When I turn it on, the blade is slow to take off turning. Sometimes it just won't go at all, so I turn it off so as not to burn up the motor. Does it need cleaning, oiling, or something else?
If you don't have the original paperwork for maintenance for the ceiling fan this is what I would suggest: Cleaning and adding lubricant to the fan's main stem.
Put some lubricant on the fan stem: a drop of oil / graphite grease will do it.
First turn OFF the power, AT THE CIRCUIT BOX - BREAKER BOX.
SECOND Get a household or larger step-stool sized ladder 5 - 6 ft - set it up by your fan, clean the stem around the blade area, wipe gently with a Swiffer duster pad (those pink & white loopy-looking pads, they come in a kit in cleaning supply section of store -- with a slide-on plastic handle, & refills).
These REALLY do work to attract the majority of the static-oriented dust that is so common on electronics.
Then :
Clean and dust off all the blades, (if wood a drop or two, of a Murphy's oil soap will keep them looking nice).
So - clean them - add the Murphy's oil soap, using a small spoonful to 1/2 cup of warm water. Mix in an empty 'Cool Whip' (or similar sized container).
And place that on your small ladder on the ladder's shelf; for ease of use -- no pesky buckets to worry about getting knocked over -- (then start to clean using a rag made from an older smooth cotton sheet, or a really worn towel that has VERY little 'lint producing' potential, (the less junk you add to this cleaned fan the better) as to ANY lint on towel or cloth residues) -- wipe carefully, working slowly -- all the surfaces of the wood!
Top, bottom and those PESKY thin edges. That way you won't be fighting extra dirt in your eyes as you try to tackle the other problem! Dry off the blades with a clean cotton rag made from a sheet. Gently, no hard rubbing needed,
Ok, so NOW you are done with the fan blade cleaning, I bet it looks nice!
Add the oil: a drop of WD40, a household oil in a metal skinny can with a progressively graduated 'needle' like top (or a small dab (using a paintbrush dedicated to that use) of graphite grease -
Some hardware stores sell it in small tubes ... (or small containers like the size of sterno fuel jars) ...
You don't want any motor running without adequate lubrication, or they run 'hot'. Then they can start to cause trouble.
Add the graphite or WD40 to the stem, let it 'run' down the stem & add a 'little' more, but not too much as to 'flood' the area below where it is needed or 'flowing' to ... before you climb down the ladder and go to turn it on -- look to see if the oil has run the length of the rod, is allowing easy movement, as to turning of the blades.
Check it manually by pushing the blade in the direction the blades are set to go, by pressing the fan blades to move forward with a flick of your fingers. They should move easily without hesitation.
Look above and below the blade location as to connection of the blade on the fan rod or stem itself, to see if all oil needed is present; stem is not appearing overly 'dry', or too 'wet' either.
When that is done to your satisfaction, climb down from the ladder, turn on the fan, let it run for a while on the LOWEST speed setting, then check back like in perhaps an hour. AS to if it needs another oil addition.
If not I'd say start out on low always to turning it on, then change to medium speed or high only later.
You don't want to start off on the highest setting each time you use it. That is a likely way to burn out a motor.
If it is running 'smoothly' without 'wobbling' or smelling 'hot' as to an electric motor that is laboring, then you are in business!
Proper maintenance is 'always' welcome if you want your appliances & fans to last ...
Highlight these instructions in yellow sharpie - if you print a copy to use, as to steps that worked well. Then follow those every time from now on.
CLEANING THE FAN at least once or twice A YEAR for basic maintenance that will save you stress, money in the long term (it won't need replacing) and help keep you cool ...!
So ENJOY your fan and the coolness it delivers!
×