Why is the blower not working on my electric fireplace? 

The fan kits and blowers of most electric fireplaces are reliable and well-built. Nonetheless, they still encounter various problems that prevent them from working properly. Consequently, the blower will stop circulating heated air in the room, which can be very frustrating, especially during the cold winter months. Don’t worry though! In this article, we’ll look at some of the common causes of electric fireplace blower failure. That way, you can easily troubleshoot and fix the issue of the blower not working on your electric fireplace! 

Common causes of blower not working on an electric fireplace 

Several issues may be stopping your electric fireplace’s blower from working. The most common ones are; 

• Dust & debris build-up 

The most common reason for the blower on your electric fireplace to stop working is dust and debris build up around the motor or fan. Also, other debris like lint and pet hair can accumulate on the fan bearings over time, reducing the blower’s efficiency and causing it to stop working altogether. 

To unclog the blower, use compressed air or a vacuum to clean the fan and bearings. This will get rid of any dirt and dust on the fan and blower, allowing it to work at the correct speed. 

• Faulty motor 

Apart from dust build-up, the fan motor can wear out over time or stop working because of a lack of maintenance. For that reason, it’s good to lubricate the bearings with an appropriate lubricant like WD40 from time to time to keep them working properly. 

• Blown fuse 

If your electric fireplace has an inbuilt heater, the fuse can get blown by an electrical surge or a malfunction in its heating elements. As a result, the blower/ fan will stop working. 

• Thermostat problems 

Similar to the problems we’ve mentioned above, a faulty electric fireplace thermostat will prevent the blower/ fan from turning on even if the heating element is working. 

• Control module issues 

The control model is responsible for regulating the operation of the heating element and fan. Therefore, if it becomes faulty and stops working, the blower fan will also stop working. 

• Wiring issues 

As you would expect, frayed or loose wires and power cables will prevent the blower from receiving the power it requires. 

• Broken Fan Switch 

Lastly, if the switch that controls the blower’s operation is broken, the fan will not work! 

How to determine if the electric fireplace blower is working or not.

The easiest ways to determine if the blower in your electric fireplace is working include; 

• Measuring the voltage at the blower with a multimeter. If there is no voltage, the fireplace blower isn’t working. 
• Putting your hand near the inlet vents to determine if the air is flowing into the heating element. 
• Listening for a noise that is produced by a running blower. 

How to troubleshoot a faulty blower on your electric fireplace 

First of all, electric fireplace blowers do not switch on and off like light bulbs. Instead, they take about 10 minutes to turn on or off fully. Therefore, if the blower in your electric fireplace shuts off immediately or doesn’t turn back on, you should look out for the potential issues I’ve mentioned above. 

Alternatively, you can follow these step-by-step instructions to troubleshooting why the blower on your electric fireplace isn’t working; 

Step 1: Check the power connection 

Since the blower requires constant power to function properly, the electric fireplace must be plugged into a functional electric outlet. So, if the blower has instantly stopped working, the first step should be to test whether the outlet has power using an outlet or circuit tester. Alternatively, you can plug in another appliance like a corded lamp, phone charger, or hair dryer into the outlet to see if it works. 

If the outlet has power, you can move on to the next step. However, if it doesn’t have power, you need to determine why or connect your fireplace to another outlet that is working. 

Step 2: Check the wiring 

After confirming there is power in the electric outlet, unplug the unit and inspect its wiring harness. Check for disconnected/ loose wires as well as any signs of wire fraying, fatigue, or corrosion. 

Step 3: Inspect the blower kit accessories 

The blower kit’s accessories such as a timer, a thermostat switch, and a variable speed controller are usually wired inline with the blower. Therefore, if any one of them fails, the entire kit will stop working. Luckily, you can test each accessory by directly bypassing it with a short jumper wire to re-complete the circuit. However, if you’re not comfortable doing this, you should contact a professional technician. 

Step 4: Check the blower 

If the accessories, wiring, and electrical outlet are working properly, the last step is to check if the blower is defective and replace it. However, if the blower is spinning, but making grinding/ mechanical noises, the motor can also be defective. In addition, you should ensure that the blower is cleaned properly to get rid of any obstructions as well as dirt and dust build-up.   

How long does an electric fireplace blower take to turn on & off? 

Generally speaking, an electric fireplace takes about 10 to 15 minutes to turn on. However, the exact duration can vary based on different factors like the model of the blower and the type of electric fireplace. Also, the time will depend on the room size, the blower’s speed & efficiency, and the heat output of the electric fireplace. 

All in all, most fireplace blowers turn off shortly after switching off the fireplace and turn it on within a few minutes of turning on the fireplace. Moreover, some fireplace blowers have thermostats and other controls that allow users to adjust the timing and speed of the blower, affecting how much the blower takes to turn on and off. 

Conclusion 

In most cases, fixing the issue of an electric fireplace blower not working is relatively easy. However, if you’re unable to troubleshoot and fix the problem, I’d recommend you contact a professional to inspect and fix your electric fireplace.