So you’ve settled down on a hot summer day with a good book, a cold glass of lemonade, and a cool breeze blowing through the room from your trusty ceiling fan – but wait. Should it be rocking back and forth like that?
If your ceiling fan is rocking back and forth, it could be due to imbalanced blades, misalignment, or warped and bent blades. Use weight clips to balance the blades and fix the alignment. It could also be loose blade screws or a housing mount, so tighten those screws and install the fan properly.
If you’re having issues with your ceiling fan, this article will help you identify and fix possible causes of the wobbling. However, repairing a fan is not a one-step process, so we’ll also take a look at how to maintain your ceiling fan to avoid future rocking, squeaking, or wobbling.
Contents
6 Reasons Why Your Ceiling Fan is Rocking Back and Forth
Here are some of the reasons why your ceiling fan is rocking back and forth.
1. Imbalanced Ceiling Fan Blades
The most common culprit? Imbalanced ceiling fan blades.
If your ceiling fan blades are not properly balanced or aligned, they will wobble and cause noise. Sometimes, not all blades may have the same weight, and you may notice that one or more are either heavier or lighter than the others.
What to Do
Use a fan blade balancing kit
A balancing kit usually comes with various weights and appropriate balancing clips to ease the weight of the concerned blade, such as the Frienda Ceiling Fan Blade Balancing Kit, which can be purchased on Amazon.com. Simply follow the instructions on the product page to attach the weights.
To test if the weights are working:
- Turn on the fan and let it run through the different speed settings, from low to high.
- Check if the wobbling has stopped.
- Adjust the weights accordingly to find the perfect combination.
Use a penny
Alternatively, you’ll find that many people simply attach a penny on top of the blade. You’ll need to use high-quality adhesive tape to ensure the penny is securely attached to the blades.
For a penny, for a pound, right? So adjust the number of pennies you attach until you find the perfect formula for a wobble-free ceiling fan.
Consider where to best place the weight
You can try out different placements until you find the optimal position to attach your weights.
Here’s how:
- Start in the middle near the base.
- Work your way up, moving the weight clip or penny up towards the ends of the blade.
- Move in increments of an inch or two at a time.
- The best way to determine if you’ve done it right would be to turn on the fan and check if it still wobbles at different speed settings.
While this may seem like a tedious task, it’s important to balance the weight of your fan blades to avoid rocking and increase the longevity of your fan. Why’s that? If your blades are not balanced, there’s an increased likelihood of the motor wearing out faster. Therefore, all blades need to be evenly weighted to balance their rotation.
2. Loose Ceiling Fan Blade Screws
Did you know that your fan blades should ideally have a pitch angle of at least 12 degrees? This is considered the optimal angle for your blades to work better and circulate air more effectively. Anything below that is considered too loose, and anything above will just stir up a dust storm.
If you find that your ceiling fan blades sag, the simple reason could be that the screws have become loose over time. Often, just tightening the screws is enough to stop your fan from rocking back and forth. So check the base of the flywheel where all the blades converge.
What to Do
To tighten the screws, I’m happy to say that no mechanical engineering degree is required. Just grab a screwdriver and secure your ladder in place. You’ll find the said screws at the base of the flywheel.
Make sure to tighten all screws, including the adjusting screws that support and hold the twist-on downrods in place. Once you think you’ve got them all, tighten them once more. You may need to remove the cover or canopy that secures the fan to the ceiling to tighten all the screws.
3. Misaligned Ceiling Fan Blades
What are misaligned fan blades, you ask?
If your fan blades have uneven weight, incorrect angles, and are nearly sagging, you may find that your fan blades are misaligned. How is it different from what we’ve already mentioned?
Uneven weight and loose screws are just two reasons why your blades can be misaligned and why your ceiling fan is rocking back and forth like it’s possessed.
Uneven weight and loose screws are just two reasons why your blades can be misaligned.
There’s also this little matter of an unbalanced center, which is why you have a misaligned fan on your ceiling. The base or the fan where the rotating device is located is considered the center of mass. When this center goes awry, your ceiling fan will rock more than the Beatles or the Rolling Stones ever did.
Why Does This Happen?
The center of the fan is your mounting bracket, where the rotor is located. When it loses its rigidity and becomes loose – either due to daily use or a faulty screw – the center goes off balance and leads to a decompensation. For the layman, this means your fan becomes misaligned and unbalanced.
This theory applies to all fans, not just your ceiling fan.
What to Do
What you can do to stay on top of this situation is regularly check your center of rotation to ensure it’s properly aligned.
You can also check if the blades are aligned and have the correct angles and heights. Here’s how:
- Hold a ruler against the ceiling.
- Align the blades to measure the height from the ceiling to each of the blades.
Remember, the blades are angled as they are naturally slanted, so always check the same edge when measuring.
4. Warped or Bent Ceiling Fan Blades
Sometimes, one or more blades may be slightly bent. Depending on how severe the bending is, this can mean they are damaged or simply deviate a few inches from the correct alignment. Either way, a bent blade will easily cause your ceiling fan to rattle.
What to Do
If they’re just misaligned, you should:
- Check the height of each blade to determine how much they are bent.
- Apply gentle pressure and carefully push or pull the blade to realign it.
Do not push or pull the inner part of the blades near the base. This part is usually attached to a blade holder, and you could damage it while trying to align it.
5. Loose Ceiling Fan Box Mounting
Have you noticed the upper part of the ceiling fan where it is connected – mounted – to the ceiling? Is that where the clattering is coming from? A loose housing mount means your fan hasn’t been installed or mounted properly.
While most blade noises don’t necessarily mean your fan is going to do a swan dive, a loose mount is more than enough cause for concern. So, don’t use a ceiling fan with a faulty or loose mount.
What to Do
The fan is typically mounted to a box; if it’s loose or faulty, it moves. Check if the box in question is the right one for your ceiling fan. Ideally, you shouldn’t be able to move it, but if it’s the wrong type of box, it needs to be replaced, and this may only require a completion of studies as a mechanical engineer (so call a professional).
6. Ceiling Fan Showing Signs of Dirt and Non-Usage
If you haven’t used your ceiling fan for an extended period and haven’t cleaned it, there’s a good chance you’ll find signs of non-usage and accumulated dirt on the surface of the blades.
A poorly maintained fan may make a lot of noise and rattle, yes. But when it’s dirty and grimy, pollutants, dirt, and dust particles circulate in your room.
Luckily, there’s a simple solution: cleaning. Here are some tips you can do:
- Use a pillowcase to cover an entire blade and gently slide the fabric over the blade to remove loose dust. Repeat this step until you’re satisfied you’ve removed as much as possible. If using a duster, remember to lay down some old newspapers to catch the dust. Also, always protect your nose and mouth when dusting.
- Use baby wipes or multipurpose cleaner and wipe off the dirt and grease from the blades and the base and neck of the fan.
- Alternatively, you can use cleaning alcohol and cotton pads for the same effect. Dispose of the dirty swabs and wipes.
Conclusion
Your ceiling fan rocks back and forth due to several reasons, including imbalanced blades, loose screws, and improper installation. But ultimately, keeping your fan clean helps it stay well-oiled – so to speak – and in proper, clean, and appropriate working conditions.
So, you can always repair a wobbly fan yourself if you’re not too confident about the process or fear you might do more harm than good, then have your ceiling fan checked and repaired by an electrician.