The constant drone of a noisy extractor fan can be a real nuisance. A loud extractor fan can be caused by many things:
Fan blades: The moving part of the fan is fan blades. Overtime, dirt and grime build up on the fan blades can cause the fan to become noisy. Make sure that the fan blades are clean. If the fan is worn out or damaged, it may begin to make noise as it spins. We recommend you to check for wear and tear of the fan.
Motor: Fan motor is the part that moves the fan blades. Overtime, the motor can wear out and this can make the motor noisy. Remove the fan’s front cover and check for wear and damage. If you see any signs of damage then it may be time for replacement.
Ducting: A fan extracts air from the room through the ductwork. When a fan removes the air from a room, it has to then transport it through the ducting and expels it to the outside of the house through a vent. Using the correct duct length is critical for a quiet operation. The ductwork also should be as straight as possible as hard turns or multiple turns will all increase the air pressure and the noise that the fan makes.
Mounting: A well mounted exhaust fan makes for a good installation. Poor mounting could also be the cause for a loud fan. When a fan is loosely mounted, the wall/window/ceiling will not be able to contain the vibration caused by the motor resulting in the entire fan assembly to move which creates excess noise. The vibration also transfers to the walls, window or the ceiling multiplying the amount of noise it makes.
To check if the fan’s mounting is causing the noise, take off the fan’s front cover and gently push on the fan assembly to see if you get any movement. If the unit is noticeably loose, you’ll have to mount the fan correctly in place. It is possible that the screws need to be tightened.