Which Parts Can You Replace on a Ceiling Fan?

In our disposable society most people do not even consider fixing things but rather look to replace them at the first sign of trouble, but when it comes to ceiling fan parts, perhaps it makes sense to repair vs. replace.

With widespread use of the Internet, it is easy to find just about every ceiling fan part necessary. In many cases, a ceiling fan can be repaired simply by removing an old part and replacing it with a new part, which eliminates the numerous hassles of taking down the old fan, driving to the store to buy a new fan and of course, installing the new fan.

Which Ceiling Fan Parts Are Available?

Perhaps the best way to understand whether it makes sense to repair or replace a fan is to first understand the different categories of replaceable parts.

Remote Controls

Many of today's ceiling fans are remote controlled, offering the convenience of adjusting fan speed or turning on or off the light without leaving the comfort of a bed or chair. But what happens when that remote is dropped one too many times, or the dog gets a hold of it, or it ends up in the washing machine (which happens more often than you may think)?

Fortunately, almost all ceiling fan remote controls are available online, which provides an easy and affordable solution.

Remote Control Receivers

The remote control receiver is the part of the remote control system that is hidden inside of the ceiling fan. This part receives the signal from the handheld remote control and then tells the fan what to do. Unfortunately, in many cases, receivers actually sustain more abuse than the handheld remotes. This is due to the swapping of circuits, as conducted by the electric company. Have you ever noticed your lights flickering for no apparent reason? When your electricity provider swaps circuits, it results in a sudden interruption of power, which can wreak havoc with the remote control receivers. Fortunately, a receiver can be easily replaced simply by unplugging the old receiver and plugging in the new one.

Capacitors

One of the key components to a non-remote-controlled ceiling fan is the capacitor. In ceiling fans, a capacitor is necessary in order to convert electrical energy into mechanical energy that will turn on the motor of the fan to make the blades work and produce wind. When a ceiling fan capacitor is malfunctioning or damaged, the fan will run slowly in any fan speed setting, or worse, the fan will not run at all.

The ceiling fan capacitor is usually located in the switch housing, below the blades and above the light kit. It is a little black box with as little as two wires coming out of it but can have as many as six wires. The most important information to gather from the capacitor are the microfarad ratings, usually printed on the side of the capacitor. This repair can be done in as little as five minutes once you have acquired the new capacitor.

Blade Arms

This part is known by several different names including blade irons, blade carriers, or blade arms. Blade arms connect the blade to the fan. These can often break or wear out, but are easily replaced without uninstalling the fan. Blade arms can also be replaced to update the look or aesthetics of a ceiling fan.

Now that you know how easily it is to replace ceiling fan parts with readily available parts, you can see why it makes sense to repair your fan instead of replacing it. The overall result is better for the environment - and your pocketbook.


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Why replace that ceiling fan when you can repair it. The author recommends CeilingFanPartsOnline.com for ceiling fan parts, ceiling fan remote controls, Hampton Bay fan parts, Hunter ceiling fan parts, Harbor Breeze fan parts, ceiling fan capacitors, or part number UC7078T. CeilingFanPartsOnline.com and HamptonBayRemoteControls.com