If you plan on working on the motor, or want to feel extra secure, flip the circuit breaker so that there is no power in the room you are working on. [2] X Expert Source Daniel StoescuMaster Electrician Expert Interview. 21 June 2021. This, however, will make it difficult to test the fan.
Take a damp, soapy cloth and wipe down each blade to remove dust. A little dusting solution or a drop of dish soap should be enough. Rinse out the soap and wipe up any suds with a clean, damp cloth. Dry the blades by using a clean towel or paper wipes.
The screws should all be hand tight, but don’t break your wrist trying to get them extra tight. Once they start resisting your turns, you’re good to go.
Since fans blades are usually tilted, make sure you measure from the same edge on every blade – the highest corner is usually the easiest to mark. If you don’t have a yardstick, a board or piece of paper should work too. Use a permanent marker to note the height of each blade, keeping your measurement instrument in the same place while spinning the blades. [8] X Research source
Check the height of the blades one more time to make sure everything is well aligned. Remember to use your yardstick and spin the blades instead of moving the measuring stick.
Though balancing kits are cheap, you can use tape and a few nickels and dimes to make your own balancing kit at home, though the need to tape and untape the coins makes the process take a little longer. [11] X Research source
Look for the blade that, when the balance clip is attached, lowers the wobble the most. To test without a kit, tape a nickel in the center of a blade, then test it. Remove the nickel and try another one until you find the culprit.
There are apps available which will help you find the best spot for the clips to remove the wobble.
If the fan starts wobbling again after you remove the clip, attach a second, smaller weight next to the first one to make up for the weight of the balancing clip.
For 4-blade fans, swap a set of neighboring blades and turn the fan on again to test. For 5-blade fans, swap blades two away from each other (such as the first blade and the third) and test. It may take 2-3 tries to get the right order.
