Is your ceiling fan making clicking noise? In this guide, you we shall discuss different ways on how you can make your ceiling fan quiet.
While ceiling fans are a nice addition to your home, especially during those hot summer days, they can get quite noisy when not regularly maintained.
With all the daily chores and busy work calendars, it can be quite easy to forget to maintain these units.
On the first look, the ceiling fan noise is kind of bearable and so you choose to ignore it.
But as time goes on, the clicking sound gets louder and louder until it gets unbearable.
The accumulation of dust and rusting on ceiling fans can greatly affect how they function.
This results not only clicking sounds but also ratting and squeaking noises that become unbearable with time.
Fortunately, most of these problems on ceiling fans can be easily fixed through regular cleaning and maintenance.
Solving clicking and squeaking noises is achievable without the need of a professional help.
If your ceiling fan produces clicking, humming, or grinding noises, follow the below steps to solve the problem.
Related: Quietest Attic Fan
How to Quiet A Noisy Ceiling Fan
Before you try doing anything to your fan, make sure that you have turned it off.
The spinning blades can be dangerous and may cause some harm if you grab them.
Be patient until the fan stops so that you can try anything on it.
Do not try grabbing the blades to stop them since it can make them lose balance leading to more problems
1. Clean the Blades
It is advisable to clean your fan’s blades from time to time since they tend to accumulate a lot of dust. The dust may be the cause of the clicking noise being produced by your fan and cleaning it may help reduce the noise.
Be as gentle as possible when cleaning the blades since exerting some pressure on them may make them imbalanced.
Use a microfiber towel to clean the dust then use an all-purpose cleaner to wipe the blades. If dirt was the cause of the noise, once the blades are clean, the sounds your fan was producing will fade or reduce.
2. Ensure the Bulbs are Properly Screwed
Some ceiling fans have light bulbs attached to them. Check if all the screws attaching the bulbs are well screwed since when they are loose, they tend to produce some sounds.
When the bulbs become loose, they start producing noise, so ensure that they are all firm and well-fixed all the time.
When the bulbs are not fixed properly, they can produce some sounds which can sometimes be annoying.
Tightening the screws may help reduce the noise the fan is producing, so make sure all the screws in the fan are tight.
You will note a difference after tightening them if they were the cause of the noise.
3. Wiggle and Tighten each Blade
The noise produced by a fan can sometimes be as a result of loosened blades. Loose blades wiggle from side to side when spinning.
Ensure that all the blades are tightened well and, if not, use a screwdriver to make them tight.
Check the blades after some weeks to check whether they are in their right position.
Service your fan regularly to make it is in good condition.
4. Ensure the Fan is Well Lubricated
The fan motor should keep lubricated to avoid friction, which leads to wear and tear.
Once the lubrication oil is depleted on the motor, the fan starts producing squeaking or clicking sounds that can be unpleasant at times.
Some parts of the fan may get rust after some period of use.
This makes the fan spinning with difficulties, which may cause some sounds. Put a few drops of the lubricating oil on to the main shaft above the motor and ensure the oil gets into the bearings.
Afterward, rotate the motor to distribute the oil evenly.
Sometime you may be required to remove the entire fan or some parts from the ceiling for you to apply the oil.
5. Inspect the Globe on the Light kit
Some ceiling fans may have a globe covering the bulbs. The globe should be tightened well so that it does not cause noise when the fan is spinning.
If the globe is loose, fix it for it to stop making noise whenever the fan is running.
And if the globe is too old, it may have some cracks on it which make it produce sounds.
If that’s the case, it means that the globe has worn out, so consider purchasing a new one.
6. Check the Screws attaching the Fan to the Ceiling
If the fan is not connected to the ceiling well, it can produce sounds upon turning it on.
The screws used to connect the ceiling, and the fan can become loose over time. It is advisable to keep checking your fan regularly to ensure everything is in place.
When the screws are loose, they make the fan produce a squeaking or clicking sound whenever the blades are spinning.
Check to ensure all the screws are there, and if you find a missing or a damaged one, consider purchasing since it can lead to your fan breaking.
7. Rebalance the Blades
Sometimes the squeaking sound may be a result of unbalanced blades.
There is a balancing clip that is used to balance the blades. It is placed between the tip and base of the fan blade.
Use a single clip on every blade and repeat the same procedure for all the blades to identify whether there is any that needs to be balanced.
8. Call a Professional
If you have tried all the above techniques and the noise is still there, then you should consider calling a professional.
The fan may be having a major problem that will require some knowledge and experience to fix it and sometimes they will recommend some quiet fans.
A qualified electrician might be able to identify the problem and fix it quickly.
However, this method may be more costly than those above, but it is worth it if you want to do away with the noise for once and for all.
Final Thoughts on Ceiling Fan Making Clicking Noise
Above are some of the best methods to fix a ceiling fan making clicking noise.
However remember the best way to ensure that the ceiling fan never produces humming, clicking, or squeaking, it’s important to always maintain it regularly.
Make sure to clean dust from the fan blades regularly as this is the most common cause of squeaking noises.
What other hacks have you tried? Please let us know down below.
Also check out my other recommendations on how to fix a noisy laptop fan and some of the reasons why your PS4 console is noisy.
Meet Mike O’Connor, (a DIY enthusiast), living in Cincinnati, a city ranked as the noisiest in the USA.
As a work from home dad, I have a first hand experience of how noise can truly affect your well being.
Soundproofing isn’t something that should be taken as a hobby, it should be a skill that every homeowner should be equipped with.
Most of the work documented on this blog comes from purely first hand experience, and the products recommended work as indicated.
Found a lose screw, tightened it. Now the 2 year old clicking noise is gone. Thanks a ton!
I’m glad you fixed the problem.
I have a 5-year old Harbor Breeze 52″ Crosswinds ceiling fan that is making intermittent clicking noises on every speed. It is not clicking at a regular pace. I have tightened all screws, checked the blades for looseness, cleaned and dusted everything, and even pushed, pulled, and moved the angle of the fan on the ceiling while it was moving. The fan does not wobble and otherwise works perfectly. Nothing is loose, but nothing stops the clicking. Ideas?
Have you inspected the joint where your fan connects to the ceiling? There goes the problem. But old ceiling fans are just like old cars- regardless of how many times you take them to a garage, you can’t fix every problem. In this case, I’d suggest a new fan. I recently wrote a guide on some quiet pedestal fans
Or you can check out this whisper quiet ceiling fan Hunter Fan Company Hunter 53091 Transitional 52“Ceiling Fan from Builder Deluxe collection
This helped a bunch thanks!
I accidentally hit the fan with a blanket now it swerves around the stem/pole holding it up and clicks any suggestions?
Hi Sharmeka.
Have you tried inspecting the fan to see where the problem is? I can only guess the stem pole holding it up loosened the moment you hit it with a blanket. Have you tried tightening the bolts?
Hi sir, my fan is brand new . it has 6 speeds any how on speed 1234 works fine but speed 5 and 6 makes a tapping/ buzzing sound and also makes the buzzing sound when turned off on the same speed 5 and 6.
@ilias triantafillos, I have the same problem! Brand new, 70″ Harbor Breeze fan that clicks at the 5 and 6 speeds. Torqued every screw and still clicks. Harbor Breeze recommends giving it five days to break in. I’m skeptical but, will give it a shot.