OT--ceiling fan

ohiojim · Jun 23, 2016

I have a ceiling fan that is out of balance, i'm thinking about removing the blades and weighing each one and adding or subtracting till they all weigh the same,..if I add weight where would I put it ??? seems the farther out from center the more effect it would have. Where would be the best place ? or is there such a thing ???

Janicholson · Jun 23, 2016

The fan will likely (at slow speeds) be swinging toward the heavy blade/blades. A paint brush dipped in water can be used to touch those blades by coming toward it from the outside edge on. This will wet the heavy blade in a way that is not dangerous or permanent. Use washers taped on the top of the opposite side Blade/blades to experiment with balance. (2" blue masking tape in 3 inch strips will hold while setting this up) Once it is working at low speeds, gluing the washers on with gorilla glue (dampened surface and washers) will be permanent. Putting them farther out does increase their effect as a weight. Jim

Gambles · Jun 23, 2016

DEPENDING ON THE MODEL, sometimes you can find replacement blades right off the rack....cheap.
About two weeks ago, I replaced the fan blades at a local parochial school with ones that the janitor said were in stock and he had purchased at Home Depot.
The wobble was corrected immediately.

Gene Davis (Ga.) · Jun 23, 2016

A shop that sells fans should have the balancing kits in stock to do this job. The weights clip on the edges of the blade.

Stephen Newell · Jun 23, 2016

You can buy balancing weights to put on the blades. Some people just stick coins on them. I don't think it would help you to weigh the blades, it has as much to do with the angle of the blade as the weight. It's usually easier to just guess at it and tape the weights to the blades until you find the right spot and then stick them on permanent when you get it right.

MarkB_MI · Jun 24, 2016

Clean the blades before you try to balance them. Could just be an accumulation of dirt.

Don't bother weighing them. Just experiment with adding weight to the blades.

Dick2 · Jun 24, 2016

Also check the fan to make sure that all of the blades are in the same plane as it rotates. I have had to shim some blades to get them all in the same plane as it rotates. A blade out of the normal plane will cause movement of the fan.

Greg K · Jun 24, 2016

As was mentioned already, make sure they are all level/in the same plane. Also make sure the blades, downrod, and ceiling bracket are tight. Being loose will not make it out if balance but will make it worse, sometimes just tightening it up will take the wobble out of it. You can buy a balancing kit, or I probably have 1 laying around, that will have a test weight that clips on the blade. It is just trial and error mostly, unless you try the wet brush trick which I never have, it may take more than 1 weight to balance it.

ss55 · Jun 24, 2016

Before you try balancing the fan, check that the blades are still flat and straight. If the blades are warped or sagging from moisture they will be tough to balance and they will soon be out of balance again. You can replace all the blades at once, or watch for end-of-season and preseason sales to replace the whole fan.

dr sportster · Jun 24, 2016

A bent blade will do that too . Even if one is a little off. Sometimes it is not balance.

OT--ceiling fan

ohiojim

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Janicholson

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Gambles

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Gene Davis (Ga.)

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Stephen Newell

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MarkB_MI

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Dick2

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Greg K

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ss55

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dr sportster

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