If your fan isn’t working at the different speed settings it originally came with you can loose control of the air flow.
If your speed settings aren’t working correctly there are two likely reasons: the capacitor or the motor bearings are shot.
First you are going to want to inspect and test the fan capacitor to see if it is the issue:
Check the capacitor
First you can look at and test the capacitor to see if it is the issue. If you look at the capacitor (it is a little black box inside of the fan housing with several wires coming out of it connected to the pull chain) and it is melted at all then it needs replaced and that will probably solve your problem. Similarly, if you hear a humming noise when your fan is on but no movement in the blades, then the motor is running but the capacitor is not allowing it to work correctly. If you don’t notice any of this, then you can also test the capacitor with a multimeter as shown in this video:
If it isn’t the capacitor and the blades move freely, it is probably the motor and you will have to pay all of the money to replace it or get a new fan.
If you have to replace the capacitor, do the following:
- The first and most difficult step is getting a replacement capacitor. You are best off contacting the place that sold the fan or produces the fans to find where you can buy the capacitor you need. You’ll need the model number and UPC number to get the replacement.
- You have to remove the old capacitor. To do so, cut the wires attaching it to the rest of the fan, doing it close to the capacitor.
- Strip about 5/8 of an inch of insulation off of both the wires now hanging from the fan that went to your old capacitor, and the wires coming out of your old capacitor.
- Twist the wires coming out of the fan and capacitor together, matching insulation color.
- Use wire nuts to connect them (you’re probably going to want nuts that are the same size as Ideal 72B Blue wire nuts).
- Reassemble the fan housing.
Check the motor bearings
If the issue isn’t the capacitor then it may be the bearings. To test this, run the fan for a few minutes, turn it off, and let it come to a stop. Feel the motor housing and if it is hot, then the bearings are shot and the motor needs replaced. If the motor needs replaced then you are going to end up paying at least $50 for the motor and often $100 or more. So it may just make sense to buy a new fan, but if you want a new motor contact the place you bought it from or the manufacturer for information regarding getting a new motor.