Is your noisy extractor fan becoming a problem?

Is your noisy extractor fan becoming a problem?

By Ruth MacEachern

Product Manager

Extractor fans are a key part of your home ventilation.  They are typically mounted on the walls or ceilings in rooms that have high moisture levels.  Building regulations set out specific guidelines for extractor fans in kitchens, bathrooms, and utility rooms where they help to prevent damp by drawing the humid air outside in order to reduce the amount of condensation in the home.

Extractor fans can start to become noisy over time.  Wear and tear to motors and bearings as well as blocked filters or dirty fan blades can affect performance and increase the amount of noise generated.

In your home, a noisy extractor fan can be annoying, but in business premises such as offices the sound can become a distraction that affects workers and may encourage people to switch them off which can increase humidity and make the air in a building stale which can result in increased spread of infection.

Extractor fans can become noisy over time

There are a number of reasons why your older extractor fan may be noisy:

Older motor designs were less efficient and noisier than modern devices, and some models may not have had the same level of sound insulation as they do today.  Less efficient motors mean that your bills will be slightly higher than with a more modern device.

Components that wear over time.  An extractor fan may be in place for many years working multiple times each day in a humid environment such as a bathroom.  There are multiple components which may wear out.  The motor may corrode and make more noise, the bearings may lose their lubrication and start to grind, and fan damage may cause a wobble that creates more noise.

Loose fitting internal components grinding or knocking against each other can create additional noise over and above that of the motor.

Reducing Extractor Fan Noise

If you have a relatively new extractor fan that has recently started to make a lot of noise, it might be something as simple as a blocked filter that is forcing the fan to work harder.  Most fans are designed so that the filter can be removed and cleaned with soap and water. 

You should ensure that the power is switched off before you remove any panels and that everything is fully dried before reassembling.

If your fan is older, and cleaning the filter is ineffective, it is likely that the motor or bearings are worn out.  It is rarely cost effective to repair an extractor fan, so it should be replaced with a reliable modern design.

Is it time to replace your old, noisy fan?

Modern extractor fans are much more energy efficient and easier to maintain, so they are much cheaper to run – as well as being much more effective.

With powerful motors, and innovative design that includes moisture sensors, fans such as the EnviroVent Cyclone 8 detect how much moisture is in the air and adjust their power automatically.  This means less condensation in your home which will stop damp and mould from developing.

If noisy extractor fans are causing you problems at home, or your older fans simply don’t work as well as they once did, it may be time to upgrade.  Our local specialists can visit your home to perform a free survey that will identify the causes of condensation.  They can provide you with advice about the best ventilation system for your needs.