I want to hang a low profile ceiling fan in a rented apartment. I cannot cut a hole in the ceiling and there is no light fixture in the ceiling at all.
I am thinking of using lag screws and washers ( 6 to 8) to securely mount a square ( 18" x 18"/ 24' x 24"?) of 3/4 inch plywood to the ceiling by screwing it into the ceiling studs (cross bems?). The I want to hang the fan from an electrical box (fan weight) securely attached to the plywood. I am thinking of mounting that between 2x4s lag screwed, from the back, to the plywood. Electricity would be provided by a grounded (3 prong) cord hung along, close to, the ceiling. How it looks is much less of an issue than it being safely attached. My apartment's cooling system is not sufficient to keep it cool in the summer, and I thought this would really help.

How does that sound?

Since you don't own the apartment... you BETTER get this cleared and approved by the building management FIRST... or you might find yourself in breach of lease and evicted.

And get that approval in writing.

Such work is usually going to be on the long list of things you can't do to someone else's property.

Just because its possible to do something... doesn't mean you would be allowed to do it.

If it was my property I would consider it breach of lease... and damaging my property.

There is a huge difference between a couple small nail holes to hang pictures... and putting lag bolts into structural parts of the building.

Thanks for the heads up/advice. I guess I did not of that bcause I would have removed the whole thing and spackled and painted before leaving.

Do you have another Idea I might try in his situation?

A fan. A simple box fan or a free standing pedestal fan will provide air movement which is all a ceiling fan does.

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Originally Posted by hkstroud

A fan. A simple box fan or a free standing pedestal fan will provide air movement which is all a ceiling fan does.

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I have had ceiling fans, box fans, and pedestal fans. The ceiling fans do a much better job. In my experience it takes several "portable fans" to do the work of one good ceiling fan, which is also quieter and not under foot/in the way, as portable fans often are. Right now I have three fans running in the room, just to increase circulation to make the cooling system more effective. Unfortunately, the system was designed and installed around 1960 and has been described as "poorly planned and inefficient."

I may have to keep what I have, but was looking for a better solution.

Any suggestions?

Window mounted air conditioners... assuming you aren't on the ground floor in a bad neighborhood.

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Originally Posted by smoothy

Window mounted air conditioners......assuming you aren't on the ground floor in a bad neighborhood.

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Window air conditioners are definitely a violation of the lease. I guess we can't have the neighbors knowing we sweat in the summer... Also it can damage the new windows. I have thought of bulding a free standing frame, that holds an AC unit, that fits into the opening of the sliding glass door, but it would be very complicated and God help me if it ever fell. (On me, on anyone, on anything) Also, it would make using the door compicated.
But thanks for the suggestion.

I wonder if there any way to make a "free standing ceiling fan." Like an 8 foot high "table," or "loft" with zero head room, that is almost as high as the ceiling, is well braced, and looks rather strange... width of the room several feet across for stability... maybe I should move.

Ok, goog to know that... there are types of air conditioners that only cost a little more where you put just a hose through the window opening (venting the hot air outside... (you will have to deal with draining the condensate bucket) in the sink or bathroom Just like you would with a dehumidifier..


They look like small mini-refridgerators with a hose off the back...

Actually, I believe I saw a free standing unit at Home Depot. If you Google "free standing ceiling fans" you can get some ideas.

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Originally Posted by ma0641

Actually, I believe I saw a free standing unit at Home Depot. If you google "free standing ceiling fans" you can get some ideas.

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This a really interesting solution, but the price is incredibly high. Maybe in a few years there will be other competitors to bring down the price.Could I rig something similar with a regular fan, upside down on a stable post, I wonder, or is the up/down directionality a factor in the fan's motor's rotation/operation?

I just read an article wich says they have to be mounted/secured to the floor...

How about a beam across the room , supported on opposing walls by posts, with the fan hung from the botton=m center of the beam? I don't think it would cause any more damage than installing wall mounted shelving, which IS allowed in my building, as long as the wall is restored to its original condition (spackled, sanded and touched up ) before vacating...