When a fan is removed and reinstalled in a different room, or even a different house or building, sadly it is very very common that the mounting bracket or mounting hardware is misplaced. Ceiling fans purchased at Restores, thrift stores and the like are almost always missing the mounting bracket or hardware. However this is not detrimental, as mounting brackets are usually an easy part to replace.
Where to obtain replacement Ceiling Fan Mounting Hardware
The first step when obtaining any ceiling fan part is ALWAYS to contact the manufacturer. Some parts may look similar or even identical, but actually are specific to that manufacturer. ALWAYS contact the manufacturer first. If the manufacturer is no longer in business, most hardware stores and home centers sell ceiling fan replacement mounting brackets and mounting hardware kits. These parts generally cost $5-10 and are of the most generic design. Usually these parts can be made to fit any downrod mount fan. If the bracket alone does not match up, you may have to buy the kit which includes the bracket, canopy, and rubber ball. The canopy may need to be painted to match the fan. If you cannot locate the manufacturer, and the generic kits cannot be made to work, contact an online Ceiling Fan Parts Supplier.
Types of Ceiling Fan Mounting Hardware
The oldest ceiling fans, as well as industrial/commercial models and Hunter Originals of today (link appropriate categories/pages), use a j-hook mounting system. This involves a hook or u-bolt that screws or mounts to the ceiling, a rubber grommet that mounts to the downrod, and, in some cases, a claw hook that screws to the downrod. This is the most secure mounting system, and is also the easiest to install, but it does not allow for mounting on low ceilings, vaulted ceilings, or close mount without an additional kit. Parts are available from Hunter and most industrial/commercial ceiling fan manufacturers.
The most common ceiling fan mounts involve a ball and socket kit. Either the mounting bracket or the canopy forms a socket, and a rubber or plastic ball mounts to the downrod. This allows the fan to be mounted on both a flat or vaulted ceiling with the same hardware. The most generic design involves the mounting bracket forming the socket for the ball, and the canopy is purely decorative. The mounting bracket is usually cast pot metal. The canopy mounts with two screws, either at the bottom or top. These are the type of mounting brackets and canopies sold as replacement parts in home centers.
In the case of some ball/socket mounts, the canopy forms the socket, rather than the mounting bracket. The canopy is load bearing and attaches to the mounting bracket with 2-4 screws at the top. The mounting bracket is usually a flat piece of stamped steel with a lip to attach the canopy. The advantage to this mount is that, by removing the downrod and ball, the canopy can be attached directly to the motor housing, forming a close mount fan, using the same canopy and mounting bracket. These mounting brackets are not generic and have to be obtained from the manufacturer. SOMETIMES the generic brackets mentioned above will have threaded holes near the top to mount the canopy, OCCASIONALLY these will work in place.
Hugger fans use very specific mounting brackets that have to be obtained from the manufacturer.
All other types of mounting hardware are not common and replacements must be obtained from the manufacturer or an online parts supplier.