it causes the steel frame to vibrate, therefore making a really annoying 75 db hum. is there a way to stop the vibration? perhaps padding the screws holding the motor on, but how? what would i use for the padding??
this is 10 years old
its not the motor, the physical motor is quiet.
Wow, please don’t spray it with WD40. Could ruin the motor, short out or shock you. You should be able to pull "the guts" of the fan out rather easily by removing the cover, unplugging the cord that looks like a lamp plug and then manipulating the motor assembly so that it drops out. Depending on the fan, it may be screwed in (if you notice loose screws holding it in, that may be your problem) or it may just snap into the frame of the fan. It should come out in one piece (fan blades and all).
If you succeed in removing the motor assembly (fan blades and all), you will have access to the exhaust tube. Check to make sure it is not plugged and that the return air flap moves freely (there is a plastic/aluminum flap in the exhaust tube that closes when the fan is off but lets air out when the fan is on).
Clean the fan enclosure with a damp rag and let dry.
Wipe down the fan motor assembly with a damp cloth (don’t soak the fan in water). Try to get as much lint and whatever else may be stuck to the motor off as possible without leaving pieces of paper towel or anything else.
Spin the fan blades and make sure they spin easily and level. If the fan blades spin unevenly, the result will be unwanted vibrations and alot of noise. You may try to manually level the blades, but don’t be surprised if you snap them off.
Once everything is clean, just pop the fan motor back into the enclosure, plug the motor in and turn it on without the cover. Then observe how the fan is running and decide if padding (like the weatherstripping) would help.
If you still have problems, replacement is probably your best option. You may try Googling the part number or manufacturer to see if they make replacement "guts" for your fan. Depending on the way your bathroom is setup you may even be able to find a fan of similar size that can replace your current fan without any drywall damage (be extremely careful).
Best bet in the long-run is to call a certified electrician.
Clean it and spray it down with WD-40.
Try removing the cover grill and with the fan off spray some WD 40 around the fan motor bearings– and the shaft holding the fan blade — turn on fan and see if there is any change– you may need to spray a few times to lossen the bearings up–I am assuming the exhaust duct is not plugged up or blocked–
Don’t spray it with wd40, it will ruin the motor. Take the whole fan out of the opening and get some felt weather stripping seal, they are about an inch wide and comes in a roll. Stick the felt all around the opening between the fan and the studs or what ever it attaches to and just snug up the screws not to tight, this will stop the vibration, be sure to clean the fan blades and the grid, You can spray some silicone spray or camp dry water proofing stuff on the blades, this will help the blades stay clean longer with out the dust building up and making it unbalanced and vibrate more.
You can use a piece of rubber or a piece of canvas or heavy cloth. If you can loosen the frame try putting some sponge rubber under it.
If all fails, there are whisper quiet fans, just be sure it is vertical if on the ceiling or horizontal if on the wall.
How old is it? It may be worn out and you need a new one.
This is a very common problem,and most also have a air operated damper
which if in a cold area like Wisconsin do not stay closed so leaving a lot of cold
air in . For a answer you can take your old unit out and put in one with a
motorized damper and good low noise motor ,But of course this will cost much
more,and you would have to check with a heating and cooling contractor,or you
may also check any good hardware store Farm and Fleet, Lowes. Home Depot,
ACE hardware , ………Hope this helps even a little ……Ok ………Mel……………..
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The most straight forward solution is to replace the fan with a new – whisper quiet unit. Be cautious when purchasing the replacement fan, and pay attention to the "sones" rating. (the lower the sones the more quiet the fan)