When you purchase a brand new ceiling fan, it works like a charm with good speed. But gradually the performance of a fan decreases due to several factors. The common problem that is faced by many people is a slow moving fan. In this article, we try to find how to fix a slow moving fan.
Let see what are the real problems and the solutions to them.
Reason for ceiling fan slow speed – Solutions
There are several factors that make a ceiling fan spin slow. They are low voltage, lubrication problem, bearing problem, and bad capacitor. Let’s see each of them in detail and their solutions.
1. Low Voltage
First, check that your supply voltage is not low. The ceiling fan is rated at a certain voltage range for e.g. 110 V or 220 V (check nameplate rating on ceiling fan). Fan working on low voltage runs at a slow speed. If you find your voltage low then complain to your electricity provider for low voltage. They will fix this problem.
2. Lubrication problem
If low voltage is not your problem then check this step. Stop your ceiling fan and make it stop. Now spin the fan with your hands. If it stops after spinning for a short time or if you feel difficult to rotate the fan then there is a lubrication problem. You need to apply grease to make it smooth.
3. Bearing problem
If low voltage and lubrication are not a problem then check this step. Turn on your ceiling fan and carefully listen to the fan sound as it accelerates to full speed. If there is a cracking or unwanted sound then there is a bearing problem. Contact your electrician to repair your fan.
4. Bad Capacitor
If you have checked all the above steps and not found any problem then there may be a problem with your ceiling fan capacitor. The simple way to check the capacitor is as follows. Open your capacitor connection, put the capacitor’s terminals in an electrical outlet for 1-2 seconds, and then try to touch both terminals and make the terminals separate from each other. If there is a strong spark sound then your capacitor is good. If there is a low spark sound then you need to replace your capacitor with a new one with the same rating as the old one.
