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My ceiling fan works great even though it looks old. The problem is that it will not reverse for the winter. There is a switch and it works great for summer. It just sits and hums when I switch it over. Do I have to throw out the fan or is there any chance it can be fixed. THanks.
Many fans use a double pole double throw switch for reverse, crossing the corners with jumpers. which is like a polarity switch, or swaps 2 wires. You could change switches, probably defective.
There is 4 wires going to this switch, You can eleminate switch if you are in a remote area
and can't get replacement, or for a test, you need 2 wire nuts, one way forward, one way reverse. If that doesn't work, replacement switch won't work either.
Do with power off.
What happens is, if a switch has been in one position for a very long time, the contacts for the other positions get dirty and oxidized and whatnot. I had two 3 speed fans I pulled out of a restaurant that would only work on low because they'd been run on low for 30 years. Cleaned the switches and they work on all speeds.
In my experience cleaner will likely be necessary, and might not even be enough. In the case of the fans mentioned above I had to disassemble the switches and clean the contacts with steel wool.
Strat, you seem to love to discuss things, if you ever want to talk ceiling fans I have all the IM programs.
If I were you, I would go to Home depot or Lowes to buy the new switch and swap it out (make sure power is off). If it works, keep the switch. If it does not work, take the switch back and buy the new fan.
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