- Attach a brush to the end of your vacuum cleaner hose. Shut off the ceiling fan and allow the blades to stop. Clean built-up dust on the leading edges of the blades, and run the brush attachment over the top and bottom of the blades as well. Thoroughly clean the motor housing and all ventilation screens on the fan. Use a clean, damp cloth and wipe all surfaces, including any light fixtures on the fan. Remove the light covers or lenses to clean them. Removing the dust from the fan will keep the blades in balance and the motor cooler during operation.
- Check each screw on the fan blades. Tighten the screws that hold the metal hardware to the drive motor. Make sure that the screws holding the metal housing over the motor are tight. Reinstall the light covers or lenses over the bulbs. Exercise caution when tightening light bulbs and the metal screws that hold the glass lenses in place--overtightening could break the glass.
- Most ceiling fans use permanently lubricated bearings. This means you can't access the motor bearings to add grease or oil. Check your fan's model number and the manufacturer's specifications to see if lubrication is needed. Noisy motors can be caused by improper voltage. The use of a dimmer switch to control the speed of the fan may be the problem; it can cause the motor to overheat and ruin drive bearings. Check all electrical connections to the fan and any switches that are used for the circuit.
Fans that have not been used for a while may be noisy upon start-up. This is normal; it may take up to a day for the lubrication to work into all bearing surfaces. Moisture entering the motor housing can cause bearings to rust and seize. Keep the fan motors dry unless the units are made specifically for outdoor use.
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