Truth: Sherry was surprisingly enthusiastic about adding two new ceiling fans to keep our newly opened sunroom cool and to create a steady breeze that helps keep mosquitoes away while we relax. I, on the other hand, was skeptical about installing fans — mostly because I’ve spent years removing them and I wasn’t thrilled at the idea of adding more.
We actually have plenty of experience taking fans down (see past projects), and those removals always felt liberating. Historically we’ve had 7.5–8′ ceilings where the fans lived, and at 6′ tall I’ve always felt like they were oversized pinwheels that hung a little too low. Still, we’ve kept fans in rooms where they were especially useful — a sunroom here, a guest room there — but we’re not in the habit of increasing the total number of fans in the house.
This time we decided to go from one fan in the sunroom to two after having the electrical wiring updated and the ceiling opened up. Two fans will cool the space more efficiently and create a stronger breeze to deter bugs, and with the vaulted ceiling we hoped they wouldn’t feel too low or heavy. Still, I prepared myself for a tricky installation and underwhelming results — pessimism can be a weird kind of safety blanket.
We looked around for fans everywhere, from Craigslist and thrift shops to big-box stores. Finding two matching secondhand fans proved difficult, so we ended up buying a pair from Home Depot. They had a better selection for our needs, and we chose a darker finish to contrast the light ceiling and to complement the dark floors we’ll be adding later.
Each fan cost $119, and we added a $10 downrod to each since our ceiling is vaulted. Beyond aesthetics, it was important to choose fans rated for outdoor use and compatible with angled ceilings. We also confirmed with the store associate that the fans could accept light kits and remote controls, in case we decide to add those later. For now we’re planning sconces on the columns to provide softer, eye-level lighting.
Before we began, we turned the power off at the breaker and at the switch, then double-checked with a live-current tester. Outdoor wiring can be unexpected — we’ve had stray circuits before — so safety was our top priority.
Full disclosure: Hunter didn’t sponsor this post. I mention the brand because their instruction manual made the install easier. A clear manual is such a relief after dealing with poor directions in the past. This one even included a simple way to check whether the ceiling angle would work by folding a marked corner of the page and holding it up to the ceiling — smart and straightforward.
Another helpful detail: the hardware was sorted into labeled bags, each referenced by symbol in the manual for the corresponding step. That kind of organization removes a lot of guesswork and speeds things up.
While installation specifics vary by model, here’s the general process we followed — useful if this is your first fan install. First, assemble and attach the mounting bracket to the fixture box. This bracket secures the fan and needs a properly braced box. Our electricians had already installed braced boxes, so we only needed to fasten the fan to them.
The manual even gave a thumbs-up icon at the end of each step — a small but welcome reassurance while working through the process.
My biggest worry was swapping in the longer downrod. We removed a few screws and parts from the included rod and reattached them to the new 12″ downrod we purchased. Home Depot had a helpful display showing which downrod lengths suit different ceiling heights; ours was just over 9′ so 12″ was right.
The fan had plenty of extra wire, so we threaded it through the longer rod, attached the rod to the fan, and trimmed the excess wire. Despite my fear of straining while holding a heavy fan aloft, the ball-and-socket mounting system made seating the fan into the bracket effortless — it clicked into place in seconds and held itself so my hands were free for wiring.
With the fan supported by the bracket, connecting wires was straightforward — the instructions clearly explained which colors matched — and installing the canopy was a quick finish. Meanwhile Sherry prepared each blade with rubber washers and attached the five blades to their arms. Then we secured the decorative cap at the base where an optional light kit could be added in the future.
We installed the second fan after the first; the first took a little longer because we were reading instructions and taking photos, but both fans were up in roughly 90 minutes total. No mistakes and minimal arm strain — a pleasant surprise.
And the best part: we love how they look and how finished the room feels. The dark fans add contrast to the light blue ceiling and white trim, and they’ll play nicely with the slate-like tile floors we’re planning. It’s one of those DIY moments that makes a room feel complete.
We might have finished sooner when the cooling would’ve been most useful, but at least the fans are installed and ready for next season. New truth: I’m genuinely excited to have them up in the sunroom. Secondary truth: the ceiling photos don’t always capture the exact color — check the first photo of the post for a more accurate depiction — but either way, feel free to keep admiring the fans.
