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Ceiling fans are one of those things you don’t think much about — until they start to give you trouble. A ceiling fan that won’t turn on, is moving too slowly, or is making a ton of noise is enough to drive you nuts!

Don’t worry; this ceiling fan troubleshooting guide will help you solve all of the most common problems. Let’s get started!

Ceiling Fan Doesn’t Work at All

One of the most frustrating ceiling fan problems is a fan that won’t do anything at all. If you turn it on and it doesn’t hum or try to spin, the first thing you want to do is check that it’s receiving power.

First, check your circuit breaker to see if any have flipped. If you find one that has flipped, flip it all the way off and then back on. Then, go inside and check the ceiling fan.

If this doesn’t help or there wasn’t a flipped breaker, then you’ll need to use a circuit tester to check whether the switch is working. If the switch is the problem, replace it, and this should solve the problem.

If you find that there’s no problem with the switch, you may have a complex motor issue. In this case, you’re best off contacting a professional or replacing your fan.

Blades Don’t Turn Correctly

If you turn your ceiling fan and the blades don’t spin, or the speed keeps unexpectedly changing, you likely have a problem with your fan’s capacitor.

The first step for this ceiling fan repair is to check that the fan is, in fact, coming on. If it makes noise and/or the light works, then you know it’s getting power.

Next, flip the forward/reverse switch a few times before locking it back into the forward position. Sometimes this fixes the problem.

If not, you’ll want to make sure the dip switches on the remote control and the fan’s receiver are set to the same frequency. You can find instructions for doing this in your fan’s manual.

One other thing to check is whether the blades move when you try to push them. If it’s a new fan and the blades don’t move, there could be packing material stuck in it. If it’s an older fan, a loose screw or another part may have come loose and caused a jam.

Lights Won’t Turn On

Ceiling fans with built-in lights are convenient but are also annoying when they stop working. If the lights don’t come on but the rest of the fan works, start by replacing one or all of the bulbs. When you do, make sure they don’t exceed the wattage rating, as this can cause the lights to stop working.

If this doesn’t fix the problem, check the inside of the light bulb socket to see if there are charred spots or burned marks. If there are, you could have a wiring issue. If you’re not comfortable working with electricity, it’s time to call in a professional to take a look.

Excess Noise

Dealing with a noisy fan is never fun, but it’s often easy to fix without having to rely on professional ceiling fan help. If you’ve just installed your fan, wait 24-48 hours for it to settle. Sometimes, even if you did everything right, it will make noise for a day or two and then will stop.

If the fan isn’t new, then you probably just have a loose screw. Start by tightening the screws on the fan blades and light kit. Then check the fan canopy, located at the very top of the fan, against the ceiling, and tighten it if necessary.

If you’ve done all this and your fan is still making noise, you may be able to oil it. Most have an oil hole located near the downrod. Check your manual for instructions before you attempt this.

Shaking or Wobbling

It’s normal for ceiling fans to wobble a little bit. However, if it’s extreme, this could become dangerous. Luckily this is usually a ceiling fan DIY fix.

In most cases, a wobbling fan is caused by being hung with a regular electrical box rather than one that’s made for ceiling fans. Replacing the box should take care of the problem.

It’s important to note that this is a high-priority issue. If the weight and constant movement of the ceiling fan cause it to work its way loose, it could crash down, breaking the fan and possibly causing injury.

If the box isn’t the issue, it could be something as simple as a loose screw. Check the screws connecting your fan blades to the housing. Then check the screws on the light kit, mounting hardware, and motor.

You can also check that the hanger ball in the mounting bracket is firmly in place. If not, adjust it to create a secure fit.

Give This Ceiling Fan Troubleshooting Guide a Try

Now that you know the basics of ceiling fan troubleshooting, you can fix just about any problem on your own! This will save you time, money, and frustration.

Once you fix your ceiling fan, you’ll probably be so excited that you’ll want to move onto other home improvement projects. Luckily, we’ve got instructions to help you do almost everything around the house.

Take a look through a few more of our blog posts today, and make sure to bookmark our page. We’re adding new content all the time, and you won’t want to miss out!