My Ceiling Fan is Making a Clicking Noise

Brisbane’s summers make staying cool a full-time job. It can be expensive to run your air conditioning 24/7, which is why most of us turn to ceiling fans.

Ceiling fans are an affordable and efficient way to beat the heat. When they’re working properly, ceiling fans are effective and almost silent. But, when something’s wrong, ceiling fans can make some pretty annoying noises.

A ceiling fan that is making clicking, grinding or humming noises shouldn’t be ignored. These are a symptom of a bigger problem, and you may need to replace the fan if you don’t address the underlying cause. In this article, we’ll look at some of the most common ceiling fan noises and what you can do to fix the issue.

Common Ceiling Fan Noises

1. Clicking or Tapping Noises

Ceiling fans making clicking noises is one of the most common complaints we hear. Clicking and tapping noises are usually caused by loose fan blades, wobbly components, electrical issues or a loose light fitting.

2. Grinding Noises

Grinding noises are caused by a motor that needs attention. Ceiling fan motors and bearings need to be oiled from time to time. Switch off your fan and call an electrician if you hear a grinding noise. Running the fan while it’s grinding can damage components and may turn a simple repair job into a replacement.

3. Humming Noises

Humming noises are typically caused by electrical issues in the fan. They’re also common in ceiling fans with built-in lighting. Dimmable LED lights are especially prone to making humming noises.

Electrical humming can also be caused by electrical pulses that are used to active off-peak water heaters. These humming noises are unavoidable. You may be able to reduce the noise with a ripple control device, but there is no guarantee this will make your ceiling fan silent.

You’ll need to speak to an electrician to diagnose and repair any other electrical issues.

4. Scraping Noises

Most scraping noises are caused by the dome-shaped canopy that’s attached to the ceiling above the fan. The canopy can come loose and rub against the ceiling or the downrod when the fan is in use.

How to Fix a Noisy Ceiling Fan

1. Inspect the Fan

Clean any dust and dirt off your fan and then inspect the unit. To begin, turn the fan on and watch it carefully for obvious defects like wobbling. If you can’t see anything, turn it off and grab your ladder. When inspecting a fan you should be looking for signs of:

2. Tighten Any Screws

Ceiling fans come disassembled. They arrive in multiple parts that need to be bolted together during installation. Using a ladder, check the screws that hold the fan blades onto the motor.

These screws should be fastened tightly. If any of the fan blades are noticeably loose, try tightening the screws and see if that gets rid of the clicking noise.

Be careful not to overtighten screws and bolts. Overtightening can bend the fan blades and cause them to become unbalanced or noisy.

3. Look for Wobbly Fan Blades

Once you’ve checked the blades to make sure the screws are tight, turn the fan back on and look for wobbly blades.

Wobbly blades are a sign that the fan is unbalanced. This can cause a clicking noise and will shorten the lifespan of the bearings and motor. If you notice wobbling, check each blade for signs that it’s bent, cracked or damaged. Cracked and damaged blades are especially common on outdoor fans with timber blades that are exposed to the weather.

Contact the manufacturer to order replacement blades if you find any obvious damage. Avoid using the fan until you’ve replaced the blade.

4. Check the Canopy Cover

The canopy is the decorative cover that hides the wiring between the ceiling and the fan. These covers can come loose over time and they may be the cause of clicking or scraping noises. 

Climb up your ladder and see if you can wiggle the canopy. The canopy should fit snugly. Tighten the screws if they’re loose. Some canopies are held on with a small collar that can be rotated to tighten the cover.

5. Adjust the Light Diffuser

If your fan includes built-in lighting, the glass or plastic light diffuser may be the source of the noise. These diffusers usually screw into place. They shrink and expand due to heat from the light, which can cause them to rattle while the fan is operating.

You can usually fix this problem by rotating the diffuser to loosen or tighten it slightly. Avoid over tightening, as this can cause the diffuser to crack.

6. Call an Electrician

A ceiling fan that makes clicking, tapping or grinding noises needs attention. If you don’t address the issue, internal components and wiring may become damaged, and you’ll need to replace the entire unit.

You can avoid that expense by calling an electrician. Your electrician will be able to disassemble the fan and find the source of any strange noises.

It’s important to leave ceiling fan work to a qualified professional. Ceiling fans are connected to mains power and can cause serious electric shocks. Clicking noises can sometimes be caused by loose or damaged electrical connections, so it’s better to leave maintenance to the pros.

Tips for Choosing a Quiet Ceiling Fan

All ceiling fans make noise, even when there’s nothing wrong with them. The best way to hush your ceiling fans is to choose the quietest possible product. If noise is a major concern, you can:

• Opt for timber or plastic blades – Older ceiling fans with metal blades tend to make more noise. You can improve the fan’s balance and reduce noise by choosing blades made of timber or plastic.

• Increase the number of blades – Ceiling fans with more blades make less noise. Fans with extra blades don’t need to turn as fast to move air, so they can reduce the volume.

• Choose rounded blades – Rounded blade shapes can cut through the air with less disturbance. This creates less noise than the typical square-cut blades found on most ceiling fans.

• Shorten the downrod – The downrod connects the ceiling fan’s motor to the ceiling. When the downrod is excessively long (e.g. if you have high ceilings), this can cause the fan to become unbalanced and noisy. Shortening the downrod may reduce the noise.

• Look for a DC-powered fan – Modern fans that are powered by DC electricity are much quieter than AC fans. They can also be up to 70% more energy efficient than AC fans, so you’ll be saving money in the long run!