Have you ever noticed a strange rattling or clicking sound from your fan?
Ceiling fans are an essential addition to any home or apartment but when it malfunctions, it can be a bit tricky to figure out the source of the issue.
You will have to learn about what could go wrong that could lead to the noises and how to fix it.
There could be many problems like wires coming in contact with the motor, loose blades, loose screws, off-balance blades, requiring lubrication, that can cause your fan to produce annoying noises that can eventually lead to bigger problems if not attended to at the right time.
Some of these problems can be easily fixed within a very short time but some others may require more time as well outside help.
Why does the ceiling fan make clicking noise?
We all know that noisy ceiling fans can be very annoying and to repair it on your own properly, you will need to identify what is wrong with your ceiling fan in the first place.
- The fan blades may not be in the correct position. It may be curved upwards or downwards hence making the fan out of balance or wobble while producing a bad noise
- The greasing in the motor or the lubrication has decreased creating a very annoying grinding noise
- A certain part of the fan is loose
- The down switch of your fan has been misplaced from the mountain bracket
- The fan blades have accumulated dust or dirt inside them
- Some wires will be coming in contact with the motor
These might be some of the problems but we will tell you how to fix them easily by yourself.
Is it okay for a ceiling fan to wobble and how do you balance it?
It is not ok for a ceiling fan to be noticeably wobbly. A slight wobble is expected as ceiling fans due to their blade’s fast rotation on the highest setting causes some force. Any noticeable shakiness usually means that it needs repair immediately and can be a potential hazard.
The most common causes for a fan to be off-balance are loose screws somewhere. To understand the problem properly, you have to take a look at all the parts of the blades and the motor of the fan.
There could be screws that appear to be loose or other parts that are malfunctioning or any such problems. Check the screws in the mounting brackets and tighten them with a screwdriver if required.
Check if the fan is still wobbling and you can use the measuring tape to measure the distance from the top of the fans played from the ceiling to see if they have warped a bent or you can simply take a close look to see if the blades are hanging lower than the others.
You can also buy a blade balancing kit for your ceiling fan from any hardware store to fix the blades. However, you may need to change the blades or any parts if you see that they cannot be repaired.
How to quiet a ceiling fan making clicking noise?
First of all, you need to turn off your fan before trying to do anything with it. The blades can be very dangerous while turned on and can cause harm if you try to touch them. Wait until the fan completely stops and then carry on with your work.
- Clean the blades
Clean your fan from time to time as the accumulation of dust can often cause the clicking noise to be produced and cleaning it helps reduce the noise.
Be careful not to make them imbalanced by putting a lot of pressure while cleaning the blades. Use a soft cloth or a micro towel to clean all the dust and then step down and turn the fan on. If the dirt was the cause of the noise, the clean blades will solve them.
- Make sure the bulbs are properly screwed
Many ceiling fans nowadays have light bulbs attached to them. Some screws are used to attach bulbs to the fan. Check if all the screws attaching the bulb are well screwed as even one loose screw can produce noise.
The problem can be that the bulbs have become loose or they were not fixed properly, either way, it can produce some noise to ensure that they are all firm and well-fixed all the time.
Tighten the screws and turn on the fan to see if that makes any difference. If the noise has reduced, the source of it all was the screws.
- Check the fan canopy
The fan canopy is the part that is located at the very top of your fan against the ceiling. Sometimes this can also be the cause of your noise during operation.
You can use a ladder or a step tool to check the fan canopy by trying to wiggle it a little with your hand and if there is any movement, it may need to be tightened.
Now, look for fasteners around the fan canopy and if the fasteners hold the canopy in place, use a screwdriver to tighten them a little. Tighten the fan canopy itself by hand and then check your phone by turning it on after tightening it. If the noise was caused by any loose components inside the fan canopy or the canopy itself, the noise will have subsided.
- Wiggle and tighten each blade
Sometimes loose blades can also produce noises. They move from one side to another while spinning.
Make sure that all the blades are well tightened and if not you can use a screwdriver to tighten them. Keep checking the blades after some weeks to see if they are in the right position or not. Service your fan regularly to make sure it is in good condition.
- Balance the blades
Some fans may be defectively constructed by using cheap materials for the blades, hence leading to wobbling of your fan.
If the blades of the fan are not balanced, the fan may shake when it rotates. It can give you an impression of falling at any moment which can eventually occur and be very hazardous.
To fix it, you can purchase a balancing toolset or follow the instructions on the manual to fix the weights on each of the blades and you can do it with very little effort.
- Ensure the fan is well lubricated
The fan motors are lubricated to avoid friction which is caused by the constant spinning and regular use of the fan. Excess friction can lead to wear and tear.
As time goes by, lubrication oil keeps depleting on the motor. This causes squeaking noises or clicking noises that can be very unpleasant at times. Some parts of the fan may even get rusted after some period of use.
This can cause the fan to spin with a lot of difficulties and that causes sounds. Apply some drops of lubricating oil on the main shaft above the motor and ensure the oil gets into the bearings.
Rotate the motor a little to distribute the oil evenly. You may also require to remove the entire fan or some part from the ceiling for you to apply the oil.
- Check the pull chain
Many conventional ceiling fan models come with a pull chain. These chains are usually fixed away from any rotating parts. But sometimes, they can produce a very annoying noise.
Put the fan is at its highest setting and check the pull chain. It shouldn’t be hitting any parts of the blades or the light fixtures. However, if it is swinging that means that the blades are not perfectly balanced.
You can shorten the chain if the blades are in the correct position because it only needs to be long enough for convenient access.
- Wires coming in contact with a motor
The connections of the wires in the ceiling fans can sometimes be exposed to its motor.
Plus, in flush-mounted fans, this is especially common. There are small wires which are supposed to be tucked properly between the electrical box and the hanging bracket but if not, they can cause a clicking sound when they hit the top of the fan’s motor or screws.
Every time the blades rotate, the ticking sound will continue. Remove all of the screws and blades from the fan’s motor and then remove the decorative motor cover from the fan.
You will be able to see the area on top of the motor and any electrical wiring that is making contact with it. If the wiring is too close or directly in contact with a motor, tuck it between the ceiling and the hanging bracket, away from the fan’s motor.
- Hire a professional
If you see that none of the above techniques is working, you might need to contact a professional to check out your fan. A qualified professional will be able to tell you the exact problem and how to fix it and if not fixable, advise you to invest in a new one.
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Conclusion
These are some of the best methods to fix the clicking sound of the ceiling fans.
A ceiling fan is an essential component in our day-to-day life that requires proper maintenance and cleaning. If we take care of its engine properly, the lifetime of the appliance increases automatically.
Cleaning the dust from the fan blades regularly can prevent the clogging of dirt and causing any trouble.
One of the most important factors in fixing your ceiling fan is your safety. Unplug the fan and cut off any electricity while you are working and make sure that you do not touch any electrical appliances with wet hands.