Every fan makes a little noise, but a steady hum or electrical buzz that you can hear across the room usually has a cause. Often it's the type of speed control the fan is wired to; sometimes it's something loose; occasionally it's the motor itself.
If the hum is new, getting louder, or comes with heat or a smell, switch the fan off and call 0421 772 661.
A hum together with a burning smell, a hot wall control, flickering lights or a crackle from the ceiling is a warning. Turn the fan off, switch off the circuit at the switchboard if you can safely reach it, and call an electrician. If there's smoke or fire, get out and call 000.
Don't open the wall controller or the fan canopy to look for the noise. Listening, watching and switching are all you need to do; the rest is testing that should be done with the power isolated.
Stand under the fan, then near the wall control. A hum at the wall plate points to the controller. A hum from the fan body points to the motor, the receiver or the mounting.
Note whether the hum changes with speed. A hum that's loudest on low speed is a common sign of a controller that doesn't suit the fan.
Look at the wall control. If it's a rotary knob that looks like a light dimmer, it may not be a proper fan speed controller. Don't take the plate off; just note what's there and tell us.
With the fan switched off at the wall, check the light shade or glass is snug and nothing is rattling. A loose shade can sound surprisingly like an electrical hum.
A controller should be no more than slightly warm. If it's hot to touch, switch the fan off and leave it off until it's checked.
Wrong or incompatible speed controller. AC fans controlled by a light dimmer, or by a speed controller that doesn't suit the fan, often hum, especially at lower speeds. The fix is fitting the correct controller for that fan, which is electrical work.
Remote receivers and DC drivers. Fans with a receiver or electronic driver can produce a faint electronic whine. Some is normal; a loud or new noise can mean the electronics are failing, which is a product fault for the supplier.
Mounting and resonance. If the fan isn't held firmly to the ceiling structure, normal motor vibration can be amplified through the ceiling. Re-securing the bracket fixes it, and it's worth doing because a loose fan is also a safety risk.
Motor wear. Worn bearings or a failing motor capacitor in older AC fans can cause humming, slow starting or a fan that struggles to reach speed. Often the practical answer is a replacement fan.
Call us if the wall control is warm or hot, if the hum started after a new controller or fan was fitted, if lights on the same circuit flicker when the fan runs, or if the fan is slow to start or noticeably weaker than it was.
We'll identify the fan type, check that the controller suits it, test the wiring and the mounting, and recommend the simplest fix. If a new fan makes more sense, our ceiling fan installation page explains the options. A similar issue with lights is covered in our dimmer switch buzzing guide.
That's typical of a speed controller that isn't well matched to the fan. Have the controller checked and replaced with one that suits the fan.
No. Light dimmers aren't designed for fan motors and can cause humming and overheating. Fans need a controller made for them.
Generally, yes. DC motors tend to run quietly and are controlled electronically rather than by a wall speed controller.
A faint hum usually isn't. A hum with heat, a smell or flickering lights should be checked promptly.
Internal motor repairs are for the manufacturer. We fix controllers, wiring and mounting, and replace the fan if needed.
NSW Electrical Contractor Licence 332956C · Fully insured · Since 2016 · Based in Hurlstone Park
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