How to Repair a Jammed Gable Vent Fan

A gable vent fan is designed especially to keep the attics in the house ventilated. These gable vent fans are extremely efficient, and no action on the part of the homeowners needs to be taken. Gable vent fans are designed so as to remove hot air only from the attic; this ensures that the temperature in the attic remains low. There are some vent fans that can also suck up the heat of the entire house, and exchange it with the cooler air from outside. However, like all household appliances, sometimes it possible that a gable vent fan will get stuck and jammed. To repair a jammed gable vent fan, you may need to do a little troubleshooting. Here’s how to you can proceed:

Step 1 – Check the Ventilation

One of the main reasons why a gable vent fan may get jammed is because the shutter size in the ceiling is not enough. To be able to provide the right kind of attic ventilation, gable vent fans need to be paired up with adequate counter ventilation. Enough windows need to be opened up throughout the house. Get a chair or a ladder to stand on so that you can reach the fan. Now, open the shutter slats carefully. The shutter is regulated by a spring with weights. If the weights are not aligned properly, the shutters become jammed and may not open up. Adjust the weights by inserting the spring and the weights through a different tension hole. The spring will have to be tightened if the shutters are not opening and loosened it if they are not closing.

Step 2 – Check the Fan Blades

The next logical step is to check the fan and see if the fan blades are aligned correctly. There may be a problem with the blades. If the blades are bent or dented, they may be getting caught in the vent. This can cause the fan to be jammed. If the fan blades are bent, you can use a hammer to hammer the blades back to their original shape.

Step 3 – Check the Fan Motor

If the blades are fine, check the motor of the fan. A lot of times, such kind of jamming of gable vent fans can be due to dirt, dust or grime stuck in the motor gears. Switch off the fans first and turn off the power from the main source. Now, using a clean cloth, clean the grime, dust and dirt that may be clogging the gears and jamming them. You should also clean the blades of the fan.

Step 4 – Oil the Fan

It is also important to oil the motor of the fan and the blades regularly to make sure that the motor continues to function properly. The shutters should also be oiled from time to time so that they open and close properly. However, do not oil the parts excessively as that can lead to choking of the machine parts and collection of extra dirt and grime. Doing this regularly should also help keep the fans noiseless and working flawlessly.