When to Replace a Ceiling Fan

Q:  We’ve called two electricians to repair a ceiling fan that stopped working and both declined the job.  What do you recommend we do?

A:  The short answer is that I recommend you buy a new ceiling fan.  You have two things working against you.  First, the cost of labor is such that the ‘effort’ to fix the fan is often more than the cost of the fan itself.  Second, it’s very hard, if not impossible, to find parts if one is able to determine the issue with the fan. 

So, I recommend you have a new fan waiting and call for an install.  If something is quickly identified, like a loose ground wire or wire nut that came off, that can be fixed and you can return the fan.  After no more than 5 minutes of trouble-shooting, simply ask him to replace the fan.