Home Maintenance Tip: Ceiling Fan Maintenace

Ceiling fans can reduce both cooling and heating expense. In the summer months, ceiling fans only use a fraction of the energy that a central air conditioning unit or even a window unit uses. By circulating air in a room, ceiling fans create a wind chill type effect. Moisture on your skin evaporates quicker allowing you to feel cooler even though the temperature in the room has not changed.

Maintaining your ceiling fan to keep it running smoothly will extend the longevity of the fan as well as reducing your utility bills.

Ceiling fans can also be used in the winter. A switch on the side of most ceiling fans or on a remote control device allows you to change the direction that the ceiling fan blades rotate. For the warmer months, the blades should rotate in the counterclockwise direction. For the winter months, the blades should be switched to the clockwise direction. Use a low speed to help circulate warm air in the room.

Wobbling ceiling fans are one of the most common problems. Wobbling may be the result of an error in the initial installation when the weight of each of the blades is not matched. Wobbling can also be caused by the spinning and vibration of a ceiling fan shaking the blades loose. If you have a wobbling ceiling fan, follow these steps:

• Inspect the ceiling fan’s blade screws. Tighten any loose screws until they are snug.
• Purchase a ceiling fan balancing kit. Using a trial and error method, place the small weights on the blades until the wobbling is stopped.
• If these steps don’t work, inspect the blades for warpage. If any of the blades are warped, all of the blades will need to be replaced.
  

Noisy ceiling fans can be annoying. If you experience a noisy ceiling fan, follow these steps:

• Inspect all the components including the ceiling fan cover, the body screws, the rod and the light fixtures to make sure the screws are tight.
• Place a rubber guard between the glass and the screws to prevent the light fixtures from rattling.
• Make sure that the ceiling fan is being run off of a quality motor speed selector switch and not a dimmer switch.
• Clean your ceiling fan. Dust can cause a fan to malfunction and become noisy.

Cleaning a ceiling fan helps to ensure optimal performance and extends longevity. Dust build-up can reduce airflow to the motor causing it to run too hot and potentially burn out. Dust can also prevent the fan from working efficiently. Follow these steps to clean your ceiling fan every two months:

• Vacuum the top and bottom of each blade using the brush attachment. Be careful not to bend the blades.
• Follow-up by wiping the blades with a damp microfiber cloth.
• You can use compressed air to blow dust out of the motor.
• Remove any light fixture glass covers and wash them carefully by hand.

Ceiling fans can be both a useful and elegant feature of your home. Maintain them  to make them last and to save money.

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If you have questions about your home’s foundation or foundation repairs, contact Atlantic Foundation and Repair at 919-855-0855.