Part of our jobs as Richardson electricians is not only to help fix electrical systems when something goes wrong, but also to help our customers make sure that their fixtures are correctly installed. Installation is the most important phase for an electrical fixture or appliance; following the proper procedures can help ensure the maximum life for the electrical device, minimize its upkeep, and save you from costly repairs.
One of the most popular fixtures we are called to install are chandeliers, and with good reason. As beautiful and elegant as they can be, home chandelier installation can be extremely tricky, even for those with experience. If you have recently purchased a chandelier, we strongly encourage you to call a licensed electrician to have it installed; a talented electrician knows how to best hang, wire, and secure your chandelier to the ceiling.
With that in mind, here are some important electrical safety tips to ensure you get the most out of your new light fixture.
How to Hang a Chandelier
- Wiring – One of the most important things to remember before attempting to install a chandelier is to take the time to understand how it’s wired into your electrical system. Most do-it-yourself homeowners can’t tell which wire in the chandelier connects to which ceiling wire and therefore risk damaging their new chandelier. If you find yourself with this problem, remember that the side of the chandelier wire with the ridges or bumps (you can feel them clearly if you run your fingers along the wire) is the neutral or power “out”, while the opposite smooth side is the power “in” wire.
- Proper order of installation – It’s really important that you follow the manufacturer’s instructions when installing the chandelier. Our team can tell you from experience that people skip steps or go out of order all the time, which can be a real problem, especially for crystal chandeliers. We’ve arrived at installations before to find all of the crystals already attached to the fixture, even though the instructions on ANY crystal chandelier tell you to install the fixture before you hang the crystals! Crystal chandeliers with their crystals attached are incredibly heavy and extremely fragile. It is almost impossible for even a professional to install the chandelier properly in this state without breaking something. Before you hang those crystals on an uninstalled chandelier, ask yourself this question: do you want to show off your chandelier with its crystals broken? Or worse, with your back broken?
- Proper hanging procedures – Chandeliers are designed to hang from their chains. They are absolutely NOT designed to hang from the wire that connects them to your ceiling. These wires are not designed to support any part of the fixture’s weight. Making it do so will inevitably stretch the wiring, leading to damage to the chandelier’s internal wiring, potential damage to your ceiling as the weight pulls the wiring out, and will stretch your wire, which is very dangerous and a severe fire hazard. Always make sure the wire is loose, has a bit of slack, and isn’t being pinched by the chain links as it winds through them.
- Ceiling mounting – The canopy cover (the part that covers the hole in the ceiling the chandelier hangs from) should always be assembled and adjusted to the proper depth before you hook up the chandelier’s wiring. Do-it-yourself installers tend to try to screw the canopy cover in to get it flush to the ceiling, which can twist the wiring inside and lead to serious hazards. If you’re having trouble getting the installation right, call a professional.
- Weight limits – If your chandelier weighs more than 100 pounds, your chandelier manufacturer requires additional wood bracing to be installed in your attic across the trusses to handle the load. This has to be done carefully and in accordance with specifications, because the bracing will include a special high-tension braided steel safety wire that is connected to the chandelier in case of chain failure. (Obviously, we hope you’ll never need this!) Since this is a change in the engineering of your house, this sort of bracing should NEVER be self-installed or performed by a handyman or light fixture company installer; only a licensed professional electrician can ensure the bracing will not fail, causing the chandelier to fall and destroy itself, along with anything underneath it, such as flooring (even marble!), stairs, banisters, or your furniture.
Need Help Installing a Chandelier? ElectricMan Has You Covered.
When it comes to electrical installations, it's always better to be safe than sorry. If you need someone to install a chandelier for you in the Richardson area, call ElectricMan at (972) 362-1804 or click the button below to fill out an online service request. We’re available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!