Last Updated: March 4, 2022
Even if you spend only a few hours at home, hearing a ceiling fan clicking is irritating.
Therefore:
Learn how to fix a clicking ceiling fan to make your home peaceful and restful.
Sounds like it's a lot of work, but, it's one of the simplest DIY tasks you'll ever attempt.
First, you have to know what's causing the problem before assembling the tools to fix it. For that reason, we'll pinpoint the causes of the ticking noise and proceed to talk about the best solutions. Let's get started!
Here's How To Fix A Clicking Ceiling Fan
First, is your ceiling fan making the clicking noise because you forgot to:
Clean The Blades?
The blade is the first place to look when you hear a clicking ceiling fan. After months without proper maintenance, chances are dust and grease are preventing your blades from functioning efficiently.
Therefore, wipe the blades plus the blade mount with a clean, dry towel. After wiping off the dust, you can use an all-purpose cleaner for any stubborn particles on the blades and the mount.
The noise might even go away as soon as you clean these two areas. The top side will probably have more dust than the lower side.
As you wipe them, you'll also be checking their condition for any damaged, loose screws, or warped blades.
If the noise persists after removing dust and dirt on the blades...
Tighten The Screws Of The Blades?
Sometimes, the screws mounting the blades loosen due to the rotational speed of the blades, thereby producing annoying noise. That being so, you'll only need to tighten the screws that connect the blades to the blade holder.
Tightening the screws is a small task that'll only need a screwdriver and a ladder, but it'll make your house livable without the irritating clicking sound.
Fix The Globe Above The Bulbs?
If you've had it for a long time, maybe the globe is worn out. It may also have cracks. You can fix it or get a new one depending on the damage it exhibits presently. If it's loose, tighten it, and the sound will fade away.
Warped Blades
Check the shape and orientation of each blade to ascertain they are on the same level. You may need a ladder for this task to get as close to the fan as possible. If there's distortion in any blade, bend it back into position or replace it altogether.
As I promised, these are all simple DIY tasks. Onto the next one.
Lubricate The Fan's Motor?
The motor needs lubrication to prevent friction. Therefore, if you haven't taken care of it lately, that could be the source of the disturbing noise.
Also, clean the oil hole before filling it up.
Align The Blades?
When a ceiling fan is making a clicking noise, the cause might be wobbling blades. In such a case, you'll add some weights to the fan's blades to balance them.
These are stick-on weights that you fix on the rear of the fan's blades. You may have to stick them on different points until you find the spot that eliminates the wobble.
Tightening The Screws?
If your ceiling fan has attached light fixtures, they could be the source of the ceiling fan ticking noise. Undertake a complete maintenance process of the ceiling fan while paying more attention to the light fixtures.
Steady the bulbs so that they don't wobble due to the vibrations from the rotating blades. Be gentle when tightening the screws, or you'll break the glass quietly. For that reason, use your hand instead of a tool.
If the noise is still there, could it be:
A Pull Chain Is Disturbing The Peace?
If you have the traditional quietest ceiling fans that come with a pull chain, you may want to check if it's touching the moving parts when turned on high.
The Motor's Cover May Be Loose
The motor's cover is above the blades. Sometimes, this cover loosens and scratches the fan's blades as they rotate, resulting in a clicking sound.
To eliminate this sound, turn the fan off and tighten the motor's cover to create a distance between it and the blades. You may also adjust the cover's position to avoid friction with the fan's blades.
Popular Questions About Ceiling Fan Clicking Noise
Why Is My Ceiling Fan Making A Ticking Sound?
There are so many reasons for such a sound, but the most common sources of such noise are the blades, the light fixtures, the junction box, and the pulling chain.
In short, inspect the fan while turned off to note any loose parts. It might surprise you that maybe it's a part that needs oiling or dusting. Regular maintenance of parts is important, even to the quietest standing fan.
Watch this video on why a ceiling fan makes a ticking sound and how to fix it:
How Can I Stop A Ceiling Fan From Making Noise?
As we've discussed in the section above, this noise may come from many parts of the fan. Therefore, you have to start checking from the most common noise sources, such as the blades, and then move on to other parts like the light fixtures and the motor's cover.
When you pinpoint the problem, the solutions are cleaning, lubricating, fixing the screws, or replacing the specific parts altogether.
Final Thoughts
The easiest way to stop a ceiling fan from clicking is to introduce a regular maintenance routine. Why? You'll lubricate the blades, fix any loose screws, check if the motor's cover is wobbling, among other problems.
A regular maintenance routine, say every six months, takes about 10 minutes, but it saves you Dollars and hours of repair work.