When a ceiling fan squeaks almost constantly, it is extremely annoying and never seems to fade into the background. When trying to fix a squeaky ceiling fan, many people use WD-40, but will WD-40 stop a ceiling fan from squeaking?
It is not recommended to use WD-40 to oil the motor of a ceiling fan, but lubricants from the manufacturers are recommended. However, WD-40 can be used to stop any other part of the fan from squeaking. If the blades are causing the squeaking, WD-40 can be applied to the ceiling fan.
To figure out if WD-40 is your best option for getting rid of the squeakiness, keep reading. Perhaps you’ll want to get some help lubricating your motor with another oil instead!
What’s Causing the Ceiling Fan to Squeak?
In order to stop a ceiling fan from squeaking, you need to know what causes the squeaking. Well, dirt, dust, and grime are the main causes of a squeaky ceiling fan, as well as a lack of lubrication. If you want to keep or stop your ceiling fan from squeaking, you need to remove what is causing it to squeak.
Many people use WD-40 to fix squeaky appliances, but should you use WD-40 to fix your squeaky ceiling fan? To find that out, you need to know more about what WD-40 is and its uses.
WD-40 is a lubricant with a secret formula. It has been kept secret since it was invented. It was made because of a goal to fight rust from developing on wet metals and was made specifically for the Atlas Missile! (Source)
Most farmers, cowboys, and even stay-at-home moms keep some handy. It can be used for several things, such as shining up the metal decorations in the yard, getting crayon markings off of the wall, removing ink from clothes, and more.
If WD-40 can be used on that many things, maybe it can also save your ears from the annoying sound of your ceiling fan.
Don’t worry, you are not the only one who has suffered listening to a noisy ceiling fan. There are 5 common sounds for a ceiling fan to make when something isn’t placed the way it should be. These 5 sounds are: whirring, clicking, scraping or grinding, buzzing, or humming.
A noise described as “squeaky” is probably compared to scraping or grinding noises. This noise most commonly comes from the bearings on the motor.
The manufacturer of your fan will recommend a certain substance for your brand and type of ceiling fan. It is better to use what they recommend rather than WD-40.
Robb, the owner of Robb’s Homemade Life Youtube Channel, says not to use WD-40 to stop a ceiling fan from squeaking. He uses turbine oil from Supco. He also says that you should only use non-detergent oils on your ceiling fan. (Source)
In the following video, Vishal shows how he used WD-40 to stop the squeaks and clean the dust off of a ceiling fan. The caption suggests doing this periodically because the dust will continue to collect.
Others have said the WD-40 is not a good solution to the squeaky noise because the dirt causes the fan to squeak and the WD-40 soaks up the dirt rather than removes it. When more dirt collects and the WD-40 gets thick, the fan will squeak again.
Better Alternatives
If WD-40 isn’t the best lubricant to use on a ceiling fan, what else can be done? Using certain lubricants prescribed by the ceiling fan company is a safer option.
Joshua Clement, a ceiling fan expert, shows how to oil a ceiling fan motor.
Though this may look like it is extremely hard to do, it will keep your ceiling fan in better shape in the long run.
If you live in an area with high moisture, the motor in your ceiling fan will lose the lubricant faster than any other part. To keep your motor in the best shape, you will need to lubricate your fan about 1 or 2 times a year. This can help prevent grinding noises.
If the motor has gone too long without a lubricant, it may need to be replaced because of how worn down the parts are. It is best to completely unattach the fan in order to oil it. (Source)
Keep in mind that WD-40 should not be used for the motor on a ceiling fan. However, it can be used for a squeaking fan blade.
So, if you know that the blades of the ceiling fan are causing it to squeak, you can use WD-40 to fix it. However, if you use WD-40 on your ceiling and the squeaking doesn’t stop, something else is causing it. (Source)
Another way to prevent your ceiling fan from squeaking or making other annoying noises is to keep it clean. Many problems come from dust and dirt collecting on or inside the fan, making it unstable. The dirt can cause the components to stop working and become noisy.
To clean your fan, you will need to get a ladder and a rag. Wipe off the tops of the fan blades and all other areas of the fan you can reach. You will probably see a lot of dust.
Ceiling fans are important when the weather gets hot. For some people that is their only form of air conditioning. If it is squeaking, then there is a problem to be solved. Using WD-40 won’t be the end of the world, but it isn’t the best for your fan.
Calling Home Depot or the company from which you got the ceiling fan to ask about the best lubricant to use will be your best option.
Keep updated on your fan and how long it has gone without being lubricated. Plan ahead for when you may need to lubricate the motor again.
WD-40 is a quick and easy fix for many things, but it might not be the best thing for you to use when trying to stop an expensive ceiling fan from squeaking.
