Use a Fan Balancing Kit Using a ceiling fan balancing kit can make the entire process easier. Attach the plastic clip from the kit to one blade about halfway up its length, then turn on the fan to see if the instability has improved. Turn the fan off. Repeat for each blade until you've located the problem.
A fan can become unbalanced due to dust buildup on the blades, physical damage (like a bent blade), or worn-out bearings. Another possibility is a loose mounting, which can shift over time. Regular cleaning and maintenance can help prevent these issues.
Most fans come with a balancing kit. This consists of a little plastic clip on weight and a couple of stick on metal bits. The idea is to slip the plastic weight to the end of a fan blade and try the fan. It could be better or worse. Continue around each of the blades until the thing runs smoothly.
Misaligned Blades
Blade misalignment means one or more of your blades are spinning at a different height than the other. The draft from the misalignment of blades distorts the airflow and wobbles the blades. Prolonged misalignment can cause the blade screws to loosen and the blade holders to warp.
How much does it cost to balance a ceiling fan? Nationally, the cost to have a professional balance a ceiling fan is between $90 – $150. If you choose to balance the fan yourself, check to see if you still have the balancing kit that likely came with the original ceiling fan.
Wobbling will not cause the fan to fall, and there have been no such reports. Wobbling can, however, cause light fixture covers or shades to loosen and potentially fall. These items should be securely attached, with all screws tightly set in place.
If your fan blades are not installed correctly or are not balanced evenly, they may experience uneven wear and tear, leading to sagging over time. Likewise, if the screws that hold your ceiling fan blade up are loose, the blades will appear droopy.
This can also happen if the blade itself is out of balance. Try removing the blade and running the fan motor without the blade to see if the motor shaft wobbles when running. If it does, the motor shaft may be bent. If it does not, the blade may be out of balance.
Whether the blades aren't spinning or the fan is making tons of noise, most issues with an electric fan are caused by poor lubrication or blockages in the vents. To solve most problems with an electric fan, disassemble the fan, lubricate the central pin and bearings, and clean out the vent and motor case.
You may be able to fix the existing blade with a good adhesive or even a two-part epoxy if the break is just a chip or crack. However, if it's corroded or broken, you'll need to buy a new fan blade. You will need one that matches the size and design of the others.
Tape a dime to the middle of each blade and, one at a time, crank the fan up to high. Eventually you'll pinpoint the one whose wobble begins to weaken. Then move the coin up and down the blade, trying heavier coins if you need to, until you find the perfect balance.
Run your fan and observe the wobble. Stop the fan and move the clip to the next blade. Repeat this process on all of the fan blades to locate the blade responsible for the wobbling. Once the problem fan blade is identified, slide the clip up or down the edge of the blade to fine tune the balance.
Unbalance in a plane or static unbalance can be verified by having the fan idle, by disconnecting it from the motor and rotating the fan to see if it has a fixed idle position. If the fan performs a counter-rotation to go back to its idle position, it is showing unbalance.
However, if your ceiling fan is wobbling excessively or shaking, it might be due to a balancing issue. Ceiling fans can wobble if the fan blades or blade holders are imbalanced or misaligned, or if dust and dirt have accumulated atop the blades.
Therefore, the fan uses about 360 kWh per month in the ON mode. The average kWh in the US costs about $0.12 so it costs about $43 per month, or about $520 per year, to run a fan continuously.
As for fans actually falling off the ceiling because of extreme wobble, this is not likely. Fans can fall, but that is simply because they haven't been mounted properly. Wobbling fans look alarming, but don't fall because of the wobble. Bits may come off, such as the light cover, but the fan itself will stay put.