You've found the famous Dave's Garden website! Join this friendly global community that shares tips and ideas for home and gardens, along with seeds and plants!
Check out the DG homepage for a brief overview of what you'll find in this gardening mega-site.
Login
If you don't have an account yet, visit the registration page to sign up.
The pull switch on the light that goes with my ceiling fan does not work anymore. The pull chain for the fan works, but not the light to turn on an off. Is there a way to repair just that pull chain or must I replace the entire ceiling fan and light?
Thanks from an electrically challenged individual,
Candee
Most hardware stores have replacement switches for ceiling fans. Figure out which breaker or fuse controls the fan, then you can take out the old one safely and replace it. It's pretty simple, I bet you can find directions on the web
Thanks, but perhaps I wasn't quite clear. The pull switch for the fan works fine, there is a separate pull switch for the light part of the fan and that is what does not work although they are both the same kind of switch.
Gotta figure out which breaker goes to the fan/light also, can work on that.
Thanks
Yes, the hardware store sells replacement light switches specifically for ceiling fans. The dreaded home deepo has an entire rack of all ceiling fan replacement parts right near the new fans, light switches included.
There's a small chance that a wire connection is loose, but it's probably the switch.
WOW, thanks for the post. The same problem happened to me, so let me know how
difficult it was. I was going to remove the switch and try and find it that way at HD..
Believe it or not, still haven't made the repair. We need to take the light kit apart and see if it is a 2 or 3 wire as that makes a difference when purchasing the new pull chain. We work during the day and by the time we get home there is not enough light left in the room to fool with it. On a couple of the past weekends we have been out of town, so are actually hoping that it is light enough in the room this Sat. to take it down and git er done LOL!
I know you would think this a major project and it appears to be turning into one, plus we are not sure which breaker goes to that light and need to figure that out as well.
Will let you know what we find.
Candee
My brother would buy both switches and just return the one he didn't need. O, the cruel irony of not having light to work by when working on a light...might need a work light and extension cord, or maybe a flashlight to look inside the thing to see which switch you need. This 'trick' won't help you this time, but I plug in a boombox or a clock radio to test breakers on outlets, so you can hear when you turn off the right one.
The hardest thing about this repair is working overhead, or getting tired of that and taking the whole thing down
No kidding, I think the working overhead has been the major slowdown on this project. The fan light will be easy to track for power as we'll just hit switches until the light goes out. Problem is if memory serves me the same power shut off will shut off the other outlets available to plug in a work light so will probably have to use the battery flashlight which is right now of course "up at the cabin" LOL.
Every time we are at the cabin and need something, we have one at home and when at home just the reverse, it's up at the cabin.
Do I need to take the entire ceiling fan down (from the ceiling) if I want to replace the pully strings? My fan pully is operable but my light pully is completely gone. Does this require a new replacement from the Depot? I'm not very handy obviously...
Maybe you can slip a connector on the last bead of the beaded pull chain? You have to get up there and see if there's any chain left to connect to, I guess.
We did not take down the entire fan, just the box that is there to get to the wires. Ours has lights - just look there and see if you can see the tiny set screws to remove the box with the wiring, it was a real easy fix. DO make sure you have the power off.
Thanks for the help haighr...I followed your instructions this morning and was able to replace my pull-chain switch. Didn't think I could. You saved me the hassle & expense of a repairman.
