My ceiling fan smells burning. Where does the burning smell come from and what should I do about it?

If the fan smells burning, it is usually best to unplug it and not use it for now. A burning smell coming from the fan usually indicates that there is a fault within the wiring or within the motor.

One thing you may notice about the fan is that it may be wobbling. Check to see if the burning smell is coming from the engine. If the odor is coming from the motor and the fan is wobbling or not working properly, it could be a fault in one of the motor’s windings. The motor may need to be replaced. You can repair the engine, but be very careful, you must know what you are doing. And the motor may hold some charge if there are also capacitors in the motor, be sure not to touch them with your screwdriver as it may discharge them into your body.

Another place a burning smell can come from is in your wall wiring. If the smell is coming from inside the wall or from other components of your fan, be sure to turn the fan off immediately. If the smell is coming from inside the wall, it could mean that some of the wiring is getting too hot and catching fire. This can happen if there is too much power on an old line. You may have really old wiring in your house, which can also make this happen with any appliance, not just a fan. Sometimes houses may have old aluminum or other wiring.

Other times, the burning smell can only appear if you change the ceiling fan to higher speeds or use a certain light kit. This can also happen. Your motor has different coils that power different things, so it is possible that one coil has gone out. This would cause the fan to malfunction on some things, but would still work fine on others. Most of the time, replacing the motor (if the odor is isolated from the motor) can solve the problem.

It’s usually not a good idea to run the fan when it emits odors, so turn it off for now anyway until you have time to look at it.