Ceiling fan won’t turn on with wall switch? First, make sure that the ceiling fan isn’t controlled from a remote. Other reasons for why this is happening include a tripped breaker, loose wires, a faulty switch, or a faulty ceiling fan. This post will go into each of these reasons to help you diagnose why the ceiling fan won’t turn on with the wall switch.
Some reasons might be painfully obvious such as finding the fan remote or resetting the tripped circuit breaker, but it might save you time and money by having to call the electrician.
Other reasons might be more complicated such as replacing a faulty light switch or faulty fan. Whichever reason why your ceiling fan won’t turn on, hopefully this post can put you in the right direction to fixing it.
Ceiling Fan Won’t Turn On With Wall Switch? – Reason #1
Remote Control
Does the ceiling fan have a remote control? It might not turn on because the wall switch is simply an isolator and the fan is turned on and off from a remote control. The wall switch exists to turn off the electricity supply to the fan, for maintenance purposes, not to turn the fan on or control the fan speed.
In other words, the ceiling fan won’t turn on with the wall switch if the fan has been turned ‘off’ on the remote control.
To fix this, make sure the wall switch is turned on then turn the fan ‘on’ from the remote control.
Change the fan speeds and directions.
Make sure the remote control has batteries that are working.
If this doesn’t make the fan work, then the next place to look might be your switchboard.
Ceiling Fan Won’t Turn On With Wall Switch? – Reason #2
Tripped Circuit Breaker
A tripped circuit breaker might be why the ceiling fan won’t turn on with the wall switch.
A circuit breaker tripping might be directly caused by the ceiling fan, but it could also be caused by something else such as a blown light bulb.
To check if this is the case, open your switchboard and look for any circuit breakers which have tripped.
The breaker might be labelled ‘lights’ or ‘power’. To reset the breaker, flip it into the ‘up’ position then check if the ceiling fan is working again.
If there were no circuit breakers in the down position then there might be a loose connection in the fan.
Ceiling Fan Won’t Turn On With Wall Switch? – Reason #3
Loose Wires
Ceiling fan units can face varying amounts of vibration in operation due to moving parts.
Vibration can literally shake connections loose. Loose connections in the ceiling fan can definitely cause it to stop operating.
This is especially true if the electrical connections in the ceiling fan were poorly installed in the first place.
If the wires in the ceiling fan are loosely tightened they can come out of their termination point, while if the wires are overly tightened they can break with the same effect.
Both situations are not good, but luckily fixing loose wires is cheaper than needing to replace a faulty switch or faulty fan. If loose wires at the ceiling fan aren’t the problem then there might be a lost neutral at the wall switch.
Ceiling Fan Won’t Turn On With Wall Switch? – Reason #4
Lost Neutral At Switch
A broken or loose neutral wire at the wall switch could be causing the ceiling fan to not work. The neutral can be lost at the switch due to poor installation such as not connecting the wires with the right tension. Like the wires at the ceiling fan, the wrong tension can lead to the neutral either becoming loose or breaking. Again, fixing this is relatively easy compared to replacing the entire fan unit.
Ceiling Fan Won’t Turn On With Wall Switch? – Reason #5
Faulty Wall Switch
If loose wires or a lost neutral aren’t to blame for the ceiling fan not turning on, then the problem might be a worn out wall switch.
Switches can become worn out over time and the mechanical switch action can fail due to high usage. Once the switch mechanism stops working it will mean that the ceiling fan won’t turn on with the wall switch.
Some things you should check for with your wall switch
- Does the wall switch feel hot?
- Is the wall switch discoloured or have evidence of melting?
- Does the wall switch have a cracked case?
- Is the switch loosely connected to the wall?
These might point to why the ceiling fan isn’t working. Good practice is to replace any dodgy looking switches before they become a fire hazard.
Ceiling Fan Won’t Turn On With Wall Switch? – Reason #6
Faulty Ceiling Fan
Lastly, you might simply have a faulty ceiling fan. If the ceiling fan wasn’t assembled competently then it can wear out a lot faster. If you suspect that a faulty ceiling fan is the cause you should contact the installer to check the warranty. You might be able to get the ceiling fan replaced under warranty. If you can’t get it replaced under warranty then take a picture of your existing ceiling fan and visit your local lighting shop to discuss replacements which suit the pitch and type of ceiling you have.
Conclusion
Ceiling fan won’t turn on with wall switch? Hopefully this post has helped you get an idea of what might be causing it. To summarise, the ceiling fan not turning on might be caused by flat batteries in the remote control, a tripped circuit breaker, loose wires including a lost neutral, or a faulty wall switch or fan. As always, ensure that you engage a registered and experienced electrician and don’t attempt to do anything you are not qualified or experienced to do.
Next Steps
- If you found this content helpful, please give us a share. It is highly appreciated.
- If you need tips on saving money when hiring an electrician, then check out this free guide.