Why is my ceiling fan not spinning?

Ceiling fan not spinning: start with the easy checks

A ceiling fan not working is often a power or signal problem rather than a broken fan. In an HDB flat or condo with a fan in each bedroom, try the one next door: if it runs, the supply to your home is fine.

1. Check the wall switch. Fan and light switches often sit side by side and are easy to mix up.
2. Try other lights. If the room's lights and points are also dead, the fault is on the circuit, not the fan.
3. Look at the DB box. Without touching any wiring, see whether a breaker has dropped to off; if the labels are unclear, read your DB box first. If one has tripped and everything is dry, push it back up once. If it trips again, leave it off and call an LEW.
4. Replace the remote batteries. Fit fresh ones the right way round and test the remote under the fan.
5. Re-pair the remote. Some remotes lose their link after a power cut or battery change. Follow the pairing steps in the fan's manual, as they differ between makes.

If power is confirmed and the fan still does nothing, or makes a sound without moving, the fault is inside the fan.

Fan hums but does not turn

A ceiling fan humming but not turning is getting power, yet the motor cannot start the blades. That usually points to a worn capacitor inside the motor housing or a motor that is wearing out.

Switch the fan off at the wall and leave it off. Do not push the blades by hand to see whether they catch while the fan is powered; you would be reaching into a fault you cannot see.

Before you call, note what you heard, such as a steady hum, a buzz or a click, and whether the light still works. Replacing a capacitor or motor is a job for an LEW, not a DIY task, even if a matching part is easy to buy online.

Fan runs slowly or stops after a while

Some fans start normally, then crawl along or stop after a while on a hot afternoon. Dust packed on the blades and around the motor adds drag, worn parts make the motor work harder, and a motor that overheats may stop until it cools.

Switch it off and let it rest rather than restarting it again and again. If the pattern repeats, book an LEW and say how long the fan runs before it fades.

A fan that also shakes or rattles may have loose screws. HDB notes that a fan's vibrations loosen screws over time, making it noisy or shaky, and suggests tightening them with a screwdriver, particularly those on the fan, the ceiling plate and the light fixture, if any. Our guide to a ceiling fan wobbling covers that fault.

What you may and may not do

The Inspectorate Department of the Energy Market Authority (EMA) offers a rule of thumb: you need an LEW if the work draws a new electrical connection from the circuit, but connecting an appliance such as a light fitting to an existing point does not need one. Shifting or extending a point does, and the LEW must also apply to SP Services to inspect the completed work, whether you relocate a single power point or rewire the whole home. Moving a fan's point to the centre of a living room is that kind of job.

EMA says electrical work in an HDB flat needs a Licensed Electrician, the class of LEW approved for loads of up to 45kVA. In a landed house, the work should be carried out or supervised by a Licensed Electrical Worker.

In an HDB flat, new wiring is not embedded in walls or plaster; it runs in surface trunking, above a false ceiling or behind carpentry.

The Consumer Product Safety Office advises engaging a licensed electrical worker for installation, maintenance and repair work and checking their credentials. When someone arrives, ask to see the licence card; EMA notes that licensed workers can be verified online. More examples are in what work needs an LEW.

Repair or replace

A worn capacitor on a fairly new fan is often worth repairing. Replacement starts to make more sense when the fan is old, has been repaired before, still grinds after its screws are tightened, or its maker no longer supplies parts. Ask the LEW whether the fault is in one part or the motor itself, and whether the part is available.

Quotes depend on the fan, the ceiling and the work involved. For replacement, see our ceiling fan installation cost guide, or browse electricians in the directory with the prices they publish.

Keeping the fan running well

HDB suggests cleaning ceiling and wall-mounted fans at least once a month, tightening loose screws and not using ammonia or bleach-based cleaners on the fan. Never mix bleach with acid-based cleaners or ammonia. Wiping each blade regularly stops dust building up and dragging on the motor. Our guide shows how to clean a ceiling fan step by step.

Questions