First, stay safe
Before you check anything, turn the fan off at the wall switch and the pull cord. Wait for it to stop completely. Don't climb on a chair under a moving fan. Don't open the motor housing or touch any wiring. That is electrical work and, in Queensland, DIY electrical work is illegal.
Common causes
- Loose blade screws or blade brackets. Vibration loosens them over time. The click repeats with each turn and usually gets faster as the fan speeds up.
- A blade out of line. One blade sitting a little lower than the rest can tick as it passes.
- A loose light fitting. On fans with a light, loose glass shades, screws or the light kit can rattle and sound like a fault.
- A loose mounting bracket or canopy. If the fan shifts slightly as it turns, the fixing at the ceiling has loosened. This one matters, because a fan hangs from it.
- Worn motor bearings. A tick or grind that stays the same at all speeds, or a fan that feels rough when you turn it by hand with the power off, can mean worn bearings.
- An electrical fault. A buzz, hum, crackle or tick together with flickering lights, a burning smell or a tripped safety switch is not a mechanical noise.
Safe checks, with the power off
- Check the blades are clean, undamaged and sitting level
- Check any glass shades or covers are seated and secure
- Look for a wobble, from the floor, when the fan runs slowly
If a blade screw looks loose, tell the electrician rather than forcing it. A stripped thread or cracked bracket makes the problem worse.
When to stop and call
Turn the fan off at the wall and call a licensed electrician if:
- the fan wobbles or moves at the ceiling
- there is a burning smell, smoke, sparks or buzzing
- the lights flicker when the fan runs, or a safety switch trips
- the noise comes from inside the motor housing or the canopy
- you aren't sure
What an electrician does
We look at the fan, the fixing and the connection, and tell you what is needed. That may be a tighten and rebalance, a repair or a replacement. Replacement is quoted. For fitting a new fan, see what affects the cost of ceiling fan installation. Use the quote form or call.