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Recommendations to install a ceiling fan @ 20'?

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JJ99SS

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I'm wanting to buy and install a new 84" ceiling fan in our great room. Room is 22'x17' 20' ceiling as in the subject. Feel free to give thoughts as to the size. ie too big? Maybe a 72?

What is the most common way to safely get up that high? I've done fans, but this is a bit sketchy (scary) at 20'. I've seen people use scaffolding on the 'Tube, Looks kind of pricy, and I thought about renting a huge 20' ladder, spooky. What say the experts/experienced people? Or should I just hire this one out?

Main issue is heat rising in the winter to the 2nd floor and staying there. I'd like to circulate enough air to keep the area comfortable. So I'd like the ability to really move some CFM's if needed.
 
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blwn31

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I had a nice 65" Hunter from HD in my shop with 13' ceiling and I could barely feel it unless I was directly under it. Moved it to my back porch after I rebuilt it. Looking to go bigger but, space is then a concern both in between the stepped trusses and the lift.
 
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mike93lx

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Scaffold or a scissor lift. No way would I do that from a ladder.

Doing a ceiling fan at 14' with a ladder is what got.me to buy two sets of bakers scaffold. Never again.

I used a 4 ft down rod, IIRC. I think you'll want 6-8'
 
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strutaeng

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Our great room (was an addition to the house) is 22'x46' but "only" 17'-1" height. I installed 2 of those generic 46" industrial fans that have the wall mount control. I like them.

I had bought "full-sized" scaffolds when I was working on that space, so that's what I used...I was advised from my tape and bed subcontractor to avoid the baker scaffold for any real work. I was happy to follow his advice.

Maybe look into renting some scaffolding?

At work we do have the 2 platform baker scaffold with the correct outiggers, but I don't recall over using the baker's scaffolding ARE less stable than the full-sized scaffolds. Keep that in mind.
 
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sparky 1971

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If a ladder like this can be rented it's not so bad. It's been many years ago, but I've hung dozens of fans, chandeliers, and can lights on 20' ceilings from one. Once you get to the top, straddle the extension. It takes at least two people, preferably three, to carry it and stand it up. I have never rented one, the shop I worked for in Dallas in the 90's had a few.
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wssix99

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As noted above, the biggest deal is the wiring and installing a proper fan box.

Ceiling fans are sized for the square footage of the room. From there, you will need a downrod that drops the fan a sufficient distance that gives you the proper vertical and horizontal clearance from the walls and ceiling.

Here's a guide that gives you all the details. (You'll need your slide rule and some trig to figure out the size of the downrod that you will need.) https://www.hunterfan.com/pages/how-to-choose-a-ceiling-fan

There's a big difference between 19' and 20', so I would double check how high you need to be. At 19', you could get away with a 16' step ladder. I've done celing installs on my 10' step ladder and been fine. Another 4' would probably add a bit of pucker factor to the job. (At 20', you would need a larger step ladder, which really starts getting ridiculous.)

If you need to be up there a long time to do wiring and a proper fan box, then I would put in scaffolding. For just wiring a celing fan, an electrician would walk in with a big stepladder, get it done, and walk out.
 
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Half-fast eddie

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Install 2 fans 60” dia. Rent enough scaffolding to hold you and a helper while you install blocking in the ceiling, run power, and patch the drywall. Cost of the scaffolding will be less than your medical insurance deductible.
 
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Mzungu

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If the wiring is already there and the box is able to support that big of a fan then rent a scaffold. If there is no wiring....hire an electrician.
 
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JJ99SS

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Sorry wife is out of town... busy. Thanks for the replies. I'm thinking scaffolding is the way to go... I think HD has some for $100 a day? That ladder stuff is sketchy for me. I'm replacing a fan so the box is there. I think the 5' down rod is applicable too...
Again, thanks for the adivice. :)
 
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Jim greengo

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mike93lx said:
Scaffold or a scissor lift. No way would I do that from a ladder.

Doing a ceiling fan at 14' with a ladder is what got.me to buy two sets of bakers scaffold. Never again.

I used a 4 ft down rod, IIRC. I think you'll want 6-8'
Click to expand...
If you're talking about that narrow scaffolding,theres no way in hell I'd want to be that far up in the air on it,especially working on something that big!
 
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mike93lx

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Jim greengo said:
If you're talking about that narrow scaffolding,theres no way in hell I'd want to be that far up in the air on it,especially working on something that big!
Click to expand...
It works fine. Benefits greatly from a couple diagonal ratchet straps to tighten it up and outriggers to widen the base.real scaffolding is objectively better, but may not fit in someone's living room
 
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mogandave

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walrus said:
I can't see my wife climbing up there to do that so good luck with that :)
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As long as there's no grease in the air, dusting with a pole should not be too bad. I think it safe to assume anyone with 20' ceilings has something to dust the corners...

With a 5' down rod the blades are less than 15' off the floor, safely reached with a 12' stepladder.
 
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PoorUB

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JRC3 said:
Just go rent a platform step ladder. I have one I use for these tasks. Your ceiling might likely about 18-19'. My ladder is 12' and I can just do 18-19' so if you are at 20' a 14' ladder will be needed.

07-11-07_1345.jpg

Around here you can rent a 14' for $32/day. https://artsrental.com/products/step-ladder-14-fiberglass
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A 14' ladder is not going to reach a 20' ceiling. A 16' would.

I have worked from a 16' step ladder. If you hate heights and ladders it is not the way to go!

I would rent full sized scaffold, but you will need three sets for the height. Also depending on the drop on the fan the scaffold will get in the way.
 
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JRC3

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PoorUB said:
A 14' ladder is not going to reach a 20' ceiling. A 16' would.
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Sorry, the rental link I posted was not a platform stepladder. I'm talking one of these. And maybe that height is as big as they make, IDK.

The idea is to be able to stand on the top with enough room between the ceiling and your head to stand up, but not so much room that your arms can't reach. I'm a short 5'7" (and shrinking) and I've done 18-19' plenty of times on my 12' platform stepladder. It's an older ladder and they may call it a 14' now. It has 12 steps and prob 14' total length.

Really all you need the max height for is the bracket and box wiring. After you get that done and the motor hanging down the pipe, the blades and any optional lighting is done at a much lower height.

ladder.jpg
 
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vavet

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Nope nope nope. Not me.
I hate spending money for something I could do myself, but I also know my limits. This is well beyond my limits. By the time you rent all the scaffolding, you can probably pay someone to do it.
 
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fitter30

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Scaffold ,out riggers, plywood to put under main scaffold and boards for outriggers. 2 men to build it. Rope, bucket to pull tools up and help. Above a 10' laddler unless your young and tough 2 men. Spent 45 years on step ladders never did i feel comfortable on anything over 12' when using both hands.
 
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kbuhagiar

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vavet said:
Nope nope nope. Not me.
I hate spending money for something I could do myself, but I also know my limits. This is well beyond my limits. By the time you rent all the scaffolding, you can probably pay someone to do it.
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This - my sentiments exactly.
 
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mrvm

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In my younger dumber days this is sort of how I got my fan installed. Had an extension ladder attached to the big A frame. …guess I wasn’t the only one brave enough or dumb enough ;)57714189-6FE9-4CC2-A0DB-8C0EB705C52F.jpeg
 
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Jinks

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Everyone else has addressed the height problem, & I agree with scaffold or hiring, so unless you already have the fan let me comment on that. A while back I changed from an old 5 blade fan in our living room to a modern 3 blade with a couple inches more span. Looks good in the room, but the big advantage is that it has 6 speeds. We seldom go higher than 2, but if we need it, it's there. Also remember that a lot of home fans have remote controls. The receiver in the fan base is usually powered from the electric feed, but could have batteries. You don't want to have to go up there every couple of years to change a battery. I've had to replace the entire remote system in fans at times. If I had to run the power I'd also see if I could run the control leads from the remote receiver. Put that in a box at switch level so it could be serviced from the floor.
 
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wyliesdiesels

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sparky 1971 said:
If a ladder like this can be rented it's not so bad. It's been many years ago, but I've hung dozens of fans, chandeliers, and can lights on 20' ceilings from one. Once you get to the top, straddle the extension. It takes at least two people, preferably three, to carry it and stand it up. I have never rented one, the shop I worked for in Dallas in the 90's had a few.
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Order Werner 12 ft Trestle Extension Ladder, 300 lb Capacity, E7412 at Zoro.com. Great prices & free shipping on orders over $50 when you sign in or sign up for an account.
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Click to expand...
According to the manufacturer, that one is not tall enough

OP would need the E7416 to get a reach height of 20’
 
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PoorUB

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JRC3 said:
Really all you need the max height for is the bracket and box wiring. After you get that done and the motor hanging down the pipe, the blades and any optional lighting is done at a much lower height.
Click to expand...
It doesn't make any difference how much of the install can be done at a lower height, you still need to comfortably reach the ceiling.

I have done my share of standing on top of a 12 foot step ladder and I wouldn't recommend it. not many here would be willing to use mrvm's method!
 
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sparky 1971

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wyliesdiesels said:
According to the manufacturer, that one is not tall enough

OP would need the E7416 to get a reach height of 20’
Click to expand...
The ladder I used was a 12' step ladder with the extension. It probably wasn't supposed to be used for 20' ceilings, I really doubt the intended use was to climb the extension to the top, throw a leg over the top and straddle it. It was actually the safest I've ever felt on a ladder that tall though.
 
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