How to Balance a Ceiling Fan
Compared to regular electric fans, ceiling fans are preferred by many people because of better air distribution and their stylish look. It’s nice to walk in and turn on your ceiling fan to cool the room, but sometimes, what you get is a lot of creaking and wobbling. You need to balance your ceiling fan, and here’s how to do it.
Signs Of An Unbalanced Ceiling Fan
If a ceiling fan is unbalanced, it will lead to early deterioration of the machine. The airflow is not only reduced, but the internal motor also becomes worn and torn. Some signs of a faulty, unbalanced ceiling fan are:
Excessive vibrations.
Very noticeable amount of wobbling.
The fan blades shake more pronouncedly.
The fan emits a high noise when it spins.
Primary Inspection
Check for obvious signs that might point out the exact cause for the fan’s wobbly motion. There might be foreign bodies jammed between the motor or the fan blades.
Check the blades themselves. See if any of them are broken or loose. If you see loose screws, tighten them. The broken ones must be replaced.
Examine the size, length, material and thickness of the fan blades. These should have the same dimensions for them to work properly.
A fan that whirs unusually should have its belt and motor examined. See if there are debris or loose bearings that obstruct the motor’s normal motion.
Check the belt and see if it’s worn out. Replace it, if needed.
When you’ve tried all of these tactics and the fan continues to wobble, it’s time for you to use a balancing kit.
Steps When Using A Balancing Kit
Balancing kits are provided by the manufacturer when you purchase your new set. If you don’t have one, just buy it from a home décor store or hardware. This usually comes with balancing weights and balancing clips. Here’s how to use it.
Turn the ceiling fan on, and operate it at different speeds, See at which speed it wobbles the most.
Carefully attach the balancing clip on one of the fan’s blades, making sure it’s approximately at the blade’s center. Run the fan at an earlier speed, and see if there’s any change in the wobbling.
If there’s no change, attach the clip in the same way, but on an adjacent fan blade. Repeat the process. Keep switching the blades, until you get to a point where the wobbling stops completely. This helps you see which blade causes the trouble.
Take the balancing clip from the blade, and attach one of the weights in its place, beginning with the lightest one. Run the fan again, then see if the blade still wobbles.
If it still is, take the balancing weight, then attach a heavier type in its place. Repeat this, with different sizes, if the wobbling doesn’t cease. Make sure the weight is glued on the blade properly, otherwise it might slip while the fan runs.
No one likes their ceiling fan to perform poorly. Just follow these easy steps and yours will work just fine.