Things You'll Need:
- Screwdriver
- Tape measure
- Balancing kit
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Step 1
Tighten the blades. As fans rotate, screws often come loose. If your fan has been shaking for a while, most of the blade screws probably need a good tightening even if that is not the culprit. If you can wiggle a blade, then it needs to be tightened.
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Step 2
Test the blade pitch by measuring the blade-to-ceiling height. Put your tape measure in one spot, and slowly rotate the fan. If one of the blades is more than 1/4 inch higher or lower, then gently bend the blade holder up or down to level the blades. This realigns the blades and fixes most outside fans that shake.
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Step 3
Check to see if your blades are warped. Since outside fans are exposed to the elements, the rain or humidity may have warped the blades. You can lay each one on the ground to see if it lies flat. If it doesn't, then you should install a replacement blade.
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Step 4
Balance the blades if your outdoor fan is not level after tightening and aligning the blades. You will need a balancing kit from the hardware store. The drawback to this method is that it is quite tedious, but be patient when applying weights.
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Step 5
Turn the fan on at the speed that causes the fan to shake the most, and then turn it off to start working with the balancing kit. Since this is an outside fan, you should do this when conditions are calm and wind is not causing the fan to wobble.
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Step 6
Use the balancing clip to test where weights should be placed. Move the clip closer to the fan motor until you make the shaking decrease. Stick a weight in the center of the blade near the clip.
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Step 7
Place the clip on the same blade or nearby blades to determine where the next weight should be placed. Continue placing weights until the fan is level.
