How to Repair Your Ceiling Fan

The humble ceiling fan is one of the most pocket-friendly solutions to the dog days of summer. It might not draw much attention in the high-tech cooling industry, but it’s happy to perform in the background, transforming your interior spaces into comfortable ones. Fans are hard workers, but they’re prone to breakage and often require some DIY troubleshooting. Let’s find out what your fan’s symptoms are trying to tell you.

Your Fan Isn’t Turning On

If your light or fan is turning itself on and off on its own, your circuit breaker might be malfunctioning. To repair this problem, verify its connections and change the frequency of your remote.

If your light kit isn’t performing as it should, your bulb might have burned out. If changing it doesn’t work, try tightening the bulb sockets. If you see burn marks, you probably need to rewire the light kit. It’s also possible that your wattage limiting device has disabled your globe, so returning it to the correct wattage might work.

The Blades Aren’t Turning Smoothly

If your blades are malfunctioning, you might need to replace your capacitor. This powerful piece of machinery gives your fan the boost it needs to start up. You’ll need to replace it with the right equipment for your fan.

If that doesn’t do the trick, you might need a new motor, but replacement isn’t as easy as you might think. Your repair might cost more than replacement over the long run, so a broken motor is often a sign that you need a new fan altogether.

Your Fan Wobbles

A small amount of wobbling is nothing to worry about, but if you see more movement than usual, you need an urgent repair. Your electrical box supports a great deal of weight, so it’s prone to breakage. You’ll also need to make sure your blades are well supported.

Check that the drop rod’s ball joint is correctly attached to your support bracket.  If everything seems to be in good order, your flywheels might have lost their ability to control your blades. Fortunately, this is one of the cheapest parts to replace.

If your fan isn’t operating on all its speeds, the odds are that your ball bearings need lubrication. Check if the motor housing is overheating. That’s a sure sign that your product needs a little grease.

Your Fan Is Noisy

Nobody wants to sleep to the sound of rattling and chattering. If your fan is interrupting your dreams, your fan might have a few loose screws. Check for looseness in each connection of your fan’s components. If your screws are too narrow to tighten, try wrapping them with Teflon tape before returning them to their correct position. Factories don’t always produce perfect products, so they often need a little extra adjustment.

Your Fan Isn’t Performing on All Speeds

Lack of speed control is a worrying sign that your motor is out of order. Overheating leaves burn marks, which could indicate that your resistor or capacitor is letting too much voltage through to the motor. Overloads can cause fires, so it’s important to replace these broken parts as soon as possible.

If It’s Time to Replace, Trust the Pros at Lon Lockwood Electric

Ceiling fans are made up of a few core components, so they can present with a wide range of symptoms. If you suspect that your fan’s issues are related to your home’s electrical wiring ― or if the fan is beyond repair and needs to be replaced ― call Lon Lockwood Electric for service. We’re experienced with a range of fans, so you can always trust our installation. Contact us online or call 585-766-4702 to get back to cool, breezy comfort.