Caring for Your Outdoor Ceiling Fan
The thought of maintaining our outdoor ceiling fans literally goes right over the top of our heads, like the old saying “out of sight, out of mind.” Unfortunately, outdoor ceiling fans do not maintain themselves and need a little care every now and then. The good news is outdoor ceiling fan maintenance is easy to do and does not take long at all.
Tip #1 Read the Book
Every appliance comes with some sort of user manual either in the box or easily accessible online through the manufacturer website. These nifty little user manuals usually have a section devoted to maintenance of your outdoor ceiling fan. Now, there is no need to read it through over and over again, or take notes, the test is open book.
Just skim through the pages and maybe even use a post-it note to bookmark the section for future reference. Somewhere in this section it should let you know how often you should perform routine maintenance on your outdoor ceiling fan. Mark the date on your calendar.
If you do not feel there is enough information, or if the User Manual is lacking the maintenance section try looking for your model of fan online. In many cases you will be able to find other people who own the same outdoor ceiling fan and can help with advice, suggestions and tips. If you cannot find a maintenance schedule, plan on once every six months for a fan that is used year round, and once a year for a fan that is only used for one or two seasons. The best time for maintenance is right before its active season, or when you switch blade direction.
Tip #2 Get the necessary tools
Basic outdoor ceiling fan maintenance requires a screwdriver, dust cloth and a lubricant like A-1 oil. Manually check your fan to see what tools you will need for the job. Some only require a Phillips screwdriver while others need a flathead screwdriver, both, nut drivers or alan wrenches. Be sure to gather all the tools necessary before climbing the ladder. Nothing is more frustrating than getting in the middle of something just to realize the tool you need is still in the garage.
Tip #3 Oil all moving parts
Most fans have easy access areas where you can easily reach the moving parts with the nozzle on a small oil can. Some of the more robust fans require you pull off the outer protective casing to reach the bearings and other moving parts. Be careful to not over oil the parts or else your fan may ended up dripping on anything below it until it is able to work out the excess oil. Usually all that is needed is one or two drops on the bearings and one drop on any other moving parts you can see. It is a good idea to step away from the fan and turn it on for a few seconds to work in the oil, and then maybe add another drop or two, especially if there are any squeaking or whining noises.
Tip #4 Tighten Everything
The most basic maintenance is simply tightening everything on the outdoor ceiling fan. Tighten the screws that mount the fan to the ceiling including the ones that attach the rod to the ceiling fan itself. Most blades are held on with screws of some sort, be sure to get them as well as the screws that hold the blade brackets to the motor. When the fan is on, you should be able to see if any blades or the mount are wobbling. Tighten everything without adding much torque. Hand tightening is fine for all ceiling fans.
Tip #5 Balance
To balance a fan all that is needed is a light-weight level (like the ones that come in household tool kits) and some pennies, scotch tape or lead tire weights. The first step is to place the level on top of the main section of the ceiling fan, the motor casing. If the level shows the casing to be uneven, add pennies or lead weights to the higher side until it shows level. Do this again on all four sides of the motor, as you move around the fan you may have to add and take some weights away until the whole motor is as even as you can make it.
Once the weights are secured, turn the fan on. If the wobbling has stopped great! If not, check the height of each of the fan blades. If one fan blade is drooping down lower than the rest, it will put the whole fan out of balance. Again use pennies or led weights until the blades appear to be even. Some weight may need to set close to the blade brackets while others may need to sit closer to the outer edges. Keep moving them around and let the level help you determine where the best locations are.
Tip #6 Finishing Touches
Don’t forget while you are up there on the ladder to go ahead and clean the fan. Dust buildup is one of the biggest downfalls of any ceiling fan. Although your outdoor ceiling fan should be cleaned and dusted more than once or twice a year, it is the best time to do some deep cleaning to it. When cleaning a fan you should steer away from any towels or clothes that are lint heavy as the lint may get sucked into the motor when it starts back up. Most manufacturers suggest using warm soapy water on the blades and a damp washcloth on the motor casing. If you like you can always use a wood polish or other suitable polish on the blades, casing and mount to keep them looking beautiful.
The outdoor ceiling fan is designed to be beautiful as well as useful, take care of it and it will continue to keep you cool on those hot summer days and warm during the cold winter nights.
Find more information here on Choosing an Outdoor Ceiling Fan.
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[...] an outdoor ceiling fan should always be done by a professional. Also, you should care for outdoor ceiling fans periodically to make sure they are clean and not [...]