When a ceiling fan doesn’t work at all, be sure it is receiving electrical power from its switch and from the circuit breaker or fuse box. First check the circuit breaker or fuse, then the switch. Here’s how to check the switch:
 
1) Turn off the power to the fan circuit.
 
2) Remove the switch’s cover plate and unscrew the screws that mount the switch to the electrical box.
 
3) Use a voltage tester to check the screw terminals on the side of the switch to make sure they’re not hot (charged) and then gently pull the switch out from the box.
 
4) Unscrew the wires from the two terminals and straighten their ends with pliers.
 
5) Twist the two bare ends together and screw a wire nut onto the twisted pair.
 
6) Turn the circuit back on. If the fan goes on, the switch is bad—just buy a new one and install it. If the fan still doesn’t work, the problem is in the wiring or the fixture.
 
7) Turn off the power to the circuit, reconnect the switch, put the cover plate back on, restore the power to the circuit, and check the fan fixture or call an electrician.