A wobbling ceiling fan is loud, unpleasant and, if not fixed promptly, even dangerous. Thankfully, there's no need to call a technician to balance and adjust it; to make it spin smoothly and quietly, all you need is a screwdriver, straightedge, and some lightweight counterweights (such as those included in inexpensive fan kits or coins and clear tape).
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Tighten the Screws
Step 1. Make sure no one can turn on the fan while you are working
Activate the switch and pull the chain that controls the device to make sure the blades don't start spinning even if someone accidentally touches the switch.
If you plan to do some work on the engine or want to be particularly cautious, turn off the main switch so that the room you are in does not receive electricity; however, in this way you may have difficulties when you have to take tests
Step 2. Clean the blades
Dust, dirt and debris accumulate on the surfaces breaking the balance between them, also penetrating the engine and between the cracks, triggering the rocking. Here's how to proceed:
- Take a rag dampened with soapy water and scrub each blade to remove the dust; a drop of dish soap or anti-dust product is sufficient.
- Rinse off the soap and suds with another clean, wet cloth.
- Dry them with a towel or kitchen paper.
Step 3. Inspect and tighten all visible screws
Don't overlook the ones that secure each blade and the connections between the light and the fan. Loose screws on any element allow the components to move independently, causing the structure to oscillate as the blades rotate.
The screws should all be tightened by hand, but without exaggerating; when you feel resistance to twisting, they are closed in the right way
Step 4. Remove the hood located where the fan clicks into the ceiling and tighten any screws you come across
This small hardware secures the device to the house, and if it's loose, swaying could be the least of your problems. Remove the screws, slide the hood down and manually tighten all of the screws that connect the fan to the ceiling to ensure a secure mounting.
Step 5. Inspect the ball hook before re-attaching the hood
This small ball fits into a concave element just as the head of the femur engages in the hip. At the center of it is the fan pin that holds the whole device fixed to the ceiling; make sure the ball hook fits snugly into its housing and doesn't move. When finished, secure the canopy in place.
Step 6. Tighten the vertical bar support screws
They are connected to the top of the motor where the vertical bar (the one that "comes down" from the ceiling) meets the fan body. These are usually 2-3 screws, but they may be covered with a small metal element to make the device more attractive. Simply unscrew or push this cover up and tighten any screws you notice.
Step 7. Run the fan at full speed to make sure it doesn't wobble
Once you've secured all the vane, vertical bar, and mounting screws, do a test to see if the situation has improved. If you don't see any positive results, there is probably a balancing problem or the blades are warped. However, the screw tightening procedure only takes a few minutes and protects against future malfunctions.
Method 2 of 3: Adjust the Height of the Blades
Step 1. Use a step ladder to inspect the blades for deformation
Make sure that your gaze is at the same height as the fan and observe each element. Do you notice a deformed, bent or broken blade? Also look at the support structures - the pieces of metal at the base of each blade - and check that they are not worn or broken. If the mounts or blades are damaged, you should call the manufacturer to order replacement parts.
Step 2. Use a ruler to measure the height of each blade
Hold it against the ceiling and rotate the fan to make sure the outer edge of each element lines up with the line itself. Take note of the height of one shovel and check that the others respect it as well. Keep the measuring tool still all the time, rotating the fan to make sure the distance from the ceiling to each blade is constant.
- Since the blades are usually sloped, be sure to always take the same edge into account; the top corner is usually the reference point that simplifies operations.
- If you don't have a ruler, you can use a plank or a piece of paper. Use a permanent marker to mark a notch at the height of each blade, without moving the measuring tool as you rotate the device.
Step 3. Tighten the screws connecting the shovel hook to the motor
Do this on each low shovel. These small parts may be hidden by a cover or be difficult to reach, but be aware that they are located where the blade hook (the metal element that connects the wooden blade to the fan) engages with the motor. Reach and tighten these screws to raise any shovel too low.
Step 4. Gently fold each hook up or down to align
Do not proceed if it is cracked, otherwise you will break it completely; however, you can apply gentle pressure to bring the shovel to the correct height. Hold the base of the fan with one hand while keeping it still; push the hook up or down gently where it joins the shovel to align it.
Check the height of the blades once again and make sure everything is well aligned. Remember to use the ruler and rotate the fan instead of moving the measuring tool
Step 5. Give it a try
If the sway is gone, it shouldn't recur, unless someone accidentally tilts a shovel. A vertical variation of even just 3mm could trigger a rocking, so check that everything is aligned before moving on to balance.
Method 3 of 3: Balance the Blades
Step 1. Know that the root cause of most swaying is a bad balance between the blades
If there is a weight difference of even half a gram, you may notice a wobble when the fan is spinning at high speed. The origin could be poor installation, wear or simply poor quality blades.
Step 2. Purchase a blade balance kit or make your own
It is simply a series of small counterweights that you can use to allow the device to move smoothly. The counterweights are generally self-adhesive or provided with clips and must be attached to the blades to slightly modify their weight and maintain the balance of the structure.
While these kits are quite inexpensive, you can also use a few pennies to create a set of handcrafted counterweights; however, you have to tape the coins on and off and the process can be quite lengthy
Step 3. Hook the clip counterweights into the center of the shovel at the highest sloped edge
These small weights increase the weight of the blade allowing you to locate the one responsible for the sway. Turn on the fan and see if the rocking has subsided; move the clip to another shovel and test them all until you find the one causing the problem.
- Find the one that reduces the sway the most when the clip is connected.
- To proceed without a specific kit, fix a 5 cent coin in the center of a shovel using adhesive tape; start the fan and observe its behavior. Detach the coin and attach it to another shovel repeating the sequence until you have identified the one responsible.
Step 4. Slide the clip along the blade by testing at each new position
Once you have identified the one that generates the imbalance, move the counterweight upwards by 15 cm and repeat the test. Then fix it near the base and start the fan, taking note of the position that best reduces the problem.
There are applications that help identify the best place to place the counterweight and reduce rocking
Step 5. Secure the final counterweight in place of the clip, in the center of the blade
Once you have found the point that allows you to restore the balance of the device, remove the protective film that covers the back of the ballast and glue it to the blade, aligning it with the clip. Detach the clip and turn the fan on again.
If it starts to sway again, apply a second, smaller weight adjacent to the first to match the weight of the clip
Step 6. Swap the position of the blades if more than one is out of balance and the fan starts wobbling soon after installation
If you can't pinpoint which one is responsible, maybe you have them all wrong. If you have a brand new fan, it is likely that you have connected the blades in the wrong order; it may therefore be sufficient to reverse their position to resolve the issue. Use post-its to label the blades with numbers (1; 2; 3; 4; 5) and swap them by unscrewing them from the support to install them correctly.
- If the fan has 4 blades, reverse the position of two adjacent ones and turn on the fan to observe the result.
- If there are 5 blades, swap the first with the third or the second with the fourth and then repeat the test; it may take 2-3 tries to find the correct order.
Advice
- Other causes of this problem could be loose blade screws, unstable ceiling mounting, or the distance between blade tip and ceiling may not be constant. In addition, the screw that passes through the central pin may not be tightened properly or the blades may all have different inclinations. Controlling these factors is often much more effective than using the counterweight kit.
- If you can't find the shovel responsible for the rocking, some of them may need to be replaced; you can buy them in DIY stores, hardware stores, lumber warehouses and electrical equipment retailers.
