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Cause and Effect
We've all been there - shaking, wobbling, rattling ceiling fans that leave us wondering if the contraption will plummet to the floor destroying all below, or if the blades will launch across the room and decapitate a valuable curio. Shaking ceiling fans are dangerous, and the various causes of shaking and rattling ceiling fans can have dramatic effects.
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Quick Fix
A wobbling or shaking ceiling fan is not reason for replacement. There are a few quick fixes that can easily be done. First, check the blades for alignment. This can be done by placing the end of a yardstick against the ceiling and measuring the distance to the outer edge of each blade. A blade that does not measure the same distance from the ceiling can be gently bent into place.
Measure between the tips of the fan blades to make sure they are an equal distance apart; if they are off, they can be pushed into proper placement. Sometimes exchanging the placement of blades can eliminate the shaking problem.
Even easier yet, are the blades loose? If so, grab a screwdriver and tighten them. Sometimes the ceiling fan mount can be loose: the electrical box should be securely attached to the ceiling, and the fan should be attached, with all screws tightened, to that electrical box. While you're checking for loose things that go bump in the night, tighten loose connections between the ceiling fan rod and the body.
The Darn Thing Still Shakes!
Everything being tightened and measured usually fixes the problem. However, if the ceiling fan still sounds like it will begin orbiting the room at any minute, one of the blades may not be weighted correctly. Weighting is a trial-and-error process of applying different weights at different positions. Clipping a clothespin at different locations on the blade and operating counter-clockwise should lead you to the proper weighting. A blade balancing kit can also be purchased to simplify this process. Manufacturers of high-end ceiling fans sometimes offer complimentary balancing kits.
