How to Quiet a Loud Ceiling Fan
- 1). Check to see whether excess dust (or dirt) is on the blades of the fan. Excess dust can make the fan out of balance, which causes it to squeak. Clean the blades. A wide variety of brushes are designed specifically to clean ceiling fans.
- 2). Check to see whether any part of the fan has become loose. "All ceiling fans have from 25 to 35 screws,'' according to Ceiling-fans.com. Tighten any loose screws. Many ceiling fans also have a light fixture. Make sure none of the light fixture parts is loose.
- 3). Look to see whether the blades are out alignment. Position the blades so one is pointing straight at you. Look to see whether the blade that is directly across lines up with the one facing you. Rotate the blades and check each one in the same way. If blades do not line up, one of them is probably bent and needs to be replaced.
- 4). Check to see whether the blades are out of balance. When a fan is correctly balanced, there is virtually no wobble at the base where the blades are attached. Blades that are out of balance will make noise. Balance the blades with a balancing kit, available at electrical supply and home improvement stores. A balancing kit has a weighted material that adheres (or clips) to fan blades. Follow the instructions on the kit's package to balance the blades.
- 5). Find out whether the fan is maintenance free or requires occasional lubrication. Most fans do not require maintenance because they lubricate themselves while running. If the fan requires oil, drop four to six drops of light machine oil into the hole atop the motor.