Truth: Sherry was unexpectedly eager to add two new ceiling fans to keep our freshly opened sunroom comfortable and to create a steady breeze that helps keep mosquitoes away, but I wasn’t thrilled about the idea at first.
We actually have a lot of experience removing fans (we did it in several rooms over the years), and I’ve always been a little wary of them. With typical ceilings around 7.5 to 8 feet and me being 6 feet tall, fans can feel like oversized, low-hanging pinwheels — always one inch too close for comfort. Still, we’ve kept a few where they were useful, like in previous sunrooms and guest rooms, so we’re not strictly anti-fan. We just don’t add to the total unless there’s a clear reason.
This project was the first time we increased our fan count in a room. After we removed the ceiling and rewired the space, we decided two fans would cool the sunroom more effectively than one and create enough airflow to deter mosquitoes. The freshly lofted ceiling meant the fans wouldn’t feel too low or intrusive, but I still expected the installation to be a hassle and the results to be underwhelming.
We searched everywhere from Craigslist and thrift stores to big-box retailers and ultimately settled on a model from Home Depot. It offered the right combination of price, finish, and features. Each fan was $119, and we added a $10 downrod for each because our lofted ceiling required more drop than the included rod provided. We chose a darker finish rather than white so the fans would contrast nicely with the light ceiling and complement the dark flooring we plan to install.
In addition to looks, we made sure the fans were rated for outdoor use and compatible with angled ceilings. We also checked that they could accept a light kit and remote control in case we want to add those options later, though our current plan is to use sconces on the columns for softer, eye-level lighting instead of a ceiling light kit.
Before beginning, we turned the power off at the breaker and the switch, and Sherry double-checked the wiring with a small live-current tester — a good precaution, especially with outdoor circuits that can sometimes be unexpectedly fed from odd locations.
Full disclosure: Hunter (the manufacturer) does not sponsor us, but their installation manual impressed me. Having dealt with many unclear instructions over the years, I really appreciated a thoughtful, easy-to-follow manual. It included a clever angle-checking feature: a corner of the page you could fold and hold against the ceiling to verify the pitch would work with the fan. The parts came sorted into labeled bags keyed to the steps in the manual, which made the process nearly error-proof.
While installation specifics vary by model and you should follow your own instructions, the general process we followed may help others attempting a similar job. Our electricians had already installed properly braced fixture boxes when they rewired the room, so our first task was simply to attach the fan’s mounting bracket to the braced box. That bracket secures the fan and takes the load so the fan can hang safely.
I was nervous about adding the downrod, thinking it would be the point where I’d struggle. In reality it was straightforward: we removed a couple of screws and components from the short rod the fan shipped with and reassembled them onto the longer rod we purchased. Home Depot had a helpful guide by the display showing recommended downrod lengths — our ceiling was just over nine feet, so we chose a 12-inch rod.
The fan came with plenty of wire, which we fed up through the downrod, attached the rod to the fan, and trimmed the excess wire. Despite expecting heavy lifting, the design made the mounting painless. The ball at the top of the downrod dropped into the mounting bracket and locked in place almost effortlessly, freeing my hands within seconds. With the bracket supporting the weight, connecting the wires was easy, and the manual clearly explained which color wires matched.
Meanwhile Sherry prepared the blades, attaching rubber washers and securing each blade to its metal arm. Once the canopy was screwed in and the blades installed, the fan finally looked like, well, a fan. We also installed the base cap that conceals wiring and provides the option to add a light kit later if we decide to do so.
We installed both fans in about an hour and a half total. The first took a bit longer because we read the instructions carefully and took photos, but there were no missteps and very little arm strain. Surprisingly, we both ended up loving the result. The fans made the room feel more finished and brought a needed visual contrast against the light ceiling and white trim. Imagined against the dark slate-like floors we’ll be installing, they look especially good.
This is one of those DIY moments that really highlights how much progress a room has made — a clear before-and-after that feels satisfying. We’re glad we chose the darker finish; sunny spaces benefit from that contrast, which helps balance the light blues and whites in the ceiling and trim.
It would have been nice to have installed them earlier in the season when we actually needed the cooling, but at least we’ll enjoy them next year and beyond. New truth: I’m surprisingly excited to have these fans in our sunroom. Secondary truth: photos here don’t perfectly capture the ceiling color — the first picture of our original post shows it more accurately — but if the ceiling color looks off in these photos, just keep admiring the fans.