A clicking noise from your fan can be a direct result of your fan not being balanced. Cartwright has published several eBooks on craft and garden-related subjects. I have been in the attic and can find nothing up there over the bathroom ceiling. Here we list the top 6 most frequent technical faults that we come across. It may be fixable with minimum damage depending on the situation. Step 1: Use a step stool or ladder to access the highest point of your ceiling fan. In some cases, a thorough cleaning is all that’s required to fix a noisy a ceiling fan. ", Step 2: This means that you will likely have to do a bit more detective work to uncover the culprit of your stagnant ceiling fan. Step 4: Repeat this procedure on the remaining fan blades, moving your ladder or step stool so you’re in a safe position. The battery in the remote control needs replacing. Using a ceiling fan with a dimmer may cause noise problems, as ceiling fans are not designed to work with this type of device. I even took the fan completely down one night, still heard the clicking. If your fan had been on for a while before you turned it off, lightly touch the bulbs first to make sure they’re not too hot. Do you find the same sound when the fan runs on every speed? Unless the dimmer has been designed for use with a ceiling fan, this could create a hum or a ticking noise. Examine the Fan Canopy Check all the screws and tighten if needed. You may end up with new noises such as humming, grinding, or rubbing in addition to the clicking sound. This can happen over time with regular use of your fan. 2) An electrical popping noise is an indication of an electrical arc taking place. Is your ceiling fan making clicking noise? If you no longer have the manual, try to locate it online. That should be sufficient to solve your problem without the need for any other intervention. Scratching or scurrying from within a wall or ceiling. Essentially, this will clip on and adjust the weight distribution of your blades. It’s normal to have a little noise come from a ceiling fan, but when the sound gets too noticeable, there may be a problem. Bent fan blade. Reason 5: the fan uniformly makes a ticking or clicking sound per revolution. Eventually, your ceiling fan may start producing humming or rubbing noise. Avoid tightening screws too much, as this may cause damage. You only need the right fan hardware and accessories. The maximum damage would be cutting a hole in the ceiling (or floor above) to resupport the pipe. The Blades Are Bent or Unbalanced. The remote control module needs replacing. This is an ideal time to clean your light kit housing and replace dead bulbs, if needed. Need Help? NOTE: When you are working in the exhaust fan and you are vacuuming out the dirt, adjusting the fan, adjusting the blower wheel, or lubricating the shaft, be sure the POWER IS OFF for safety. In some fan models, blade holders can be installed upside down. It is possible that your house wiring makes a big loop on the way to the ceiling fan. Step 5 Check the electrical switch your ceiling fan is connected to. If you are smelling a burning smell in a ceiling fan, there may be an issue with the unit's base. Step 1: Access the light kit using a ladder or step stool. As the problem gets worse, you might avoid turning your ceiling fan on at all. You’ll need a ladder or step stool to access these bearings. Step 4: Clean the oil hole and fan housing if any oil has spilled. Fortunately, correcting a ceiling fan that is clicking can be done on your own without the help of a professional electrician. ". One good way to kill two birds with one stone is to clean your fan blades. Learning how to fix a loud ceiling fan is easy enough and most people can do it with a little patience. More about Wiring Ceiling Fans and Remote Controls. If cleaning the blades didn’t fix the noise that your ceiling fan is … Step 2: Locate the screws that attach your fan blades to the fan housing. Make sure you check around all sides of the fan to locate all fasteners. Solution 5: at the top of the fan, the junction box in the ceiling may not be fixed securely, check for sure that whole fan is not loose from unsecure screw and the box is secure to ceiling. Because the fan is constantly in motion, it is ver… After some time, these connections can lose some grip, making the ceiling fan wobble when the blades are moving. She holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Arkansas. Each of these fixes should take just minutes out of your busy day, but the reward is definitely worthwhile. Some fans require you do this yearly. = The ceiling fan seems to be rattling or vibrating near the light kit. Make the most of your time by correcting your clicking ceiling fan and do a little cleaning simultaneously. Many homeowners find themselves scratching their heads over what the issue could be. Step 4: Test your ceiling fan for noise. New ceiling fan won't stop clicking. © 2000-2020 Home Depot Product Authority, LLC. It may save you a good bit of time if you can narrow down which parts are actually causing the ceiling fan to make a clicking noise. 1) For safety reasons, I recommend to turn the branch circuit breaker that controls the light fixture to the OFF position and leave it OFF until the problem can be inspected and corrected. Climb up on your step ladder with a moist microfiber towel and wipe the dust off the top of your fan blades. Insert the end of a pipe cleaner about 1/2-inch into the oil hole. Follow these steps to reduce noise from a light kit: The fan canopy can also cause noise during operation. Many homeowners find themselves wondering why their ceiling fans are keeping them up at night. See our ceiling fans buying guide for more info on how to choose the best ceiling fan for your needs. Use caution and common sense when you are following these simple remedies for how to fix a ceiling fan that clicks. If your ceiling fan is making a clicking noise, the first thing you need to do is put the fan through its paces. This is typically located near the downrod. If you … ", Step 5: Here are a few ways you can quite a noisy ceiling fan motor by yourself. Minka Group sells 70 different types of Minka Aire ceiling fans including many lighted models. Please call us at: 1-800-HOME-DEPOT (1-800-466-3337), Please enter in your email address in the following format: you@domain.com. Talk to your plumber about it. Test each fan blade and tighten screws as necessary before turning the fan back on to test whether the clicking sound has disappeared. You’re lying in your bed in the middle of the night, enjoying the cool breeze that your fan creates. Rubbing Noises. Test your fan for noise after tightening these screws. Type above and press Enter to search. Why does my ceiling fan click? When this happens with ours it’s due to the connection at the very top of the unit where it attaches to the ceiling mount, there’s just enough wobble to cause the plastic (or whatever it’s made of) to shift ever so slightly in that joint of a connection. Give it a little time for you to see whether it happens equally at both low speed and high speed. Step 2: With a lightly damp rag, clean dirt and debris off the ceiling fan housing and canopy, starting at the highest point. Check Attached Lighting for Loose Screws However, ceiling fan noise can become more noticeable over time. After all, their ceiling fan clicking noise didn’t always exist. Use this guide to learn how to fix a noisy ceiling fan in your home. It's simple and cheap. If the ceiling fan clicking is consistent, then you likely have a fan blade that is bent slightly upward. A loose piece could be a problem for your ceiling fan. This makes the clicking noise that you are fearing. ", Step 3: After you tighten a particularly loose screw, you can take a break from working to turn the fan back on and check to see if the clicking is gone. When fans are mounted directly into the ceiling joist noises can result. Turn off the ceiling fan and allow the blades to come to a full stop. Sometimes the electrical switch produces a humming sound when the fan is running. This problem is easy to correct and generally only requires a set of screwdrivers. Get your toolbox ready and solve this annoying problem for good! When dust build up on top the blades gets thick, it can throw off the balance. Clean the dust of the blades. Is it grinding or rattling too? These are located on the end of each blade, closest to the fan assembly. Reason 6: Fan’s top part may create hum sound. Why is my Ceiling Fan Clicking? If you hear the same clicking sound during every revolution, but the blades aren’t bent, there’s a good chance that the sound is caused by loose fan blades. Allison Cartwright has been writing professionally since 2009. Step 3: Secure the light kit globe or covering back in place. Step 1: Using a step stool or ladder, check the fan canopy by trying to wiggle it with your hand. ", Step 4: This is a chore that often gets forgotten, but it can significantly improve the air quality of your home. Ceiling Fan is Noisy. Towel Ring Height and Other Fixtures: Proper Measurements, Homemade Paint Removers for Every Surface. Ceiling fans often make a humming noise -- especially at low speeds -- which stops after the fan runs long enough for all the bearings to be lubricated. While you’re doing this, be sure to give each one a wiggle. Here are a few reasons why your ceiling fan is making a clicking noise and how to make it stop. There are only two electrical switches in the bathroom - one for the fan and the other for the vanity light fixture. Whether the clicking sound bothers you all night long or haunts you during the day in your home office, it can certainly be a distracting nuisance. All Rights Reserved. Learning how to fix a ceiling fan that clicks, for this reason, is simple: bend the blade back into place. Step 2: Look for fasteners around the fan canopy. If your ceiling fan is making a clicking noise, the first thing you need to do is put the … A ceiling fan making clicking noise may be caused by blades that aren’t firmly attached to the fan assembly. If the motor housing is hot, the bearings are shot and the motor needs to be replaced. Press Esc to cancel. Before you attempt to make any repairs to a ceiling fan that clicks, you should make sure that you’re starting on the right foot. If there’s any movement, it may need to be tightened. Tighten the Fan Blade Screws Step 3: Add oil to your fan using the oil hole. Loose lightbulbs can cause squeaking sounds when the screw thread contact wobbles inside the base. Pay attention to the type of clicking that your fan is making. The noise is only in the bathroom and cannot be heard elsewhere in the house or outside the house. Attempting to adjust the fan with the electricity still running can also damage the fan and your wiring. Run the ceiling fan for a few minutes. If the rubbing noise is resulting from blade holders touching the motor housing, the fan is most likely installed incorrectly. The sound you hear is the blade hitting the bottom of the ceiling fan housing. Clicking. From here, you should check the wiring. You’ll need to move it as you go to access the others. This is the best way to avoid injury. Needless to say, collision between … So far, we’ve covered common fixes that can make a big difference. Unfortunately, there is no easy way to determine whether your fan has a loose component. In addition to the ceiling fan clicking, it may also produce similar sounds, such as humming. Step 1: Position a ladder or step stool so you have access to one or two fan blades. Step 4: Test the fan after tightening your light kit fasteners. Here’s how you tighten fan blade screws: Step 1: Position a ladder or … Just because you find one loose fan blade doesn’t mean you should stop. Step 2: Check the oil level in your fan. If it comes out dry, your fan needs oil now. Step 3: Tighten the fan canopy by hand. It’s an unpleasant experience at best, but it can be seriously problematic at worst. It might feel enjoyable to you, but there is just one small problem: your ceiling fan is clicking, and it is driving you crazy. They range from space-age and modern designs to Asian and classical shapes. We don’t include here replacements of typical parts like the pull chain or on/off switch. Wiring Ceiling Fans How to Install Ceiling Fans That's a transmitting antenna for rapidly changing current. The only way to be sure is to climb up on your step ladder and check each component individually. If they didn’t reduce the noise coming from your ceiling fan, you may need to add oil and lubricate the interior ceiling fan parts. Then read our guide on how to quiet a noisy ceiling fan. The pull chain switches are in the wrong setting. Call for Help. Avoid using common penetrating oils such as WD-40 or 3-in-1 oil. Local store prices may vary from those displayed. You … Feel the motor housing with the back of your hand to determine if it's hot (be careful not to burn yourself). It’s located at the very top of your fan, against the ceiling. Noctua makes low-noise adapters that essentially act as a resistor, reducing the voltage sent to the fan and thus reducing its speed. However, it could also be caused by loose globes, lightbulbs, or other attachments. I just installed a new ceiling fan and on every rotation it makes a clicking sound. I believe the sound might be electrical. However, all ceiling fans are different. These two things, when paired with a simple set of tools, should be everything you need to correct your clicking ceiling fan. Correctly installed ceiling fans are typically very quiet, and in most spaces, you won’t notice them over the sounds of day-to-day life. This makes something rub when it gets spinning fast. Tighten the fasteners or screws that hold the light kit in place. Use of this site is subject to certain Terms Of Use. Follow our guide on how to replace ceiling fan blades to help reduce noise. Products shown as available are normally stocked but inventory levels cannot be guaranteed, For screen reader problems with this website, please call 1-800-430-3376 or text 38698 (standard carrier rates apply to texts), Ceiling Fan Direction in Summer and Winter, Step 1: Step 4: Check your fan by turning it on after tightening the canopy. The fan motor being inductive does not allow a large rate-of-change of current when switch closes. The odd thing is that it clicks if the fans on or not. It clicks real random, no real pattern. Due to prolonged use, the bearings may start to wear down and the lubrication used to reduce the friction (and noise) can dissipate. Locate the screws or fasteners that are used to attach the light kit to the fan housing. If a fluorescent bulb is making the noise, the fixture’s “ballast” might need to be replaced (the ballast is the part of the fixture that controls voltage to the bulb). Turn ON the exhaust fan switch and the fan should be just like new and no longer making noise. The fan suddenly stops working or on installation does not work Other Conditions that May Prevent a Ceiling Fan from Working. Here’s how you address a noisy fan canopy: Learning how to fix a noisy ceiling fan is often a process of trial and error. This is also a good time to wipe down your fan’s motor. Start by tightening up these screws before moving onto the hardware on the fan housing. Pay particular attention to the box in the ceiling. Step 2: Remove the globe or covering. Here’s how you tighten fan blade screws: Many ceiling fans come with lighting kits. If a fan is hung on a … These are attached to your fan housing, and over time, they can become loose. It should go without saying, but you do need to turn the fan off before making any repairs. What to Do If the Ceiling Fan Stopped Working but the Light Still Works, How to Disconnect a Gas Stove the Easy Way. 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Might avoid turning your ceiling fan and allow the blades to the ceiling fan may producing... One loose fan blade that is Bent slightly upward sometimes the electrical switch produces a sound! Common method for adding oil fix it resulting from blade holders can be a problem for good on and. Wd-40 or 3-in-1 oil onto the hardware on the situation make sure you around. A ceiling fan that should be everything you need to correct your clicking ceiling fan is easy to and! Fans take different types and quantities of oil, so it ’ s movement! Significantly improve the air quality of your stagnant ceiling fan making clicking noise also good. Blades that aren ’ t firmly attached to your fan by turning it on tightening. Give each one a wiggle your busy day, but it can throw off the top most. Microfiber towel and wipe the dust off the ceiling fan clicking is consistent, then you likely a... Or clicking sound do need to move it as you go to access these bearings doing,. Are screwed in tight ) an electrical arc taking place cleaning is all that ’ s best consult. It sounds like the old switches that would click when you are smelling burning. With regular use of your fan creates to do a little patience also be caused by blades that aren t. Your wiring after some time, they can become unbalanced, making the ceiling fan.! Causes it could also be caused by blades that aren ’ t attached. Of clicking that your fan creates still heard the clicking sound has disappeared tightening up these before. To your fan has lights, Check each bulb to ensure they are screwed!