Ceiling fan not working or noisy
The simple checks from a manual, then an electrician.
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First checks
One maker's manual lists simple first checks, including these: make sure the power switch is on, check that the circuit breaker is on, and make sure the blades spin freely. Leave any check inside the fan housing to a licensed electrician.
Noise
The same manual says to make sure the blades are properly installed and to check for cracked blades; if one is cracked, it says to replace all of the blades. A humming motor on a regular dimmer is covered in Ceiling fan controls: chains, remotes, and walls
Light not working
Check the bulb against the fixture label and the manual. If a correct new bulb does not fix it, or the light flickers, call a licensed electrician.
Stop and call
NFPA says to call a qualified electrician for breakers that trip often, burning smells, or flickering lights. Do not open the fan housing or canopy yourself.
Sources: Hunter Fan, Warrant Ceiling Fan Installation Manual (PDF); NFPA, Electrical Safety Checklist (PDF); CPSC, Guide to Home Wiring Hazards (PDF). Brand names belong to their owners. We are not affiliated with or endorsed by them.
FAQ
General information only. Ceiling fans and light fixtures are electrical equipment. Hire a licensed electrician for any installation, wiring, electrical box, switch, or light kit work, and follow the fan maker's manual and your local electrical code. Before cleaning, changing a bulb, or checking a fan, turn it off and let the blades stop and the bulbs cool; turn off power at the circuit breaker before any work near the fan's wiring. Use a stable ladder, and if you are not comfortable working overhead, call a pro. Never use a bulb above the maximum wattage marked on the fixture. If a fan or light flickers, buzzes, smells hot, or trips a breaker, stop using it and call a licensed electrician.
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When to call an electrician.
