My Ceiling Fan Won’t Spin
Ceiling fans are useful for cooling your home but you may not realize it until the fan stops spinning. As soon as you notice a lacking breeze on a hot day, you’ll want it fixed. It’s easy to forget that such basic appliances require maintenance, and ceiling fans are no exception.
You need to figure out how to get your ceiling fan spinning again so you can start saving energy, but how? Fortunately, Arnold Electrical Services has some tips for fixing a lifeless fan.
Test The Power Connection
Turning something off and on again sounds overly simple, but it really can work! Although, this piece of advice has to be altered a bit here.
Sometimes there is a disconnect between the power button and the power source. You may also be dealing with overall electrical failure. If this is the case, you will need to make sure that the fan is receiving power to begin with.
To check the power and continuity, you can use a multimeter. Multimeters are available at most hardware stores, but you can also call an electrician for an inspection if you do not own a device.
Look For A Blown Motor Capacitor
Often, a ceiling fan that won’t spin can be caused by a blown motor capacitor. This part is the motor for your fan and it can wear out over time. If your ceiling fan is getting power but can’t start on its own, it may have a bad capacitor.
Homeowners can choose to replace the motor capacitor at home, so long as you have the right part. If you don’t feel like electrical replacements are your strong suit, don’t be afraid to contact the professionals!
Check For Frozen Bearings
Yet another common reason for your ceiling fan not spinning can be frozen bearings. Fan bearings work to make the fan blades spin, so they can easily wear down. Sometimes the bearings can just get stuck, too, meaning that the fan blades will not move even if you push them.
If you are dealing with frozen bearings in your fan, we recommend you change or fully replace the fan. Technically, you can replace the bearings themselves, but it may not provide the best results.
Look For A Broken Flywheel
Although this issue is not the most common out of our list, we’ve seen it happen before. The flywheel is usually a rubber disk that connects the blades to the motor of your fan, but they can eventually break. So if your ceiling fan won’t spin and the blades seem to droop, you may be dealing with a broken flywheel.
To fix the flywheel, you will need to replace it. While this can be done as a DIY job, it is a laborious task. We recommend having a professional replace your broken flywheel to save time and frustration.
Energy-Efficient Ceiling Fan Fixes
By getting your fan spinning again, you’re on track for an energy-efficient home! Whether you needed to replace a flywheel or bearing, or you needed a whole new fan, it’s time to use your ceiling fan correctly.
Though just having a working fan and leaving it running all day won’t be enough if you’re looking for ways to save energy in your home. Saving money on your electric bill is easy when you follow a few tips:
- Make sure the fan rotates counter-clockwise in the cooling season and clockwise in the warming season.
- Keep your thermostat a few degrees warmer in the summer and use your ceiling fan to cool your rooms.
- Turn off the ceiling fan when no one is in the room.
The Best Local Electrician In Chicago
Are you thinking of upgrading your home’s with ceiling fans? Don’t waste your time, money and energy trying to install them yourself.
Arnold Electrical Services has been serving the Northeast Chicago area since 2008. We always put our customers first, that’s why we guarantee the quality of our work! From maintenance to repairs to emergencies, we guarantee you will be 100% satisfied with our work. Along with getting the job done safely, we’ll get it done right!
