How to Hang a Chandelier
A chandelier can make all the difference between a drab room and a glam room. If you want to have that statement piece in any room in your house, you have to install it properly. Here’s how.
Turn off the electricity breaker that connects to the area in the room that is connected with the room you’ll be working with. Do not be content with just turning the switch off. You must observe safety rules at all times.
Determine how low or how high the chandelier will hang from the ceiling. You can do this by estimating or having someone help you experimentally hold the chandelier up the ceiling. If there are too many chain links, remove them.
When removing chain links, do not discard the nut-like object attached to it. The nut-like object is called the collar, which connects the ceiling box to the chandelier. Reattach the collar back to the chain link that you’ve retained.
Unfasten the previous fixture in place. Usually lightbulbs or lamps have been installed previously. Skip this step if there aren’t any previous light fixtures installed.
Switch the light switch on and off to check if the electricity is off.
Remove the previous light fixture’s canopy (the device that attaches the light fixture to the ceiling) to access the electrical box.
Remove the wire nuts that hold the wires together. Now, this is the important part of turning the circuit breaker off, as handling live wires is dangerous. Turn the light switch back to “on” and place the voltage tester both on a white wire and the black wire. This will test if there is still an electrical current. If the tester does not light, you can remove the previous light fixture completely.
Locate the electrical box and remove the screws. If it does not have screws, it’s probably connected by nails to a joist. Remove the box by using a flat bar to pry it free. Removing the box is usually done because chandeliers are generally heavier, and need a replacement to support its weight. Consult with an electrician on what appropriate ceiling box should be used.
Go back to the chandelier and fasten the hickey to the stud, followed by screwing the nipple into the hickey. Be careful when handling the hickey, as it needs to pass through the canopy and into the collar to be able to support both the ceiling and ensure that canopy is snug against the ceiling.
When you’ve prepared the electrical box, run the chandelier wires through the canopy and the collar. Thread the wires through the hickey and the nipple.
If your chandelier has a thin ground wire, secure it to the screw that attaches the bare ground wire in the box.
Adjust the nipple. It should be long enough to hold the canopy snugly against the ceiling and screw into the collar. Once you get the right length, secure the nipple using a lock washer.