How to Fix a Noisy Kitchen Exhaust Fan

All extractor fans, regardless of the room will emit some kind of noise. However, if you have to talk over it, it may be too loud. It can be confusing to identify whether it’s supposed to be that loud or not, but here are some signs that can tell you it is louder than it should be.

• There is a loud whirring that can be heard in more than just the room the fan is in.
• You can hear the rattling of loose components as the extractor operates.
• When there are strong winds outside, it makes the extractor fan even louder.

Is a loud extractor fan bad?

Loudness can affect people differently depending on their level of sensitivity. However, there is a fine difference between an extractor fan that is loud and one that is operating, they are not designed to be loud enough to bother you.

If your extractor fan is loud, it could be an indication of a larger issue at play. Especially if has become louder over time. If the loudness is the result of an issue, it should be resolved as soon as possible. Especially if the noise is the result of the fan working at a worse efficiency

If the efficiency of your extractor fan is compromised, it means that humidity will not be extracted at an adequate rate, which will lead to condensation forming and eventually, mould. 

How to fix a noisy kitchen exhaust fan

Your kitchen extractor fan will make noise, that being said, it should never be to a degree where it is the loudest thing in the room. Most kitchen extractor fans operate at a low volume which is only usually heard if the entire room is silent.

If a kitchen extractor fan is making any more noise than it should be, there could be a few issues which are contributing to this, they are usually…

• Age
• Dust
• Technical fault
• Damages
• Settings

For each issue, the solutions are simple…

• An old extractor fan can be replaced if maintenance is futile and it is overdue for a replacement anyway.
• Dust can be removed through some simple maintenance, using the hose of a vacuum cleaner gently within the ducting can be enough.
• Technical faults can be fixed via your manufacturer’s warranty or replacement.
• Damages can be fixed via manufacturer warranty or replacements too.

But how does each issue make an extractor fan noisy? We will explain below.

How do kitchen extractor fans get noisy?

Age

An older extractor fan is likely to be more noisier than its more current counterparts. In addition, years of usage naturally lead to wear and tear, and if it isn’t maintained at all, this will contribute to the noise factor.

Dust

A dusty extractor fan isn’t always the reason for noise to begin, but if left for long enough, it will become a factor. Depending on your level of usage, the dust in your home, and the amount of maintenance you conduct (if any) a kitchen extractor fan has the potential to collect a large amount of dust.

Some of this dust settles on the surface of the ducting as it becomes stuck by other contaminants that settle on the ducting. As time goes on, the dust can become large enough that it can affect the movement of the fan blades, which can result in noise.

Technical fault

Like any piece of technology, there is always a chance of a technical fault coming into play that can prevent the technology from working effectively. With extractor fans, maybe the fan’s motor has a fault which may make it work faster than it should, resulting in more noise.

Damages

Although damages are rare for extractor fans, they can occur. It generally happens if maintenance is conducted a little too aggressively. Damages can affect the noise of your extractor fan as debris can rattle in there amongst the fan blades from time to time.

Settings

Some kitchen extractor fans have multiple speeds at which they can operate. It is always good to check the level that yours is operating on, as it may not need to be that high. However, this won’t dramatically change the sound output if the fan is already unusually noisy.

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