Balancing a Wobbly or Noisy Ceiling Fan - The Essential Guide

A high-speed wobbly ceiling fan will strike fear in the heart of anyone standing under it or even near it. An unbalanced fan could also end up with damage to the motor’s bearing and bushings. This could lead to an irritating unnecessary fan noise. Below we will teach you how to balance a ceiling fan and put an end to your wobbly woes.

Don’t forget, anytime you work on ceiling fans be sure to turn the fan's power off at the breaker.

Best Methods to Balance a Ceiling Fan

• Cleaning and tightening all screws on your ceiling fan.
• Using a ceiling fan balancing kit.

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How to Balance a Ceiling Fan ‐ Basic Steps

First, make sure dirt hasn’t accumulated on the fan causing things to loosen and start to shake. Clean your fan using our How to Clean Your Ceiling Fan guide. You also want to check your blades to ensure none of them are uneven or warped. If your blades have begun to warp you will want to replace them. You can find most blades on our ceiling fan blade accessories page. Make sure your new blades are made by the same manufacturer as your ceiling fan. It is best for all ceiling fan blades to be at the same height from the ceiling. A single uneven blade could lead to an unbalanced fan. This could eventually cause damage to your fan. If these basic cures don't work, it’s time to get serious. Learn how to balance a ceiling fan with these six foolproof steps.

Materials

• Tape Measure
• Step Ladder
• Screwdriver

Product Used

We used a Minka Aire Ceiling Fan for this video/these images.

How to Balance a Ceiling Fan
in Six Foolproof Steps

Step 1. Loosen the screws on the canopy cover. Slide the canopy down to expose the mounting bracket.

Step 2. Tighten screws on the mounting bracket and outlet box.

Step 3. Tighten screws on the downrod and verify all pins are firmly in place.

Step 4. Secure fan blades to blade holders. Secure blade holders to the motor housing. Adjust bent blade holders by gently pressing up or down on the bracket.

Step5. Measure the distance from the tip of each blade to the ceiling. All blades should have the same vertical distance from the ceiling. Adjust any bent blade holders until all blades are at an equal distance from the ceiling.

Step 6. Turn on the ceiling fan and confirm wobbling has stopped.

If wobbling persists, you may need a blade balancing kit to stabilize the ceiling fan. Learn how to balance a ceiling fan using a ceiling fan balancing kit.

How to Use a Ceiling Fan Balancing Kit

Before breaking out your ceiling fan balance kit, first, make sure you've solved the problem causing your fans blades to become unbalance. Use the checklist below before getting started on this project.

• You have cleaned your ceiling fan and ruled dirt out as the wobbling culprit.
• You've secured and tightened all the screws on your ceiling fan's motor and blades.
• You've made sure none of your blades are warped or tarnished.

Now you're ready to get started with your balancing kit to restore the fan's stability. A blade balancing kit consists of a plastic clip and three balancing weights. Most new fans include a balancing kit; however, a ceiling fan balancing kit may be purchased for a low price.

See Del Mar Fans and Lighting's selection of ceiling fan accessories to purchase a blade balancing kit.

Hi, I'm Colby with Del Mar Fans & Lighting and I'm here to talk to you about using a ceiling fan blade balancing kit.

Use a ceiling fan blade balancing kit as a last resort. If your ceiling fan wobbles head over to our How To Fix A Wobbly Ceiling Fan video and try those methods.

After trying those methods if your ceiling fan still wobbles then continue watching this video on how to use a blade balancing kit.

First, identify the fan speed that causes your fan to wobble the most. This is typically the highest speed. You'll use this speed when testing the clip. You're going to need a ladder and a blade balancing kit.

If you don't have a blade balancing kit then you can click the link above and purchase one from us.

Let's get started. Turn off your ceiling fan and place the balancing clip on the rear edge of your blade between the holder and the tip. Turn on the fan to determine if the wobbling had improved or worsened.

If there is no improvement, turn off your fan and move the clip onto the next blade. Then turn the fan back on and see if this is the blade that is unbalanced and if it isn't, repeat on all your blades until you find the one that is unbalanced.

That's still not it.

We've identified the unbalanced blade. With the clip on this blade the fan wobbles the least.

Now find the exact location of where to place the sticky weight by moving the clip up or down the blade based on how balanced it is when you turn it back on high speed. Press a balancing weight on the blade center line directly in line with the clip. Press the weight firmly to ensure it attaches. Then remove the plastic clip. Turn your fan back on to the highest speed and confirm that it's balanced.

This one looks pretty good. Leave a comment below and let us know what you thought of our fan blade balancing kit video. Thanks for joining me here at Del Mar Fans & Lighting. Bye.

How To Use A Ceiling Fan Balancing Kit

Step 1. Identify the speed that causes the most wobbling. Typically, the highest speed produces instability. Turn fan off and wait for the blades to stop.

Step 2. Place the plastic clip on the edge of the blade, halfway between the blade holder and the blade tip. Turn fan on and determine improvement.

Step 3. If there is no improvement, turn off the fan again. Slide the clip along the length of the blade to locate the source of instability. Repeat for all blades.

Step 4. Once you've found the faulty blade, press a balancing weight on the centerline. The weight should be parallel to the clip.

If a ceiling fan balancing kit does not solve your wobbly woes, verify the outlet box used to install the ceiling fan is rated for fans only and is capable of withstanding the fan's weight. In addition, determine that the outlet box is firmly attached to the ceiling joists. You may contact a licensed electrician to review the installation. If all of these options fail and you've decided it's time for a new ceiling fan, view our How to Buy a Ceiling Fan guide to help find the perfect fan for you.

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