A ceiling fan is a great addition to any home. They provide an extra layer of cooling in the summer and are a good alternative to the air conditioner. But bit problematic when it disturbs the unpleasant noise. But how to fix ceiling fan making a clicking noise. Few Tips to follow
- Clean The Fan
- Wiggle All The Blades And Tighten Them
- Check the Attached Lighting For Loose Screws
- Inspect The Screws That Connect The Fan To Your Ceiling Mount
- Rebalance Your Fan Blades
- Examine The Fan Canopy
- Lubricate The Crucial Part
- Call A Professional
A rightly installed fan with regular maintenance over time ought not to make these noises. So, the ways we are going to discuss with you address these two issues firsthand.
Table of Contents
Ways To Fix A Ceiling Fan Making Clicking, Grinding Or Rattling Noises.
Before you fix your fan, make sure that the power is turned off. Don’t grab the fan when it is slowing down.
Spinning blades are extremely dangerous and may cause injury. You also risk falling off from a raised position which may lead to disastrous situations.
Clean The Fan
Clean the fan blades by wiping them with a damp cloth and dry them off. Make sure that you don’t use any form of detergents or cleaners as these may damage the fan.
If there is dirt, debris, or other substances on your fan blades, using a microfiber towel can do the job. Afterward, use an all-purpose cleaner to easily wipe down all of the blades.
Cleaning the fan blades can reduce the noise significantly, as more often than not dust is the reason for your ceiling fan’s squeaking.
Alternatively, you can try using compressed air which will blow away dust particles from between each blade so they are less likely to stick together when the fan turns on next time.
Tackle any fan blade that is bent in an odd way or if it’s not rotating as fast as its other counterparts should ideally do. You may need to use pliers to gently bend them back into place so they can spin freely again. When you’re cleaning the blades, be gentle so as not to misbalance them.
Use a microfiber towel, or something similar to clean the blades. In order to do so, your towel should be dry. Use a ladder to reach the ceiling fan
Wiggle All The Blades And Tighten Them
Now, once you have finished dusting the fan blades and making sure they are tight, it is time to inspect the blades for loose screws or other signs of damage.
Wiggle all the fan blades to see if they are loose or not. Mostly the noise is coming from loosened blades. Unsteady blades can wiggle from side to side to up and down and make all types of noises (especially clicking). Tighten them by using a screwdriver and inserting it into each blade’s center hole on both sides of the fan, then tighten with your hand until snug.
Misaligned fan blades can also cause a fan to make noise, so give the fan blade assembly one last check before moving on. If it’s still making grinding noises there is likely an issue with the motor or other component inside that needs professional attention.
Check Attached Lighting For Loose Screws
Now, if your fan blades and motor are in good shape but you’re still hearing an odd noise when the fan turns on, it could be coming from the light kit.
Most fans these days come with a light bulb installed . Unpleasant squeaking noise coming from the blades of a ceiling fan can be fixed with proper maintenance.
In order to fix your clicking ceiling fan, you need to tighten the screws that attached it to the ceiling.
First, check to see that all of the screws are tight around the globe at the top of the fan’s housing (these attach everything together).
Next, remove both globes from their sockets inside the fan by unscrewing them with a screwdriver or pliers.
If they look clean while inspecting them closely then reattach them back into place securely.
You should turn off the power before doing this step so as not to risk touching live wires.
Inspect The Screws That Connect The Fan To Your Ceiling Mount
The noise coming from your ceiling fan could be due to a faulty mount that needs tightening. The moveable attachment which attaches the wiring and connects to the body of the fan is what causes this noise – it keeps slipping out or wobbling loose.
The rattling sound is often caused by missing screws or loose screws. Once you fix this you can be on your way, which is a relief!
Rebalance Your Fan Blades
This can be a pretty tough fix and should probably only be attempted if you are comfortable with working on the blades.
There is a balancing clip that you can place between the base and tip of the fan blade. You will have to adjust the blades afterward.
Turn on your ceiling fan to see if it acts up. Try the same procedure for each of the fan blades, and one blade will need balancing.
Examine The Fan Canopy
Another fan problem that can cause a clicking noise is an issue with the fan canopy.
If your fan has a solid, dome-shaped base where you see light coming out of it, and one or more blades beneath it on top of that which rotate around together; then this section may be responsible for any clicks coming from the motor.
Whether there are screws holding in place or not, to examine this area make sure to unscrew them first before removing the cover entirely.
Do so by inspecting the backside of the fan’s housing once again for loose screws and making sure they’re tight if found (the only difference being that these will need to be done manually). If everything looks good here as well – just reattach.
Lubricate The Crucial Part
Use some silicone lubricant as directed on the backside of this fan’s motor. It will make sure that any rubbing parts inside are well-lubricated so they don’t grind against each other when turned on again.
You should apply light pressure and work in small circles to ensure contact anywhere needed; then wait about 30 minutes before using the fan with hopes that it runs smoothly without grinding at all.
Call A Professional
If you’ve tried all of these methods and your fan is still making a clicking noise, it may be time to get professional help. Call an electrician who can try opening the housing with specialized tools or come by for a free inspection (as most fan repairmen offer).
The issue may not be due to the fan blades but might have something to do with the structure of the fan. If you’ve already made adjustments that involve cleaning and readjusting the blades, then you should contact a professional.
Calling an electrician who specializes in ceiling fans may be more expensive, but when failures occur, it isn’t wise to ignore them for too long.
Alternatively, you can simply replace the fan with a new one.
Final Words On Fan Making Clicking Noise
Ceiling fan making a clicking noise? Make them quiet again with these easy methods. It’s ok when there are every once in a while but if they become too loud or happen often enough, do something about it before the damage gets worse.
There are many ways to repair your ceiling fan by cleaning blades, wiggling or tightening blades, lubricating fan blade screws (and checking the canopy), and inspecting the fan motor, fan blades, and light kit. And if nothing works, you would have to replace the fan with a new one.
The steps in this article will fix your fan making clicking noise without having to call in professionals or spend too much money on it.