How to Fix a Noisy Ceiling Fan to Keep Your Sanity

One minute, you're relaxing underneath the gentle breeze of your ceiling fan. The next, you're trying to ignore the pesky, repetitive click you hear every time the blades spin.

A fan should be a source of comfort and convenience in your home, never annoyance. Thankfully, there are a few steps you can take to help eliminate the distraction.

Today, we're discussing how to silence a noisy ceiling fan, so you can get back to enjoying yours as intended!

Check the Blades

Is your ceiling fan making noise? 

If so, check the fan blade connections.

There are screws that connect the blades to the blade irons. If these come loose, they can create an aggravating, intermittent ticking sound. In the fan industry, this is known as a "blade tick".

The same applies to the screws that connect the blades to the fan motor. If these become loose, a ticking noise can also occur.

While you're inspecting your fan connections, inspect the blades for proper positioning. Do any look warped, damaged, or off-kilter? If so, this can also cause your blades to become shaky and loud.

If one is hanging lower than the rest, you can try tightening it. If the damage is cosmetic or unrepairable, you can contact the manufacturer or check online to find an exact replacement. 

Inspect the Mount and Downrod

At first glance, it might seem like your blades are wobbly. Yet, if they appear to be intact, it's time to check your mounting bracket. 

Any time this becomes loose, it creates a safety hazard. You'll need to check both the ceiling mount, as well as the downrod connections. If your fan is a low-profile model, you'll only have the ceiling connection to check.

To thoroughly check these components, you may have to remove the fan blades, along with the motor and lighting accessories. Along the way, if you notice severe damage, the repairs might be beyond your capacity. In this case, contact a licensed electrician to assess the issue and repair it instead.

Adjust the Motor Housing

Does the sound seem to be intermittent, occurring every so often? Or, does it sound more like a scraping noise? 

If so, check the motor housing. This is the decorative outer casing that houses the mechanical fan motor. 

When blades scrape, it can be attributed to the motor becoming slightly dislodged, pushed closer to one side of the motor housing than the other. In most cases, this occurs during the shipping process, and not during normal wear. Fixing it is usually as simple as putting one hand on the side off the motor housing opposite of where the scrape is occurring, and putting your other hand on a solid area below the blades, on the side where the two parts are scraping; then simply pull with the one hand and push with the other to align the motor back to the center so that it no longer scrapes.

In addition, it's also a good idea to double-check the blade bracket screws to make sure they're properly fastened, too. If they become loose, they can start to rub against the motor cover, which can create noise.

Tighten the Light Fixture

Does your ceiling fan have a light fixture attached? These models are especially popular and ultra-efficient, delivering air circulation and room illumination. 

Yet, these have extra parts and accessories that most fans do not include. These can also become loose over time, especially if you use your fan frequently.

If you notice a noise and everything else appears to be intact, try inspecting the different components of the light fixture. This includes any globes or shades surrounding the bulbs, as well as the bulbs themselves.

Ensure that everything is properly screwed in and in place. The hardware around most bulbs is usually secured via thumbscrews, making it easy to tighten by hand without tools.

In fact, it's best to avoid using tools around these delicate parts altogether, as they can easily break if you slip or accidentally overtighten them.

Still hearing that click, even after you tighten everything?

Most manufacturers sell silencer bands to help keep the light fixtures in place. These go around the neck of the light's globe or shade, adding extra bulk to help them fit as snugly as possible. For a DIY approach, you can also install a thick rubber band in the same spot.

Check the Fan Canopy

Does your ceiling fan include a downrod? These models have a special canopy at the top, where the downrod connects to your ceiling.

If you're hearing an annoying popping sound, the electrical outlet box in your fan might not be exactly flush and parallel with your ceiling. As a result, the canopy can become askew, leading to that clicking or popping sound you're hearing. 

Or, the screws holding the canopy in place could be strained.

On most fans, the canopy itself is simply a decorative cover. A hanging bracket actually connects the fan to your ceiling. If your canopy is overtightened, it can create a popping noise every time the fan blades rotate. 

To see if this is the problem, disconnect and lower the canopy down away from the ceiling. Then, try running your fan. If the noise is eliminated, you'll know the cover is to blame.

To fix the issue, reinstall the canopy, but only tighten the screws enough to simply hold it in place, just enough so that the canopy stays in position. Do not over tighten.

Fix Your Noisy Ceiling Fan and Relax in Comfort 

Like a dripping faucet, a noisy ceiling fan is a minor inconvenience that can create a major headache. 

Try taking a look at all of the possible issues listed above to find the culprit that's causing yours. Usually, it can be attributed to a loose connection somewhere in the motor, blades, or lighting kit, which is easy to fix!

Want to replace your fan altogether and invest in an upgrade? We offer plenty of different shapes, styles, and sizes in our online store. Feel free to browse our selection and contact us with any questions.