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How To Fix A Wobbling Ceiling Fan

Before doing anything, clean the fan blades and the motor housing. I use a dry lint cloth to get all the dirt. Clean them good! You’d be surprised at how little amount of dirt it takes to make a fan wobble!

The next thing you want to do when repairing a wobbling ceiling fan is to check the bolts/screws on the fan blades. Check both the screws hat hold the blade to the arm as well as the screws that hold the arm to the fan motor. If you find any of these loose, tighten them and start the fan to see if it still wobbles. Make sure you operate the ceiling fan on all speeds. I’ve seen more than one fan have a wobble at a certain speed.

Next, check the blades their self. If you find any damaged, bent, warped or otherwise a blade that is different from the others, you may need to replace the fan blades. Wooden blades are more susceptible to damage, especially if they are made out of cheap wood and used in a high humidity area such as along the coastal areas. I’ve seen fan blades drooping so bad that they were hazards to people walking under them.

If the above measures don’t help balance the ceiling fan, then try taping or gluing coins to the back of the blades until you find the one that is out of balance. You can buy little balancing kits at the Big Box stores or hardware stores, but coins are just as effective and cheaper.

I usually start out with pennies, then nickels and then move up to a quarter if I have to. You’ll be amazed at how smoothly a fan will run when you balance out the blade that is causing all the trouble!

You can also use washers for this if you’re a real cheapo, but I generally have some change in my pocket so it’s just easier to use coins rather than try finding some washers!

Also, be aware that once you find the wobbling blade, you may have to move the weight forward or back on the blade to balance it. Many people assume that they can just put the weight at the end and be done with it. That’s not true and one reason some people can never fix a wobbling ceiling fan!