Ceiling Fan: lifespan, maintenance and replacement

Typical lifespan: 10–20 years (about 15 years).

Maintenance schedule

• Dust blades and motor housing — Monthly
• Tighten blade screws and mounting hardware — Every 6 months
• Check balance and wobble — Annually
• Lubricate motor (if applicable) — Annually
• Reverse direction for season — Twice a year

Signs it needs replacing

• Excessive wobbling despite balancing
• Grinding or clicking noises
• Light flickering unrelated to bulbs
• Motor overheating
• Pull chain or switch not working

Tips

Run counterclockwise in summer (downdraft) and clockwise on low in winter (updraft) to save energy.