. Once the screws are out, the mounting bracket will slide right off.
If you need to know how to remove a ceiling fan with a downrod, then these steps will work for you:
Step 1: Turn off the power
Before you start removing any parts, you want to make sure that the electricity has been turned off. This will ensure that the fan is not accidentally turned on while you are removing it.
Step 2: Take off the canopy
The canopy is the metal piece that covers the top portion of the fan that attaches to the ceiling. Unscrewing this piece will allow it to slide down to the fan and sit there while you work on other areas of the fan.
Step 3: Disconnect the wire nuts
The wire nuts are connecting the wires from the electrical box to the fan. These need to be unscrewed in a counter-clockwise motion to undo them. Then, you will be able to unseat the fan by lifting it up.
Step 4: Remove the fan from the rod
Once the ceiling fan is unseated, you can carefully take the fan off of the rod and move it down the ladder to whoever is helping you. You will need someone to take the fan because this version is heavy and doesn’t require being taken apart. However, if you don’t have someone around, you can choose to unscrew the blades to lighten the load.
Step 5: Remove the clip and pin
There is typically a clip and pin system used to keep the downrod in place, this is usually also a few screws as well. You will need to loosen the screws, use pliers to remove the clip, and then pull out the pin from the rod. The rod will slide out easily after this.
Step 6: Remove the mounting bracket
Once the downrod is removed, you can unscrew the mounting bracket and remove it from the ceiling. The wires will hang, which will allow you to connect a new ceiling fan to the ceiling when you purchase one.
Hampton Bay ceiling fans are famous for their easy installation and removal process. If you have one of these brand’s fans and need to know how to remove a Hampton Bay ceiling fan, here is how to do it:
Step 1: Turn the power off
Even with an easy installation or removal, you always want to take the proper precautions. That means that you should turn off the power to the house before starting this process and make sure that it is not turned on anytime while you’re working.
Step 2: Remove the canopy
Using a screwdriver, you will need to loosen the screws from the sides of the canopy and slide it down so that it is resting on the fan. This will leave the mounting bracket exposed so you can clearly see where the screws are to remove them.
Step 3: Remove the ball
There should be a ball at the top of the downrod. This should be moved upward and taken out of the mounting bracket. When the fan is lowered, you should be able to see the wiring behind it.
Step 4: Remove the mounting bracket
To do this, you will just need to loosen the screws from the bracket so that it can slide right off and leave the wires open for disconnecting.
Step 5: Separate the wires
Once the wires are clearly seen, you will need to have someone else hold onto the ceiling fan. Then, you will twist off the wire nuts from each wire and free the fan from being connected to the ceiling.
You should put the wire nuts back on the ends of the wires after the ceiling fan is removed so they are there when you are ready to install a new fan.
Step 6: Remove the ceiling fan
Now that the wiring is not connected, you can take the ceiling fan completely down and place it somewhere safe for use somewhere else.
Notice: These Hampton Bay models are heavier than many other options, so you should prepare to have someone with you to assist you in this process.
No matter what type of ceiling fan you have, or whether you picked it out or not, you can likely remove it from the ceiling yourself to have it replaced with a better option of your choice. If you are replacing old and outdated ceiling fans from an older home, or you are redoing the style of your home and need new fans that match, you can successfully remove the ceiling fans and install new ones yourself.
Unless you have a drop ceiling fan that is made for tile ceilings, you will have to do some work to remove it other than to just unhook the power supply. However, with these simple instructions on how to get the job done on your own, you can remove the ceilings fans in your home and make room for newer options to be installed.
