A Short List Of Ways On How To Fix A Wobbly Ceiling Fan

Last Updated on October 9, 2021

A ceiling fan usually wobbles while running if it’s not properly balanced, although it can happen due to other causes. However, leaving it in wobbly condition may become dangerous, as it can fall eventually. If you are thinking about “how to fix a wobbly ceiling fan?” then we have some effective troubleshoots for you. You can apply these techniques to make your ceiling fan stop the annoying sound and function properly as it should.

Things To Check When Answering The Question “How To Fix A Wobbly Ceiling Fan?”

Air circulation in a room can be controlled by a ceiling fan quite effectively. When it runs properly, a ceiling fan can reduce the electricity bills of a household significantly. However, as with all electric machines, the ceiling fan may start showing problems after some time; among which, wobbling is a quite common issue. Usually, a ceiling fan wobbles because of two reasons: either its attachment to the ceiling has become unsecured, or the blades of the fan are not balanced. Here are some tips to check out if you are looking for ‘how to fix a wobbly ceiling fan with lights’:

#Tip 1: To Check If The Fan Is Loose

You will need a stepladder and someone to help you fix it if the fan is indeed found loose. Firstly, you will need to switch the fan off. After that, climb up the stepladder and shake the fan gently. If it moves easily, then check the junction box mounted inside the ceiling. The screws connecting the fan and the junction box will be loose. To rectify the problem, you can take the following steps:

• Ask the person with you to climb the stepladder and hold the fan while you remove the screws from the canopy.
• Tighten the screws that keep the ceiling plate on top of the ceiling fan in position with the junction box.
• Reattach the canopy to the fan.
• Power on the fan to see if the wobbling has stopped or not.

#Tip 2: Check The Fan’s Structure

If the main cause of wobbling stems from a structural issue, then it would be imperative to check what’s wrong with the structure. The fan has to be placed and mounted on the right type of ‘ceiling mount’. You will also need to measure and identify the space between ceiling and blade to make sure the distance is not more than 10 or 8 inches. That way, the arms of the ceiling fans would be properly installed as well as secured. Make sure the electrical box can support the weight of the fan and is not just meant for light fixtures.

Check the underside attachment of the fan by loosening the bracket housing. Read the labels on these electrical boxes and find out what’s wrong and what needs to be fixed.

#Tip 3: Check The Arms Of Fan Blade

Just in case the fan is installed in an area with rapid temperature fluctuations as well as high humidity, the blades of the fan can tend to droop a little. Now, this is a significant reason for the fan to wobble and become noisy as well. Make sure you follow these steps to check the stability of your fan arms:

• Fan blades should be examined individually to make sure they aren’t warped.
• If any blade seems to be damaged, make sure you replace it. The arms of the fan should be re-installed and upgraded at regular intervals.
• When you are planning to replace the arms, make sure you choose blades that belong to that particular fan model. In that way, the arms would be similar in terms of width, weight, and length.

Always keep in mind that too heavy blades will either wear out the ceiling fan or put a strain on the motor. If the blades are lighter and short, then they might not circulate the air properly and ultimately fail to serve the prime purpose. Therefore, always make sure to choose blades that match the fan’s measurements.

#Tip 4: To Determine If The Blade(S) Are Unbalanced

Unbalanced blades disturb the weight distribution on the fan, causing it to wobble. The uneven weight spreading also hinders the fan from circulating air properly. You can check whether the blades are unbalanced with the help of ‘a blade balancing kit’ by following the instructions provided by the manufacturer. However, if you do not have a kit, you can still do it with a few household items. Let us explain the method:

• You will need a few clothespins and some coins for it.
• Select one blade of the ceiling fan, and attach a clothespin on its side at a place about halfway from the center of the fan and one end of the blade.
• Turn the fan on at a low speed, and check if it still wobbles.
• If it has stopped wobbling, then that blade is the unbalanced one.
• If the fan still wobbles, continue the process on another blade. You may have to shift the clothespins a little to find the perfect spot on the blade.

To correct the wobbling due to the unbalanced blade, you can either use a blade balancing kit. The manufacturer will provide the necessary instruction along with the kit; you will need to follow it. Otherwise, you can balance the weight of the blade by using coins. Glue the coins on top of the ceiling fan, one by one, and see if the wobbling stops by turning it on and running it at a slow speed. Increase the number of coins or their weight until the ceiling fan stops wobbling.

#Tip 5: Checking Whether The Fan Is Mounted On A “Fan-rated” Box

Electrical installation code requires ceiling fans to be installed on fan-rated boxes. Unfortunately, often the fans are hung from boxes specified for light fixtures, which are not equipped to handle the extra load. This is a reason the ceiling fan may wobble, and after some time, can come hurtling down below.

Check whether the fan is attached to a fan-rated box or not, usually with lag screws on a 2×4 board, or with a variable fan brace. For that, you will have to release the bracket housing and check inside. A fan-rated box will be labeled accordingly, and you will be able to see the hexagonal tops of the lag bolts fixing it to a wooden brace. In some cases, you can see U-bolts fixing it to metal support, which is also OKAY.

After that, you have to check whether the support bracket of the ceiling fan is tough enough or not. Try to move the bracket; if you can do it easily, then it will need to be reinforced. First, try tightening the bolts of the bracket.

If you cannot tighten the bracket, or if the box is not the correct type, set up an adjustable fan brace. You can find it in any shops selling electrical fixtures or at a home center near you.

Conclusion

These are the common tips you can apply to solve the wobbling of your ceiling fan. Hopefully, this information will help you in answering the question “how to fix a wobbly ceiling fan?” and give you the required know-how. Now, if your ceiling fan starts to wobble or have any other problems, you can try to solve them by yourself before calling an electrician. However, you will need to take all the necessary precautions needed before working with an electrical instrument.