How to Make a Ceiling Fan Quiet

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Updated July 21, 2022

If you are a newbie in the world of cooling appliances, you may wonder how to make a ceiling fan quiet. Some of the best fans, after all, are ceiling fans, and they tend to make a fair amount of noise during use. So, what steps should you take to get that ceiling fan to pipe down? Keep reading to find out how to fix a noisy ceiling fan.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

  • Ceiling fans develop noise with prolonged use, particularly when the blades are out of balance.
  • Start troubleshooting this issue of noisy ceiling fans by cleaning the fan blades, the canopy near the ceiling joists, and the mount for the fan motor.
  • You should also apply lubricant into the oil hole and tighten any loose screws and fasteners to eliminate ceiling fan noise, such as clicking sounds.

How to Make a Fan Less Noisy

There are many ceiling fan designs out there, as well as a number of issues that cause an increase in noise during use, similar to when learning how to stop a fan from wobbling. Fortunately, many of these troubleshooting steps are general maintenance procedures, so you won’t have to learn something as complicated as how to make a fan blade.

Insider Tip

Exercise great caution when using a ladder to access various ceiling fan components and consider having a second person around in case of injury.

Here are a few simple tips to make your ceiling fan stop squeaking and start working for you, which are all applicable even if you are conducting a Westinghouse ceiling fan review. You might even learn something, such as why most fans have five blades.

Clean the Blades

Dust, grease, and related pieces of debris may not weigh a lot from our perspective, but they are heavy enough to weigh down fan blades, thus causing improper balance. When fan blades are unbalanced, they wobble, groan, and squeak during use. In other words, they make quite a racket. Make blade-cleaning a regular part of your routine, using a microfiber cloth to wipe away detritus. This stops the noise in the vast majority of cases.

Tighten Everything

Loose fan components also lead to a loss of balance, resulting in a significant increase in noise during use. Break out your favorite ladder and screwdriver and get to tightening. Start by tightening any and all screws and fasteners on the fan blades themselves. Next, move to the canopy and lighting fixture, repeating that same tightening process. Finally, tighten any screws and fasteners surrounding the mount and test to see if the noise has dissipated.

Grease the Fan

Most fans include a dedicated hole for oil or a lubricant of some kind. Break out the ladder again and fill this hole with a lubricant recommended by the instructions that accompanied your fan. When all else fails, you can purchase fan-specific oil. Lubricating the fan should resolve the issue of excessive noise.

STAT: Energy-Star rated ceiling fans move air up to 20% more efficiently than conventional fan models due to the advanced design of fan blades and motors. (source)

Quiet Fan FAQs

How do I fix more advanced noise problems in a few steps?

There are more advanced fixes, such as using a balancing kit, but these processes are labor-intensive. Only attempt professional-grade repair methods if you have plenty of experience.

When should I call in a professional?

If you have tried each of the above steps with no reduction in the noise level, it is time to call in a licensed electrician. These experts are adept at repairing ceiling fan motors and a fan's power source to reduce any humming sound.

How do I make a box fan quieter?

Start by lowering the speed via the remote control to slow down the fan motor. Next, place the fan on top of dedicated noise-baffling cushions, as these cushions should reduce the overall noise level. You also change the direction of the blades with remote control.
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