There’s nothing more annoying than the incessant racket that a wobbly ceiling fan creates. Not to mention that it’s scary to even stand near one let alone sit under it.
The conundrum though, is how much of the wobble is a non-matter and what amount of wobble warrants attention or even, are ceiling fans supposed to wobble at all?
In simpler terms, how do you know that it’s time clamber up the ladder and fix things? Well, it’s a tricky question despite being one of the most common situations that homeowners find themselves in.
Ceiling fans generally do wobble and move about slightly, so this is normal and nothing to worry about. The movement may only be noticeable a high or low speeds. However if the wobble is significant you need to get this checked out to prevent any damage, or worse, a falling ceiling fan.
One of the main culprits is the blades being off balance (we’ll address that below) and because of that, any off-balance installation can wear down the motor prematurely, which could cause it to overheat and it’s not great for the lifespan of the bearings either which can be a concern for ceiling fan safety.
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How Much Should A Ceiling Fan Wobble?
The acceptable amount of “wobble” on a ceiling fan is an eight of an inch.
Anything more than this you will need to take a look and diagnose what the issue is. Don’t leave it to see if it gets better on it’s own.
What Causes Ceiling Fans To Wobble? And How To Fix It.
Before you roll up your sleeves and grab the toolkit, it’s important to find out the actual cause of the wobble. Here are some of the probable causes:
Loose screws: The first thing to inspect would be the screws on the blades, motor coupling and light fixtures. While you are at it, give the downrod a quick inspection as well. If there are any loose screws, tighten them.
Debris: Believe it or not, excessive buildup of dir, debris and dust accumulation can cause your fan to vibrate. Wipe it clean and recheck for wobble. Follow our guide on how to clean a ceiling fan for help with this.
The hanger ball: All the weight of the fan rests on the hanger ball which is a round plastic object that is positioned at the top of the downrod. Check if the hanger ball is worn out or it is resting correctly in the mounting bracket.
Outlet box: Check the outlet box attachment to the ceiling or the beam. Make sure all the screws and fixtures are tight and no movement is present.
Warped blades: Grab a ruler and measure the distance between the tip of the blades and the ceiling. Do it for all the blades. Any significant difference in height means that one or more of the blades are warped. Unfortunately, the only solution is to buy a new blade kit. However, ensure that the new kit is brand and model compatible.
Damaged blades: It may not always be easy to see, but if a blade has been damaged, this can upset the balance of the fan. Look for any cracks, chips or dents on the blades when the ceiling fan is turned off. You may be able to rebalance with a kit, but if the damage is bad you may be better of replacing the blade entirely.
How To Install A Ceiling Fan Balancing Kit
If the problem doesn’t seem to be caused due to one of the above reasons, then it may be plain old ‘poor balancing’.
Check the package for a balancing kit. If it’s not included, then you may have to buy one. This one is our recommendation if you do need to purchase one.
The balancing kit comprises of a bunch of temporary and permanent weights which will work as a counterbalance and thereby stop the wobble.
It’s a slightly tedious process though.
You will have to install the temporary weights between the holder and the rear end of each blade and switch on the fan to check if the wobble is reduced or stopped completely.
Once you are able to detect the imbalanced blade, slide the temporary weight clips along the length of the blade to determine the exact position of the instability.
Now, attach the permanent sticky weight on the centerline exactly parallel to the clip. Like we said, there’s a lot of trial and error involved in using a balancing kit. And if you are unsure about it, it’s best that you hire an expert to help you with it.
A balancing kit is usually considered the last resort after all the probable causes that we mentioned have been checked. If the fan continues to wobble after the balancing kit installation, then folks, it’s time for a new fan.
Hopefully you have managed to fix your wobbly ceiling fan with one of our tips – if not and you need to replace your trusty old fan, head over to look at the best ceiling fan brands.
Can A Wobbly Ceiling Fan Fall Off The Ceiling?
Generally, a small amount of wobble is nothing to be too worried about so long as the ceiling fan has been installed and connected correctly, however, if the wobble gets worse over time and becomes violent then yes, it is possible the ceiling fan may fall.
