Slow ceiling fans

[5Chris7]

I have 2 ceiling fans that have gone slow on me.

One was like that when I bought the house 2 years ago, the second has just started

Im wondering if there is any fix and where to start diagnosing the problem?

I do posses an understanding if electric and I know how to wire fixtures so...

Let me know what you think

Thanks in advance!!!

Chris

 

[Charles (in GA)]

I'm going to take the "dumb" route and ask.......... you are aware most ceiling fans have three speeds and off, pull the chain, it goes from off to fast, pull again, it goes to medium, pull again, it goes to slow, pull again, its off.

Does that work? If so, and the fan is just slow on all speeds, does it turn freely when its off?

Does the fan have a remote control? Could something be wrong with it?

If there is a remote, turn it on, high, then go to the pull chain switch and go through the whole cycle. Many remotes control the fan via the power input and you leave the three speed pull chain switch in high. Is it possible someone put it in some other speed not knowing there was a remote?

Charles

 

[Greatbear]

I'll second Charles (in GA)'s comments. If you have an aftermarket remote control (not one built into the fan) or a wall-mounted speed control, you have to set the original pull-chain speed switch to high or the fan will turn very slowly if at all. If these are manually controlled, pull-chain fans (with or without a simple wall switch to turn on and off), the capacitors inside the switch housing could be failing. This becomes especially true if you have a light fixture attached with high wattage lamps, the heat eventually kills the caps. Fans use one capacitor for running, and one for each speed it has other than high. A typical three speed fan has three caps. If the unit is slow in all speeds (and not the fault of a mechanical issue), the running cap might be going. If the high speed is fine and either or both low speeds too slow or nonexistent, the speed control caps are bad. Some fans have discrete caps for each function, but most use a combo capacitor that houses all of these or has a large one with three leads for the speed control and a single smaller (2 leads) one for running. You can get these at the big box stores or online, they are pretty cheap.

 

[5Chris7]

I'm going to take the "dumb" route and ask.......... you are aware most ceiling fans have three speeds and off, pull the chain, it goes from off to fast, pull again, it goes to medium, pull again, it goes to slow, pull again, its off.

Does that work? If so, and the fan is just slow on all speeds, does it turn freely when its off?

Does the fan have a remote control? Could something be wrong with it?

If there is a remote, turn it on, high, then go to the pull chain switch and go through the whole cycle. Many remotes control the fan via the power input and you leave the three speed pull chain switch in high. Is it possible someone put it in some other speed not knowing there was a remote?

Charles

Nope no remotes, simple pull switch, but next time I post a problem Ill go into more detail.
I tend to forget that your not here with me to see what Im talking about LOL
Thanks fro your input though

I'll second Charles (in GA)'s comments. If you have an aftermarket remote control (not one built into the fan) or a wall-mounted speed control, you have to set the original pull-chain speed switch to high or the fan will turn very slowly if at all. If these are manually controlled, pull-chain fans (with or without a simple wall switch to turn on and off), the capacitors inside the switch housing could be failing. This becomes especially true if you have a light fixture attached with high wattage lamps, the heat eventually kills the caps. Fans use one capacitor for running, and one for each speed it has other than high. A typical three speed fan has three caps. If the unit is slow in all speeds (and not the fault of a mechanical issue), the running cap might be going. If the high speed is fine and either or both low speeds too slow or nonexistent, the speed control caps are bad. Some fans have discrete caps for each function, but most use a combo capacitor that houses all of these or has a large one with three leads for the speed control and a single smaller (2 leads) one for running. You can get these at the big box stores or online, they are pretty cheap.

This is exactly the kind of info I needed, now that I know what the part is called, I can look online to see how to test it and see if its failing thanks so much for your help!!!!!

Thanks again guys!!!

This place is the best

Chris