My ceiling fan wobbles badly and makes a clicking noise at all speeds. I am worried it might fall. Is it safe to keep using it?
A wobbling ceiling fan is unlikely to fall as long as it is properly mounted to a fan-rated junction box, but the wobble will get worse over time and can damage the motor bearings. The clicking is usually caused by loose screws or an unbalanced blade. Here is how to fix both issues. First, turn off the fan and tighten every screw you can find: the mounting screws at the ceiling, the screws holding the downrod, and all blade screws where the blades attach to the motor arms. Loose blade screws are the most common cause of both wobble and clicking. Next, check if any blade is warped by placing a yardstick against each blade tip while slowly rotating the fan by hand. If one blade sits higher or lower than the others, it is bent. You can gently bend it back or use a ceiling fan balancing kit (about $5 at any hardware store) which includes small clip-on weights. For the clicking noise specifically, check if any blade is hitting the light fixture or another blade. A small misalignment can cause a rhythmic click at every rotation.
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