An unstable fan is often louder than a jackhammer and certainly just as annoying, because it is exactly in the room where you are. However, you don't have to put up with it - keep reading this tutorial to learn how to stabilize your wobbly ceiling fan.
Steps
Step 1. Check the blades to make sure there are no accumulations of dust and dirt
It is not so difficult to forget to clean these elements, since they are attached to the ceiling; therefore, over the months or even years, the dust accumulates and its weight unbalances the blades making them sway. Turn off the fan, wait for the blades to stop and clean them of any residue that has settled on the top, side and bottom surfaces. Use any household cleaner.
Turn the appliance on again and check its stability. If it continues to wobble, then one of the blades may be out of alignment
Step 2. Check that the rods are screwed tightly
Look at the flywheel - the part attached to the ceiling - and find where the blades are screwed into the mechanism. Tighten them with a screwdriver if they seem loose.
Alternatively, at this point, you can unscrew and disassemble the blades to clean them better. Dust may have gotten into the cracks between the blades and flywheel, causing them to temporarily misalign. If you notice any loose screws, unscrew them, remove the blades and clean them before reinstalling them safely
Step 3. Measure the alignment of the rods
Take a meter or a ruler and measure the distance between the end of each blade (the point furthest from the flywheel) and the ceiling. Repeat the process for each shovel.
If you notice that some measurements are slightly different from others, then try to gently bend the blade up or down at the level of the arm. Be careful not to break or put pressure on the elements that are attached to the flywheel. Use only the necessary force to realign the blades
Step 4. Ballast the blades with balance clips
You can buy balancing kits for a few euros in hardware stores or DIY stores. Inside this kit there should be some "U" -shaped clips and self-adhesive weights. If the fan swings a lot, you will need to buy more than one kit, but for most cases, one is enough.
Step 5. Put the clips in the center of the shovel
Take a "U" -shaped ballast that you find in the kit and fix it to the center of each rod, then observe if the oscillation decreases when you turn on the fan. Turn off the appliance again and move the clip to another blade, always in the center of the same. Check which of the blades you put the clips on has the greatest influence in reducing sway. This will be the shovel you will need to ballast.
Step 6. Determine the best place to attach the clips
Start from the center and then move them towards the free end of the blade; turn on the fan to monitor the oscillation. Move the fan down or up a few centimeters at a time to understand which position reduces the unbalanced movement of the rod.
Step 7. Ballast the fan
Once you have identified the problematic point, remove the clip and replace it with the self-adhesive weights you find in the kit. You have to fix these elements at the top of the fan. The weights should have a side with a protective film that protects an adhesive surface, thanks to which you can glue them to the appliance.
If the fan still oscillates a little, add another weight to the same blade. If the sway worsens, remove the weight and start the procedure with the clip again to find a better balance point
Advice
- Most fans attached to long rods wobble. Replace the shaft with a shorter one, if possible.
- Very cheap or old fans often sway. If you need to replace yours, make sure the parts are solid so it won't wobble next time.
