Ceiling fans are important appliances in our homes because they help keep us cool during hot weather. In addition, they can circulate warm air during the colder months. However, there are times when they cannot play their roles because they have broken down. If you are used to ceiling fans, you know that there comes a time when you switch them on and nothing happens. It is therefore important to learn what to do in the event that you are faced with such a predicament. Diagnosing the problem requires you to have full understanding on how these devices work. In this article, we will look at how to troubleshoot a ceiling fan that is not turning on.
The first thing to check when having a ceiling fan that is not spinning is checking whether it is receiving power from the socket. If there is no power getting to the appliance, then it might not have any problem. The only solution here is to get power flowing. In so doing, you should ensure that the circuit breaker is ok and after that, look at the power switch. If the fan is still not working, you should follow the steps below to identify the problem.
Cut the power. Remove the cover that surrounds the switch before detaching it from the fan. It is important to ensure that the switch is not hot before removing it from its enclosure.- Next, use a voltmeter to check the switch terminals.
- You can wind the wires to the switch together before turning power on. If your ceiling fan works, the switch was the problem. If it fails to spin then, you can suspect other parts of the circuit as being the problem.
- If the fan did not work when testing out the switch, you need to reconnect it back and check the ceiling fan structure. If you cannot handle the problem at this point, it is advisable to call an electrician.
It is also important to note that modern fans that use remote controls can fail to operate because of dead batteries. Therefore, it is wise to check the voltage of the batteries to ensure that they are working correctly. You should also check whether the remote and receiver are set up to the same frequency or not. Sometimes, the remote might not be sending the right signal to the fan.- If you use wall control, you should ensure that power to the control is available. This is done by checking the breaker to ensure that it is still on and that it is delivering power to your ceiling fan. You can then try to operate the ceiling fan manually.
- If you use outdoor ceiling fan, it is advisable to check whether the outlet box is recommended for damp environment. Most UL rated outlets come with ratings mark on their side. It is easy for you to see this mark on its surface. While wet and damp rated ceiling fans can be used inside the house, the dry rated ceiling fans cannot survive the moist conditions on the outside. Therefore, it is important to check this as moisture can cause the ceiling fans to cease working.
Generally, if you have an older ceiling fan that is not working, you should follow the above procedure to diagnose the problem. However, for new ceiling fans, it is advisable to contact the seller especially if the warranty still applies. If that is the case, the seller can replace it for free.