Fixing a wobbly ceiling fan a balancing act

Q: My ceiling fan wobbles a bit, especially at the high setting. All the connections are tight, so what could be causing this? — Susan L. in Georgia

A: The ceiling-fan blades are most likely out of balance. At high speeds, the amount of air traveling across the blades is increased. Blades that aren’t set at an equal angle to the other fan blades will cause an unequal distribution of air pressure, unbalancing all four blades and creating a slight wobble.

•Fans that aren’t anchored securely to the ceiling will sway, even at low speeds, but that is a different problem. Since your unit is tightly fastened in place, let’s concentrate on distributing the airflow evenly over each fan blade.

•Turn the fan off and hop onto a stepladder. Using a screwdriver, tighten the screws that hold the fan blades to the ornate brackets.

•Open a tape measure and turn one blade toward you. Now, place the end of the tape against the ceiling and measure the distance vertically from there to the right corner of the fan blade. Have someone write down the measurement.

•Hold the tape measure in place against the ceiling. Turn the fan blades so that the right corner of each is measured against the stationary tape.

•Correct the angle of the fan blades by gently bending the blade brackets until the measurements of each blade match.

•Bending the blades into place may not completely correct the problem. If the fan still wobbles, purchase a blade balancing kit at a home-improvement store. This kit contains clips and counterweights that, when placed at the right point on a blade, will stop the wobble.

•Use the kit’s testing clip to locate the precise point of imbalance. Place the clip on the rear edge of the first fan blade, as close to the middle as possible. Turn the fan on and note whether the wobble increases or decreases. Do this to each blade, and note the blade that wobbles the most.

•Attach the clip to this blade, and adjust its position up and down the blade until the wobble is gone. With the clip in place, take a counterweight from the kit and fix it in place on the centerline of the fan blade, directly in line with the clip. Then, remove the testing clip. This should solve your problem.

Home Tip

Ceiling fans can increase both cooling and heating efficiency in your home. In summer, have the blades push air downward; in the winter, reverse the direction of the blades to draw air upward.