If you are new to the world of indoor cooling, you may wonder how to fix a fan that won’t spin. Many of the best fans are susceptible to maintenance and repair issues with prolonged use. So how do you tackle the issue of a fan not spinning? To fix a fan that won’t spin, turn it off and unplug it. Check the power supply connection. Clean the blades and motor, then apply lubricating oil to the motor shaft. Inspect the capacitor and wiring and test the motor by rotating the blades manually. Finally, turn it back on and test it with power. Remember to always be safe when working on any electrical device.
However, if the problem continues, you’ll want to keep reading for more help.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- There are a number of reasons why a fan would stop spinning, but your first step should be to make sure it is receiving power.
- After that, look into the ceiling fan motor housing and check out the capacitor, replacing the component if necessary.
- Other issues can cause a fan to stop spinning, including torn wires, a missing wire nut, frozen ball bearings, and bricked fan motors.
Fixing a Fan That Won’t Spin
What is a fan, and what repair issues do consumers run into? There are many kinds of fans out there if you are wondering how fans work, with many unique repair issues, including those that impact spin. There is no universal fix here, as it largely depends on your fan design and the root cause of the issue, which is similar to when learning how to fix a squeaky ceiling fan.
Insider Tip
It is a good practice to clean your fan every one to three months, no matter the type of fan you have.
With that said, if you learned how to change a fan speed and the blades still aren’t spinning, here are some troubleshooting tips to try. As a note, these tips go above and beyond, say, learning how to oil a ceiling fan.
Check the Power
No matter what type of fan you have, from a ceiling fan to a tower fan and beyond, your first troubleshooting step is to check the power. Start by making sure the fan is plugged in (no judgment if not.) Next, head to the circuit breaker box and turn on the fuse associated with the fan. If necessary, replace the fuse to get things going again. Once you are sure that the issue does not pertain to your power grid, you can move on to other steps.
Replace the Blown Motor Capacitor
A fan’s motor capacitor tells the motor what speed to spin at, so a faulty capacitor is a likely culprit if these blades won’t spin at all. This is a crucial but tough fix to perform on your own. In other words, do some research but hire a pro for the heavy lifting, as the replacement procedure involves dislodging the motor housing and performing some delicate electrical work. Once you open the housing, however, a blown capacitor is easy to spot, as it will look melted or burnt.
Hire a Pro
There are other potential causes, such as frayed wires, a broken flywheel, frozen ball bearings, and more. If you aren’t interested in wiring a ceiling fan yourself, a qualified professional will get to the bottom of these issues to make your fan blades spin once again.
STAT: You can even use a floor or table fan on a low setting to help circulate heat in the wintertime — a particularly effective method for making a pellet or wood stove work harder in your home. (source)
