How to Troubleshoot an Attic Fan

Troubleshoot your attic fan before purchasing a new one.

If your attic fan has malfunctioned, you may wish to troubleshoot the cause. Attic fans contain automatic switches allowing activation of the fan or timers. Verify whether your fan contains an automatic switch or a timer. Attic fans cool the air in your attic, which cools the air in the entire house. Often attics can build mildew if they do not contain the proper ventilation. Before troubleshooting your fan, you may wish to purchase a voltage tester for checking electricity connections.

Things You'll Need

• Sponge
• Warm water
• Belt
• Voltage tester
• Fan motor
• Fan switch
• Replacement attic fan

Instructions

1. Turn off the power to your attic fan, and wash every part of the fan with warm water and a sponge. Dust often accumulates on attic fans, causing them to malfunction. Allow the fan parts to dry or hand dry with a dry rag and turn the power back on to your attic fan and test it. If the fan does not work, continue to the next step.

2. Check whether the fuse or circuit breaker to your attic fan has blown or tripped. Locate your home's main fuse or breaker box. If you notice that a fuse has blown (the center turns black) or the breaker has tripped, change the fuse with a new one or reset the breaker by pushing it to the “on” position.

3. Turn off the power to the attic fan at the circuit or breaker box. Check whether the fan has broken belts or obstructions. Remove obstructions or replace a broken belt with a new one according to the directions that came with the belt.

4. Disconnect the wires to your attic fan and expose them. Test the wires for activity with your voltage tester. Place the probe of your tester to the end of each wire and notice whether the voltage tester reads activity. If the voltage tester does not show any activity, the wiring to your attic fan has malfunctioned. Call a professional electrician to repair the wiring. If the test shows power, continue to the next step.

5. Test the fan motor and the fan switch with your voltage tester as per step 4. If the fan motor or fan switch does not read activity on your voltage tester, replace it according the manufacture’s directions. If both show activity, continue to the next step.

6. Purchase and install a new fan according to the manufacturer’s directions.

References

• "Ortho’s Home Repair Problem Solver"; Robert J. Beckstrom and Sally W. Smith; 1995