Testing An Attic Fan

Switch off the power of the attic fan and remove the power cord.

Testing an attic fan.

Step 1 test the fan motor. Fan motor runs but not the blades if the motor is working but the fan blades are not moving the problem may be the belt. Note down the temperature settings for later reference. One static vent style is the turbine vent which uses wind to power its enclosed fan all it takes is a light breeze to rotate the blades and suck heat out of the attic view example on the home.

If the attic fan is plugged into an outlet use a voltmeter to make sure that the outlet is working. If the fan turns on the motor is still good. Count to three while the leads on the meter charge the capacitor. Also note down the power rating and the fan capacity in cubic feet per minute.

Sometimes you face an issue where the attic fan s motor comes on but the fan blades don t move. Note down the wiring before proceeding to remove it. Place the black probe on the white wire. Locate the thermostat casing and open it using a screwdriver.

They include rafters and ceiling joists that are damp or blackened with mold. If there s a problem with the belt replace it with a new one. Look for movement of the needle on the meter toward infinite ohms. Place the leads of the ohm meter on the wires that run from the capacitor to the motor.

Turn the attic fan off and unplug the motor from the thermostat. The cause of the problem could be the belt. You ll need to take out the outer casing of the fan and look to see if the belt is cracked sagging worn out or broken. Step 2 test the thermostat.

It is preferable to do this test without the moving blade. Inspect the attic if your attic is not sufficiently vented you probably won t have to look very hard to find signs.