Ceiling Fan Wobbles

There are several reasons why a ceiling fan wobbles. The blades could be out of balance, out of track, or warped. The wobble could also result from air turbulence caused by the blades being closer than 6 inches from one side of a sloped cathedral ceiling or ceiling beam.

You can check to see if the fan blades are out of balance by clipping a spring-type clothespin to halfway between the tip and the blade iron on the leading edge of one blade. Turn the fan on to a low speed and see if the added weight stops the wobble. Try each blade to determine if it needs more weight. If the clothespin stops the wobble, it should be replaced with thin, adhesive-backed lead-weighted tape, which should be available through the fan manufacturer's service center.

Check to see if one or more of the blades are out of track. Using a yardstick, measure the distance from the ceiling to the tip of each blade -- it should be equal for each blade. If the distances vary, contact the nearest manufacturer's service center about correction or warranty replacement. If the blades are not out of track, try swapping the blades to correct the problem. Switch the position of two adjacent blades, while leaving the other two in their original positions. While the blades are off the fan, lay them on a flat surface to see if they are warped; if so, replace them.