A ceiling fan making scraping noise causes irritation and a lot of distraction. The noise increases with time, affecting the people in the house, especially young children and the aged. Many people never ignore the noise and turn off the ceiling fan. It isn’t easy to stay in a house during the summer season without either a ceiling fan or air conditioner due to increased day and night temperatures.
Sometimes the ceiling fan may make scraping noise despite its positive outcomes. In such a situation, use the article below and apply the steps to fix a ceiling fan, make scraping noise successfully, and bring the fan into correct functioning.
Steps on how to troubleshoot a ceiling fan making a scraping noise
The noisy ceiling is irritating and disturbs the quietness and peace in the house, especially when concentrating on performing other activities such as job activities. Luckily, the information below describes the simple steps of eliminating the scraping noise emitted by the ceiling fan. Follow each step carefully to obtain successful results.
Step 1: Inspect the ceiling fan
Before beginning the troubleshooting process, inspect the ceiling fan parts and identify any issues that result in the fan making a scraping noise. If the ceiling parts are faulty, proceed to repair the parts using the recommended steps.
Step 2: Examine the ceiling fan blade
In most cases, dusty or dirt fan blades produce scraping noise when the fan is still in operation. Once there is an accumulation of dirt on the blades, the blade imbalances and shakes wobbly, resulting in the fan making unwanted noise. To fix the blade issue, follow the steps below
1. Collect materials required, such as a clean dust cloth that removes dirt present on the blade.
2. Using a dusty cloth, wipe all sides of the blade carefully to remove all dirt and dust. Ensure you handle the blade carefully to prevent injuries.
3. If you lack dusty cloth, use a wet cloth or a paper towel and concentrate more on the top side of the blade because it is dirtier than the lower side.
4. After cleaning the blade, dry it using a dry towel to prevent the accumulation of rust. If the blade is made of wood, avoid using too much water and avoid leaving them on a water surface for more than the recommended time.
While cleaning the blade, inspect the blades for any fault and try making the blade straight if it is bent. Also, if the blade is bent beyond repair, it results in scraping noise, and the best way of fixing the problem is by replacing blades. Ensure you use the correct replacement blades recommended by the manufacturer. When replacing the ceiling fan, ensure you match the blade with the fan.
Also, ensure you frequently clean the blades to increase their lifespan and improve their performance. Finally, follow the manufacturer’s instructions on how to handle the ceiling fan parts without any damage.
Step 3: Firmly screw the blade in position
With the continuity of the ceiling fan blades, they loosen with time, making the fan produce scraping noise during the rotating process. to fix the loose blade, follow the guidelines below.
- Inspect the blade and its surrounding. For instance, examine the blades connected to the brackets carefully.
- Check the connection between the two parts: the spinning motor and the brackets, and see if the connection is loose or strong.
- Using a screwdriver and a wrench, screw the nuts to hold the blade in position and prevent it from falling off.
- Dislocate the brackets into their correct position and screw them tightly into the motor unit. Avoid tightening the screws firmly to avoid breaking the blade. Also, avoid using an incorrect screwdriver since it can damage the screws, especially the screw head.
- Finally, check the screws at least twice every five months and screw them tightly if they are loose to keep the blade in good condition.
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Step 4: Check the condition of light fixtures
Some fans are advanced and contain light fixtures such as a globe, and a bulb that differ from one ceiling fan to another depending on the model. First, inspect the light fixtures to ensure they are in good condition and if not, use the steps below to fix light fixtures.
i. Check if the light fixtures are loose. If they are loose, tighten them using thumbscrews to hold the globes and the shades.
ii. Also, it is advisable to use hands to screw the light fixtures to avoid breaking the screws. Also, a silencer is recommended to ensure the screws fit perfectly.
When fixing the light fixtures, avoid using tools not recommended by the manufacturer or skilled personnel. Inappropriate tools may over-tighten the screws, making them break.
Step 5: Loose fan motor cover
Sometimes, the brackets may drag continuously, making the ceiling fan produce scraping noise. When the fan motor and the bracket rub against each other, it results in loud noise emission that increases discomfort level.
The best solution for troubleshooting the problem is to use a screwdriver and a wrench to tighten the motor cover and screw all nuts in position. Tightening the motor cover and the screws prevents the bracket and the fan motor from moving against each other.
Step 6: Proper maintenance of the wobbling ceiling fan
Most ceiling fan parts may become loose with time resulting in the wobbling of the ceiling fan. If the wobbling increases, it makes the ceiling fan generate scraping noise. In such circumstances, it is advisable to tighten all loose parts using a recommended tool such as a screwdriver and a wrench.
Also, check the ceiling fan mount. Tightening the ceiling fan is the only way of solving the wobbling ceiling fan issue. To tighten the fan, follow the steps below;
- Disconnect the fan from the power supply source. Also, ensure you ground yourself by wearing an anti-static wristband to protect yourself from electric shocks.
- Using a screwdriver, loosen the canopy and finally remove it from its position. Hold the canopy gently to avoid damaging it.
- Test the canopy wiring process using a voltage tester. Ensure the fan is unplugged from the power supply source before carrying out the repair process.
- Using a screwdriver, tighten the electrical box. Also, firmly tighten the fan mounting.
Step 7: Inspect the condition of the fan motor
A fan motor requires grease to rotate freely without producing grinding noise. If the motor makes a scraping noise, check the amount of grease present in the motor. If the grease is low, use the recommended lubricant to avoid damaging the motor.
To lubricate the motor, first, identify the position of the motor. Clean the motor to remove the dirt grease before applying new oil. Drip the lubricant into the main shaft and allow it to flow into the bearing. Before lubricating the motor, consider the following guideline;
- Remove the ceiling fan from the ceiling.
- Lubricate the motor regularly to keep the motor functioning correctly and reduce the motor’s wearing and tearing.
- If the motor is distorted, consider replacing the whole ceiling fan since the price for buying a new motor is almost the same as purchasing a new ceiling fan.
- Use the right greasing agent to avoid damaging the motor.
- Finally, use appropriate tools to open the fan.
Conclusion
The article describes the best ways of troubleshooting a ceiling machine that produces scraping noise. Follow each step carefully to get a positive outcome. Also, consider identifying the root cause of the problem before starting the troubleshooting process. Moreover, avoid ignoring the scraping noise and consider fixing it immediately.
Finally, it is advisable to regularly inspect the ceiling fan and troubleshoot the problem identified before it affects the whole ceiling fan. Further, consider seeking help from a repair shop if the problem persists or you cannot fix the ceiling fan problem.
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