Thought I could fix a wobbly ceiling fan with a zip tie

The mounting bracket was stripped, but I cinched a heavy-duty zip tie around it as a temporary brace and it's held for 3 months. Has anyone else used a weird hardware store item to bail out a bigger repair?

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3 Comments

fionaw545mo ago

Honestly, the fire risk is a huge point, but I'm also thinking about the constant vibration from a wobbly fan. That zip tie is under a lot of stress and friction every single day. It might hold the weight, but the plastic can get brittle and snap from the movement alone, without any heat involved. You've got a heavy object spinning over your head that could come loose. A proper metal bracket is cheap insurance compared to that kind of damage or injury.

4

abbyrobinson5mo ago

Wait, is that zip tie around the electrical box or the fan mounting bracket? Because if it's the box in the ceiling, that's a real fire risk since it can melt. I've seen people try stuff like that and it makes me nervous. The bracket itself is one thing, but anything touching the wiring area is a bad idea. You should really check what it's actually holding up.

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wright.dakota4mo ago

Zip ties are the duct tape of the DIY world now. People use them for everything they shouldn't. Seen a friend hold a car bumper on with them once. Lasted three weeks before it snapped on the highway. Same logic applies here. Quick fix today turns into a headache tomorrow.

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