| Basic TroubleshootingI. Fan is not workingCheck to | | | | noise. Lastly, sometimes mechanical noises are the |
| make sure that all controls on the fan are functional | | | | result of loose parts on the fan. Check the blades, |
| and set properly. Does the fan have a light? Does the | | | | blade brackets, light kit glass, etc, to be sure all the |
| light work? If both the fan and the light are not working, | | | | screws are tight.VI. Fan makes a humming noise while |
| it is likely a connection issue and/or the fan is not | | | | runningThe key to a quiet fan is to isolate the motor |
| getting power. If the light is working and the fan is not, | | | | vibration from all other parts. This occurs, in the |
| the first thing to check is if the black wire has come | | | | majority of fans, in three places: between the motor |
| disconnected inside the canopy. Next, check to be | | | | and the blade brackets, between the blade brackets |
| sure that the blades turn freely. If they do not, the | | | | and the blades, and between the downrod/motor |
| problem may involve stuck bearings , a broken | | | | flange and the mounting bracket. Some fans also have |
| flywheel, or simply something stuck in the path of the | | | | vibration-isolating material between the mounting |
| motor or blades that does not belong there.II. Fan light is | | | | bracket and the ceiling. If your fan makes a noticable |
| not workingIf the fan is working but the light is not, the | | | | humming noise, inspect it for the above mentioned |
| problem is usually a loose connection between the | | | | types of vibration-isolating material. With the exception |
| power source and the light kit.III. Fan runs, but wobbles | | | | of the rubber flywheel, if your fan is lacking any of the |
| or shakesSee section on balancing.IV. Fan runs, but | | | | above, they are easy to add and should solve the |
| slowly.First, check to see that the fan blades turn | | | | majority of humming problems. You can always add |
| freely by hand and coast after being spun. If rotation is | | | | additional material as rubber washers and spacers are |
| in any way stiff, this is a sign of dirty, dry, or gummed | | | | readily available.VII. Fan makes an electrical buzzing |
| bearings, which can slow the motor. The fan should be | | | | noise while running.By far the most common cause of |
| oiled. Second, does the fan wobble at all? If for any | | | | an electrical noise from a fan is the use of an improper |
| reason the blade pitch is steeper on one or more | | | | speed control. Most fans made today are not |
| blades than the motor is designed for, this will slow the | | | | designed to be used with Solid State speed controls. |
| motor. See the section on balancing. If the blades turn | | | | Use a speed control, such as a capacitor type, that is |
| freely and are balanced, the cause of a fan running | | | | recommended for your fan. Do NOT use a dimmer |
| slowly is almost always a bad capacitor. It should be | | | | switch EVER on a fan motor.VIII. Fan moves very little |
| replaced with a capacitor of equal value.V. Fan makes | | | | air.First, check and see if any of the other problems |
| mechanical noise while running i.e. clicking, knocking, | | | | listed above apply. Running too slow? Off balance? |
| grinding.If it's a mechanical sound, chances are it is a | | | | Check and make sure the fan isn't operating in |
| mechanical problem. It could be something as simple as | | | | reverse (for most fans, clockwise, see 'reversing |
| a wire that has slipped into the path of some moving | | | | section'). Another, less likely, option is that the blades |
| parts. If the fan wobbles, balancing the fan may silence | | | | became bent or warped without actually putting the |
| the noise. If the fan is balanced, the next thing to check | | | | fan out of balance. Observe the fan from the side to |
| is if anything is coming into the path of the blades or | | | | see if the blades are still pitched noticably. If not, |
| any other noticable moving part. If the noise appears to | | | | reference the balancing section for bending them back |
| be internal to the motor, it is most likely a bearing issue, | | | | into place.Lastly, you might just have a cheap fan that |
| or something (such as a wire or connector) coming in | | | | doesnt move a lot of air. Peruse our site, and buy a |
| contact with moving parts inside the housing. Dry | | | | new one! |
| bearings can also make a grinding, squeeling, or rattling | | | | |