Ceiling fans are important assets at home, especially during the summer, as they provide comfort and a new air movement. Most people find it a good decision to add ceiling fans to their HVAC systems. However, the ceiling fan might make some funny and disruptive noises when something is wrong with it.
Most of the time, people think the noises result from the motor, which is not the case since the fan will not turn on properly when the motor is bad. The clicking noises in the fan may be caused by different things that we will discuss in this article. Again, the article will also discuss the ways to troubleshoot the clicking noises in the fan.
Harbor breeze ceiling fan clicking noise
If you own a ceiling fan from the harbor breeze or any other manufacturer, there is a possibility that you hear clicking noises that come from the fan. The fan will make noises even when the speed settings are low or high. The following are some of the causes of clicking noise in a ceiling fan.
Causes of noisy ceiling fans
Dimmer controls
The ceiling fan may produce a humming sound. This kind of noise is not mostly noticeable during the day. However, it is always significant at night, especially when you are about to go to sleep, and therefore very annoying. The humming noises of the fan are caused by the dimmer controls used to control the fan’s speed
The use of dimmer switches is not the right way to control the fan’s speed, and therefore they produce a humming sound. Therefore, standard speed controls are used to replace the dimmers.
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Use of remotes
If the fan used has remote controls, there is a possibility that your receivers are bad. When the receivers are bad, there is the possibility that there will not be a good connection with the remote, which will result in a humming noise. The best way to troubleshoot this problem is by connecting the fan directly from the power source.
Loose screws
A rattling noise produced by the ceiling fan shows that the screws that connect the ceiling fan blades and the motor are loose. Loose screws need to be tightened up as they can pose dangers to the people in the room. While tightening the loose screws, it is important to ensure that the motor housing is free from loose screws. Again, the power connectors inside the switch house can also cause rattling noises. To prevent these noises, ensure that the wire connectors are secure. That should be done when the power supply is turned off.
Capacitors
In some instances, you may find that the capacitors cause the problem of ceiling fan noises. When the capacitors are bad, the fan will have a low voltage which will, in turn, cause the motor to use forcing energy to function. If the fans are many, the noise is produced due to the struggle of the motor.
Bad mounting
Some people hung the ceiling fans directly to the ceiling joist. When the fans are hung directly to the ceiling joist, there will be a production of noises. Therefore, it is advisable to use a ceiling fan hanger installed between the joists of the ceiling. The hanger will help make the fan solitary so that the joist will not amplify the sound.
How to fix a noisy ceiling fan
The ceiling fan noises seem to be bearable at first, but the clicking sound becomes louder and so annoying that they are not bearable as time goes on. Below are ways to silence a ceiling fan that is producing such noises.
Make sure that you clean the blades
Dust will always accumulate on the blades of the ceiling fan and therefore need to be cleaned often. The accumulation of dust in the blades causes clicking noises. When cleaning the blades, ensure that you do it gently since the pressure exerted on them will cause an imbalance. The dust is best cleaned using a microfiber towel and an all-purpose cleaner for wiping the blades.
Ensure that the blades are tightened
When the ceiling fan blades are loose, the blades will move from side to side as they spin, causing noise. Ensure that all the blades are tightened and if they are not, fix them by yourself using the screwdriver. In addition to that, always inspect the blades regularly to ensure they are in the right position.
Ensure that the bulbs are properly installed
Some of the ceiling fans are attached to the light bulbs, and as a result, the screws attaching the bulbs should be fixed correctly. In addition, loose bulbs tend to produce some funny sounds which might be disturbing. Tightening all the nuts in the fan may help reduce the noise. But, again, fixing the bulb rightly will also reduce the noise produced by the fan.
Lubricate the fan
The fan motor should always be kept lubricated to ensure that no friction will occur, causing wear and tear. When the fan is not lubricated, squeaking sounds will be produced when it is running. In addition to that, parts of the fan may get rust after some use due to a lack of lubrication oil.
Moreover, the lack of lubrication to the fan motor makes the motor spin with difficulties. That forced spinning will cause squeaking noises which may be disturbing. When adding the lubrication oil to the motor, ensure that the oil gets into the bearings by putting a few drops above the shaft as you rotate the motor to distribute the oil.
Inspect the screws joining the fan to the ceiling
When the fan is not well mounted in the ceiling, it might produce some noises when turned on. Keep on inspecting the fan’s condition regularly since the nuts that connect the fan to the ceiling might be loose over time. If the fan has loose screws, a squeaking sound is produced each time the blades will be spinning.
Check the globe on the light kit
In some of the ceiling fans, the bulbs are covered by a globe. In such a case, you should ensure that the globe is tightened well to avoid noises in the fan during a spin. Moreover, the globe might be too old, having some cracks which may produce some noises. In such a case it is advisable to buy a new globe to replace the worn-out one.
Balance the blades again
Unbalanced blades in the ceiling fan may cause the production of squeaking noises. The blades are balanced using the balancing clip. First, check whether any blade needs to be balanced by placing the balancing clip between the tip and the base of the blade. Then, repeat the same procedure for all the blades.
Conclusion
Above are some of the causes of clicking noise in the harbor ceiling fan and the best ways of troubleshooting the problem. The ceiling fan needs to be checked regularly to ensure that there are no loose fixtures and to avoid the production of clicking and squeaking noises.
Finally, if your harbor breeze ceiling fan is still making the clicking noise after trying all these trouble-fixing processes, try to call a pro to fix the problem for you. The fan may be experiencing a technical problem that requires great knowledge and an experienced person to fix it.
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