Well, your ceiling fan has been shaking for a while and it has you scratching your head as to how you can fix this problem. Here in this blog, we are going to dive deep and talk about some of the most common problems ceiling fans encounter.
The culprit areas are many, but most problems ultimately stem from that the blades are uneven for one reason or another or there are problems with the base of the fan. The third biggest area is mechanical function of the fan itself.
Check the Individual Ceiling Fan Blades for Unevenness
Stand back and look at your fan. Does it look like it is sitting even and level in the room or does it look like it is slouching or pulling in one direction or another?
Over time, one of the screws that attaches to the motor may have come loose. Do a visual inspection to see if one blade sags more than the others. Then tighten up the loose screw with a screwdriver and see if that balances the fan better. This tip is a pretty simple overlooked thing that is not obvious if it is not pointed out.
Another thing to check the blades for if they are made of wood or a material that flexes, is warping over time. This will most definitely throw a ceiling fan for a spin, literally! If this is indeed the problem, it might be time for a new fan!
Check for Wear on the Washers on the Blades
This is a common problem on some models of fans. If applicable to your model of fan, check the bolts with washers that attach to the fan blade itself. If they are undersized or made of a material that not metal, this may be causing the blades to sag. Take the screws out and replace the cheap washers with some small flat washers that aren't going to bend on all the blades and you might be all fixed up. Ensure that you install the same amount of washers on each blade so that it won't throw the balance of the fan off.
This little trick saved me from buying a whole new fan in my own house as I thought the fan was ready for the dumpster. Sometimes its as simple as replacing the 2 cent washer with a 5 cent washer will make all the difference!
A lot of manufacturers on different products always have that one too cheap of part that they use to save themselves money. But when it comes to the consumer using the product, it becomes apparent that this sometimes causes problems. The washer example here proves that point!
Check the Base of the Fan
Ensure that the rod that the fan hangs from the fan base(if applicable to your fan) is secure and level when the fan is not in motion. There could potentially be a problem with how the fan base is attached to the ceiling causing it to sit not level. If the base is not level to start with, the fan doesn't have a chance to spin evenly right from the get go.
Check all of the connections with a screwdriver to make sure everything is good and tight. All it takes is something to be loose and it will throw the balance of the fan off.
Check the Electrical Box
Another area to check is the electrical box and how it is attached to the ceiling. You might have to take off the base of the fan to check this area. The screws maybe loose or not secured properly. It might be as simple as tightening a screw!
This could potentially be a problem area. If originally in the location where the fan is mounted it used to be a regular light, the box may not be designed to handle the weight of the fan.
A proper mounted fan box installation ten plus years ago would have involved supporting a regular octagon box on 2 sides. One side would have been screwed to the joist structure of the floor or ceiling and the other side would usually been supported by running a 2 by 4 or equivalent across the span of the two joists. This would have helped the electrical box not sag on the ceiling and ensure that it did not pull out under the weight of the fan.
More recently in the Canadian Electrical Code, there are actually electrical boxes that are designed for specifically mounting fans to. Basically they are constructed stronger with more metal compared to a regular box. They are also according to code to be screwed in by use of number 10 screws. This will ensure that the box is not going anywhere! They are meant to be supported on 2 sides as well.
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