Ceiling Fan rotates slower

[NEC User]

A client commented that one of their ceiling fans moves slower than it did about a year ago. Is there a reason why a ceiling fan would spin slower?

 

[ActionDave]

Is there a speed control on the wall? Someone may have pulled the chain on the fan so it's no longer on high.

 

[growler]

A client commented that one of their ceiling fans moves slower than it did about a year ago. Is there a reason why a ceiling fan would spin slower?

I would think that a lower voltage ( voltage drop, bad connection, bad switch ) would slow a fan down, or even a bad bearing.

How are they controlling the speed of the fan, pull chain or a speed control at the switch location ?

The cheapest repair is normally a new fan.

 

[ggunn]

I would think that a lower voltage ( voltage drop, bad connection, bad switch ) would slow a fan down, or even a bad bearing.

How are they controlling the speed of the fan, pull chain or a speed control at the switch location ?

The cheapest repair is normally a new fan.

I'm pretty sure that anything that mechanically slows a fan down will eventually burn out the motor. One Halloween Party my daughter tied small tissue paper "ghosts" to strings taped to the blades of a ceiling fan which slowed down its rotation a bit, and after an hour or so the motor smoked and stopped turning.

 

[NEC User]

There was a control switch on the wall (simply on and off). Then, the fan was controlled via a remote control that had 3 speed settings. The fastest setting is slower than it used to be. I'll check the pull chord when I return to the house.

Thanks.

 

[mopowr steve]

If it isn't the pull chain that had been pulled, it could indicate that the capacitor in the lower canopy of fan is failing or out of spec.

 

[Little Bill]

If it isn't the pull chain that had been pulled, it could indicate that the capacitor in the lower canopy of fan is failing or out of spec.

This ^^^^^

Just repaired one a while back that the capacitor had burned out. Had to put a complete new control unit on it as the capacitor was built in to it.
But the same problem can happen on an external cap.

To the OP:
I would either tell them to replace the fan or pay you to take out the old cap and try to find a matching one. When they find out the charge for troubleshooting is close to the price of a new fan they might just opt for a new one!

 

[kwired]

This ^^^^^

Just repaired one a while back that the capacitor had burned out. Had to put a complete new control unit on it as the capacitor was built in to it.
But the same problem can happen on an external cap.

To the OP:
I would either tell them to replace the fan or pay you to take out the old cap and try to find a matching one. When they find out the charge for troubleshooting is close to the price of a new fan they might just opt for a new one!

Shouldn't take much more effort labor wise to troubleshoot then to replace the fan, unless you don't know how to trouble shoot it.

Either way you are going to assess the problem on one trip and return to replace or repair on another trip. Figure out the problem and parts needed, tell customer the options and let them decide. Ceiling fan capacitors are not that hard to find on line, just search the number of the existing one and you usually will find one, they are not all that expensive either, but will require time to get them shipped and received. If you want express shipping (like next day air) you will likely be spending enough that a new fan is well worth consideration.

 

[Little Bill]

Shouldn't take much more effort labor wise to troubleshoot then to replace the fan, unless you don't know how to trouble shoot it.

Either way you are going to assess the problem on one trip and return to replace or repair on another trip. Figure out the problem and parts needed, tell customer the options and let them decide. Ceiling fan capacitors are not that hard to find on line, just search the number of the existing one and you usually will find one, they are not all that expensive either, but will require time to get them shipped and received. If you want express shipping (like next day air) you will likely be spending enough that a new fan is well worth consideration.

My point was that sometimes the old fans aren't worth the trouble of replacing parts and if you make it high enough for your trouble/time they might opt for a new fan.
I used to be able to pick up capacitors locally. But now only one place has them but not every type needed. So you end up taking the old one out, reading the numbers, (if they're even readable) then spending time online, ordering and waiting on the parts.

On top of that, if the fan is old and you replace just the cap to get it working and a short time later something else quits. The customer then thinks you either don't know what you're doing or trying to rip them off!

 

[JFletcher]

If the ceiling fan is like this:

http://camodernhome.com/collections/ceiling-fans/products/ar-ruthiane-wood-ceiling-fan

then by all means, repair it.

If it's like this:

http://www.wayfair.com/Hunter-Fans-...78&device=c&ptid=154612528620&PiID[]=12031378

the best way to repair it is to make sure it breaks when you throw it in the dumpster after hanging a new fan.

eta: as to why an existing fan turns slower than it used to; drag in bearings, loose blades causing more blade pitch and air drag, extremely dirty fan (air drag), could be many things not electrically related.

 

[Jraef]

extremely dirty fan (air drag)

I had one like that once. 20+ years of crud buildup on the TOPS of the blades caused the fan to slow down, a LOT. The HO only cleaned where she could see it, there must have been 1/4" of crud on the top side of the blades at the trailing edges. I cleaned it off for her and it worked fine.

 

[JFletcher]

I had one like that once. 20+ years of crud buildup on the TOPS of the blades caused the fan to slow down, a LOT. The HO only cleaned where she could see it, there must have been 1/4" of crud on the top side of the blades at the trailing edges. I cleaned it off for her and it worked fine.

Wow, never seen one that bad. Was thinking too that a direction change could slow down the fan if there was enough gunk on the now leading edge (like pushing a brick thru the air instead of a knife blade).

 

[user 100]

Wow, never seen one that bad. Was thinking too that a direction change could slow down the fan if there was enough gunk on the now leading edge (like pushing a brick thru the air instead of a knife blade).

Just wait until you see the tops of blades w/ a nice thick coating of dust mixed with roach crap... and then watch the offenders try to flee in a million directions if you have to take the fan down.

People are gross.

 

[John120/240]

A client commented that one of their ceiling fans moves slower than it did about a year ago. Is there a reason why a ceiling fan would spin slower?

This reminds me of the note from manufacturers: "For warranty repairs return the fan to our factory postage paid in the original box and at our discretion we will repair or replace the fan. Return postage is on you the homeowner." Or some such boilerplate drivel. I have never known of anybody that went this route.

Replace the fan.

 

[kwired]

My point was that sometimes the old fans aren't worth the trouble of replacing parts and if you make it high enough for your trouble/time they might opt for a new fan.
I used to be able to pick up capacitors locally. But now only one place has them but not every type needed. So you end up taking the old one out, reading the numbers, (if they're even readable) then spending time online, ordering and waiting on the parts.

On top of that, if the fan is old and you replace just the cap to get it working and a short time later something else quits. The customer then thinks you either don't know what you're doing or trying to rip them off!

I guess we are all in different boat.

I am not likely replacing the fan the same day, there is no place to purchase a fan within about 40 miles maybe even up to 100 miles depending on exactly where my customer is located. I won't claim to have run into a lot of ceiling fans, but these are simple compared to many of the motor issues I am used to dealing with. I don't recall ever having a bad winding outside of something caused by over voltage - like being connected to a 208 volt high leg by mistake. Majority of fixes were either a pull chain switch needing replaced, rewiring a pull chain that someone else tried to replace and got it wrong, or the capacitor. Have replaced a few bearings over the years but seldom run into bearing failures, maybe only up to five fans or so in about 30 years have I replaced bearings on. Many bearing failures the fan is so old they decide to replace entire unit anyway.

 

[macmikeman]

If the ceiling fan is like this:

http://camodernhome.com/collections/ceiling-fans/products/ar-ruthiane-wood-ceiling-fan

then by all means, repair it.

If it's like this:

http://www.wayfair.com/Hunter-Fans-...78&device=c&ptid=154612528620&PiID[]=12031378

the best way to repair it is to make sure it breaks when you throw it in the dumpster after hanging a new fan.

eta: as to why an existing fan turns slower than it used to; drag in bearings, loose blades causing more blade pitch and air drag, extremely dirty fan (air drag), could be many things not electrically related.

One of those two fans is the ugliest monstrosity I have ever seen.

 

[user 100]

One of those two fans is the ugliest monstrosity I have ever seen.

You got that right.:happyyes:

Not much on aesthetics here, but in that first link- ugh!!

 

[kwired]

Is one of these worth fixing?

 

[user 100]

Is one of these worth fixing?

It sure is.:thumbsup:

Now that is a ceiling fan.

 

[John120/240]

Is one of these worth fixing?

Yes. Installed 5 of them in a million sq foot warehouse.