How can I quiet a ceiling fan. I have tightened everything and tried wd40? No luck.?

Answer 1

they cost 20-30 bucks. throw it away & get a new one.

Answer 2

I just answered this for some else and have the answer posted on my Ceiling Fan Questions and Answers Blog as well, so here's a copy:

Question: My ceiling fan squeeks and I have a hard time sleeping at night when it is on. Can I oil it or something?

There are several reasons why a ceiling fan will squeek or make noise. Most often, the reason is simply poor quality components. You will find this problem very common with cheaper fans that are sold at the home centers. Particularly the hugger style fans. Often times these noises can be heard from the first day the fan is installed. If all screws are tight and the junction box in the ceiling is well supported and snug, then you are the victim of a poor quality fan and the only remedy may be to see if the place where you purchased the fan will take it back if you are dissatisfied.

However, if your fan has operated for years without making noise, oiling your fan is not a solution, with the exception of the Hunter Original cast iron ceiling fans which are the only fans that require oil…or can be oiled for that matter. What you probably need to do is tighten some screws. I would start from top to bottom on the fan and make sure everything is tight. At the top, make sure the screws that hold the fan to the junction box are tight. You will need to remove the canopy that is mounted at the ceiling in order to check these screws. Next, when replacing the canopy, make sure those screws are tight. Next, check the screws that hold the blade holders to the fan motor, then the screws that hold the blades to the blade holders. This is the most common place screws get loose.

Once all of the screws are tightened, turn the fan on again and see if it still makes the annoying sound. If not, then you have solved your problem. If it still makes noise, maybe the problem is that your fan is out of balance. If your fan is wobbling, you will need to balance the blades. Check the link at the bottom of this posting for a video with instructions for balancing your fan.

If your fan is not wobbling, or you went through the process of balancing your fan and it is still making noise, then the bearings in your fan motor are probably wearing out and there is nothing you can do. All ceiling fans come with sealed bearings (except for the Hunter Original fans), therefore, oil is not a solution as some people have suggested. The cheaper fans have motors that will go out, so your best bet at this point is to replace the fan. I would suggest looking for a fan that has a superior motor next time you make your purchase. Not only will they run quieter, they will move more air and last a lifetime. The best motors can be left running 24 hours a day for years and never make a peep while keeping you 2 or 3 times cooler than cheaper fans. The best motors found in Casablanca fans that have the Casablanca XLP 2000 motor and Emerson fans that have the Emerson K55 motor. These motors are not in all of their fans, only in their upper end models. Use the link below for top quality fans to see examples.

Balancing a Ceiling Fan: http://www.hansenwholesale.com/ceilingfans/ceilingfaninstallation.asp?Step=10&emt=leftnav

Top Quality Ceiling Fans: http://www.hansenwholesale.com/ceilingfans/fansearch.asp?sbPower=5

Ceiling Fan FAQs: http://www.hansenwholesale.com/ceilingfans/fanfaqs.asp?emt=leftnav

Answer 3

If it seems to be a balance problem then there is a way to fix it. It takes a little time and change but it can be done. If the squeak is associated with a wobble this indicates an out of balance. Get a hand full of pennies and turn the fan on high. Turn the fan off and try and determine which blade is making the wobble. If you can then take a penny and tape it to the blade on the other side. If the wobble lessens, try another penny. Keep this up until the wobble and associated squeak go away. If you can't determine which blade is causing the wobble then just pick a blade at random and tape a couple of pennies to it. Turn the fan on high and see what happens. If the wobble increases, go to the other side and start the process over. If the wobble decreases, you hit the jackpot and can keep adding pennies until it goes away.

This method takes some time and effort. As one of the respondents said, they aren't that expensive anymore so if all else fails, get a new one and pay a little extra and get a Hunter. Consumer Reports can back up the fact that these are the fans with the least amount of problems.

Answer 4

If you used WD-40 as an oil you did just the opposite of what you tried to achieve, WD40 is not an oil but, a cleaner. The next time, use a light machine oil. You may have stripped the oil off the bearings.
That's probably whats wrong, the bearings are dry. The blades may be loose. Check over everything again.

Answer 5

Is it the fan itself that's noisy, or the connection between the fan and the ceiling box?

Sometimes people try to take a shortcut and mount a fan using a standard ceiling fixture box meant for lights. This won't work for ceiling fans -- they must be mounted with either a box connected directly to a joist or one with a bracket that connects to two joists on either side of the box.

Look at the canopy above the blades. Does that move at all when the fan is running? I shouldn't. If it does, the fan is not correctly mounted to the ceiling.

Answer 6

It may be the connections in the ceiling. If you can get to the spot where it screws into the ceiling, try tightening there. A ceiling fan has to mount to a joist in order to be secure. If this connection is coming loose it'll squeak, at least until it falls down.

Answer 7

WD40 won't do anything. It's not a lubricant. Your fan won't have any water inside it now though.

If everything is balanced and mounted securly to a joist, then you're screwed. Most bearings on a ceiling fan are sealed and you can't re-lube them (not even with an ACTUAL lubricant). It might be easier to replace it.

Answer 8

the fan itself may have a design flaw. I used to work at home depot and sometimes ceiling fans would come back because they were off balance. If that happens there is really no way to fix it. However, if it is an older fan it may have been installed wrong, throwing the balance off.

Answer 9

The cap (tight against the ceiling) would be released with the help of loosening a million, 2, or 3 small screws. enable this slide down the "pole". examine to make certain that the mounting bracket is firmly related and that the groove interior the ball (stunning of the 'pole') is lined up with the tab protruding of the mounting bracket. If it incredibly is all so as then you definately would desire to "stability" the fan blades. interior the unique kit there are small shim type weights. If mandatory tape and funds will artwork. it incredibly is tedious in spite of the incontrovertible fact that it incredibly is going to help

Answer 10

Sounds like it's out of balance. Try holding a level on it to see which side is off level. Then adjust the level from the ceiling mounts. It could also be that one or more of your blades is not correctly mounted to the frame.

Answer 11

One of the brands are just naturally noisy, but balance could be a problem. But if it's the annoying whir, whir, whir, whir it's the nature of the fan. Thankfully, that one is in the kitchen. The ones in the bedrooms are nice and quiet--never balanced either.