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How to Troubleshoot Harbor Breeze Ceiling Fan Lights

Jack Burton

A ceiling fan properly sized and installed for your home can make a significant difference in your heating and cooling bills. Lowe's Hardware markets a wide variety of ceiling fans -- from plain to exotic -- with its exclusive Harbor Breeze line made by Litex.

A well-maintained ceiling fan cools in summer and warms in winter.

A ceiling fan properly sized and installed for your home can make a significant difference in your heating and cooling bills. Lowe's Hardware markets a wide variety of ceiling fans -- from plain to exotic -- with its exclusive Harbor Breeze line made by Litex. If the fan doesn't work properly, the problem may be electrical or in the motor.

Tip

A pair of helping hands allows you to examine the components while someone else is holding the weight of the unit.

Warning

If you are unsure of your electrical skills, ask someone who knows basic wiring to help you. Electricity is too dangerous to work with if you lack knowledge.

  1. Turn off the fan at the wall switch. Unscrew the fan blades and remove the fan motor from the ceiling bracket to check the wiring connections. Similar-colored wiring should be firmly connected together with a cap seated over the connection to prevent shorting problems. Look for wires that are broken or with missing insulation. Track the wiring through the unit to the lights and examine them the same way. Redo any loose connections and replace any wire that appears bad.

  2. Look over the motor while it's removed. Hold it steady and turn the wall switch back on. A grinding noise may indicate bad bearings or just a need for oil. Find the oil port on your particular model of Harbor Breeze and drop 3 or 4 drops of light machine or sewing oil into it. If the grinding noise persists after a minute, the bearings might be going bad, which requires a complete motor overhaul.

  3. Tug on the bracket to see if it's coming loose from the ceiling support. After several years of use, the screws may be working their way out of the bracket, which can cause the motor to vibrate and make noise.

  4. Fasten the blades back on firmly when re-fixing them to the fan. A loose blade unbalances the shaft, causing vibrations, noise and premature wear and tear on the unit.

The Drip Cap

  • A ceiling fan properly sized and installed for your home can make a significant difference in your heating and cooling bills.
  • Unscrew the fan blades and remove the fan motor from the ceiling bracket to check the wiring connections.
  • Look for wires that are broken or with missing insulation.
  • If the grinding noise persists after a minute, the bearings might be going bad, which requires a complete motor overhaul.