Noisy Bathroom Fan

[fitzhue]

We remodeled our bathroom about 6 months ago. Previously, it didn't have a vent fan at all so I asked our contractor to install one. Everything was working perfectly until about a month ago when it started rattling. Loud enough to be a nuisance but not terribly loud. I have taken off the cover, cleaned the fan, tightened anything that looks like it could be tightened to no avail. The noise happens all the time with the plastic vent on but when I take it off, it hardly makes the noise.

Anybody have any ideas as to what could be causing the rattle?

 

[NutBucket]

If it happens with the cover on maybe you can add some foam padding to prevent it from rattling.

 

[spacejamz]

you need to isolate where the noise is coming from exactly....can you get up on a ladder and listen up close to see which side of the cover the noise is coming from? if you hold the cover firmly with your hand when the fan is on, does the noise go away?

 

[SparkyJJO]

The plastic cover may be vibrating on its hangar or against the ceiling.

 

[mizzou]

Noise is actually a plus when it comes to bathroom vent fans. It is supposed to give the people inside at ease to relieve themselves when other people are nearby.

Correct me if I'm wrong...but don't they design them to be a bit "noisy"?

 

[boomerang]

Correct me if I'm wrong...but don't they design them to be a bit "noisy"?

No. Some are promoted as being quiet and some, as silent.

http://www.ventingdirect.com/quiet-...m fan&ef_id=Vj-3fQAABSgjsg9Q:20151231113633:s

 

[mizzou]

No. Some are promoted as being quiet and some, as silent.

http://www.ventingdirect.com/quiet-...m fan&ef_id=Vj-3fQAABSgjsg9Q:20151231113633:s

Thanks

I can't remember where I heard or saw that. I know sometimes people complain about a lack of privacy when it's too quiet.

 

[MustISO]

The vent in the bathroom we use most often is starting to get loud, house is 15 yrs old so probably time to replace it. I'm hoping the new fan will have the same type of plug in connector so it'll be a simple swap job.

 

[olds]

Generally when they get loud it's a cracked/broken fan blade. This is not the OPs case.

 

[boomerang]

Generally when they get loud it's a cracked/broken fan blade. This is not the OPs case.

Or, on one of ours, the fan motor is mounted to a flanged plate that is pivoted up into the housing and held in place with one screw. I had to do some bending on those flanges to tighten it up in the housing. I thought I had it licked when I removed the build-up stuck all over the fan blades but it was still making a racket. I was thinking that maybe the fan was out of balance creating a vibration when I saw how dirty and grimy the fan was.

 

[highland145]

The vent in the bathroom we use most often is starting to get loud, house is 15 yrs old so probably time to replace it. I'm hoping the new fan will have the same type of plug in connector so it'll be a simple swap job.

Mine is between the floors. No way to replace it without tearing out sheet rock. Bought the same brand hoping to just change the motor....and the new configuration works in the opposite direction (intentional, I'm sure). Drilled a couple of new holes in the old motor mount bracket, installed the new motor and I'm a happy guy.

 

[shortylickens]

Take it out.
Clean the blades.
Check that the screws holding it are long enough and secure.
Consider foam padding the edge.

 

[shortylickens]

Unrelated:
This summer I discovered a lot of the wood in our house is held together with staples, not screws.
This includes door frames, window sills, and a lot of the trim outside.

I spent a fair amount of time putting in decent wood screws to help keep things together.

 

[paperfist]

Unrelated:
This summer I discovered a lot of the wood in our house is held together with staples, not screws.
This includes door frames, window sills, and a lot of the trim outside.

I spent a fair amount of time putting in decent wood screws to help keep things together.

Is it a newer house? I know contractors love those staples for wood work, haven't seen that used on door frames.

 

[fitzhue]

So the unit we have consists of a fan, light, and a heater. No noise at all with the heater and no noise with the cover off and the fan on. It's only been operating for about 6 months so it's not very dirty but I vacuumed it out anyway. I can't seem to isolate it at all by holding the cover. It's almost like putting the cover on is causing some tension inside when it's screwed in. This is the unit we have: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00HP...d80l+80+cfm+exhaust+fan+with+light+and+heater

Looks like some foam padding might be in order.

 

[Aikouka]

The vent in the bathroom we use most often is starting to get loud, house is 15 yrs old so probably time to replace it. I'm hoping the new fan will have the same type of plug in connector so it'll be a simple swap job.

Aren't most vent fans just hot and neutral connection points where you run Romex to them? I have a Panasonic fan that I have yet to install, and that's what it has. As for that fan, I'm debating whether to replace an old, noisy, somewhat ineffective fan in the bathroom that I use more, or finally install it in the bathroom that has no vent fan, but has a window. However, with the latter, I'm having issues putting the bathroom door in because the shower pad has a lip, and the Kohler door wasn't really designed for shower pads with a lip.

Honestly, that's probably been the worst part of any of my home improvement jobs: instructions that ignore possible scenarios. I ran into that when replacing my garage door opener. It said to install the bracket closest to the door first, which I did, and I found out that the distance was slightly off and it wouldn't naturally mate up with the angle iron for the main bracket. I had to work some crazy voodoo to make them go together. If I would have done it the opposite way or at least been told, "Hey... plan out the correct distance!", I would've been fine.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Most bathroom fans are junk, and start getting noisy after a few years. Look into an inline fan if you want something that will stay quiet. They are typically used in hydroponics but work great as a bathroom fan. The only sound you hear is air rushing into the vent.

Something like this:

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/4-6-8-10-12-...hash=item419956325a:m:mw2B8z1xS2i3ruVJ2V7855g

4" is typical for a bathroom.

 

[pcgeek11]

Is it a newer house? I know contractors love those staples for wood work, haven't seen that used on door frames.

Pre-hung contractor grade doors.... They all do.

 

[paperfist]

Pre-hung contractor grade doors.... They all do.

Even to secure them to the wall?

 

[paperfist]

Most bathroom fans are junk, and start getting noisy after a few years. Look into an inline fan if you want something that will stay quiet. They are typically used in hydroponics but work great as a bathroom fan. The only sound you hear is air rushing into the vent.

Something like this:

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/4-6-8-10-12-...hash=item419956325a:m:mw2B8z1xS2i3ruVJ2V7855g

4" is typical for a bathroom.

Winner!

I got sick of those Home Depot fan that when they get dust on them they sound like air craft carriers and don't move enough air.

I bought an Fantech In-line about 5-6 years ago and it still sounds nice and quiet and still moves a ton of air.

 

[Excelsior]

Chiming in to mention I put in a really nice Panasonic bathroom fan in my condo's bathroom. Much quieter and moves more air.

IIRC, it was this one: http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-FV-...&qid=1451970578&sr=8-1&keywords=panasonic+fan

 

[shortylickens]

Is it a newer house? I know contractors love those staples for wood work, haven't seen that used on door frames.

Made in 99, my mom moved in around the time the neighborhood was finished.

All of them were knocked out quickly for an easy buck. They will be falling apart in another 15 years, I am sure.

 

[DrPizza]

Unrelated:
This summer I discovered a lot of the wood in our house is held together with staples, not screws.
This includes door frames, window sills, and a lot of the trim outside.

I spent a fair amount of time putting in decent wood screws to help keep things together.

Did you check how long the staples are? Crown staplers are good for some types of trim work - they have the length of a finishing nail, but due to the crown, the wood doesn't pull through as easily. The old oak trim in my bathroom was fastened with 1 1/2" crown staples, then a matching wood putty over the staples. It was much more difficult to remove - it held much better than finishing nails would have held it.

 

[adolfotx]

My wife and I just replaced both of ours. We installed; Broan 791 LED, from Lowes.

 

[TheSlamma]

No. Some are promoted as being quiet and some, as silent.

http://www.ventingdirect.com/quiet-...m fan&ef_id=Vj-3fQAABSgjsg9Q:20151231113633:s

LOL, check out the one with music that plays from it!!!