Mounting Ceiling Fan

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Thanks everyone great advice and comments. I really don’t want to do any cutting and what’s in place does feel very solid. So I’ll take from some of your advice and run another hanger bar across the top of the current one and use some hose clamps to help add a little support. Then I’ll use a washer and nut on the end of the bolts just in case since there is limited thread for the bolts to grab on those tabs. I feel pretty comfortable with that.

Thanks again everyone!
 
That box is not fan rated. Even if it was mounted onto a joist there isn't much material to thread onto when hanging the fan. I often have customers complain of a wobbly ceiling fan. They are always mounted to a box like yours. Replacing it with a fan rated box is easier than you think. I do it a lot as a handyman. You can get a kit at your local big box store for under $20. https://www.lowes.com/pd/RACO-1-Gan...rd-Ceiling-Fan-Ceiling-Electrical-Box/3127059

When I remove the old set up I work underneath it. I remove the box. Cut thru the bar (not that hard, just be patient). Once the bar is cut I simply pry the pieces back and forth untill they come out. Then reinsert the right one. 20 mins.

Even if you're on the fence as to whether or not your current box works change it. It's too easy and important to skip.

Do it right and sleep at night.
 
demoso said:
Thanks everyone great advice and comments. I really don’t want to do any cutting and what’s in place does feel very solid. So I’ll take from some of your advice and run another hanger bar across the top of the current one and use some hose clamps to help add a little support. Then I’ll use a washer and nut on the end of the bolts just in case since there is limited thread for the bolts to grab on those tabs. I feel pretty comfortable with that.

Thanks again everyone!
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Don't use the existing box ears! Since you have access from above drill 2 holes in the corners of the box that do not have ears from below so you can imitate the spacing of the ears. Drop 10/24 machine screws through those holes from above. Secure them from below with a split or star washer and a lock nut. The length of the 10/24 screws should cause them to protrude below the finished ceiling by 1/2 to 1 inches. When you apply the fan mounting bracket to those screws use nuts that have the nylon inserts. Then you will know that the screws can actually hold a ceiling fan.

--
Tom Horne
 
Okay new plan! So the The box is actually to small for the fans mounting bracket. I'd only be able to screw one screw in the other end extends beyond the box. So I'm still kinda against trying to cut that bar. I only have a sawzall. I'm afraid of cutting into the drywall/sheet rock. I still don't know how I would get the ends of the bars off if I just cut it in the middle. I would have to cut that hole out bigger to put a bigger electric box in there. And I'm afraid of fire in the attic now that some of you guys mentioned it. So now I'm thinking I'm just going to cut two 2x4's and run them along each side of the box. then I will screw the ceiling fan bracket to each of those 2x4s on either side. That seems the simplest and that should be crazy secure. Anybody have an objections to this?

Again thanks for all your input!
 
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