Annoying Hum

Most electrical devices produce some noise. However, ceiling fans should not hum or make any noises other than the pleasing whir of circulating air – cooling you in summer, warming you in winter.

Why Ceiling Fans Hum

1. Most often an annoying hum is the result of bad engineering and/or poor manufacturing. For example, cheap and non-precision ball bearings might have been used to save production costs. Some fans are built without proper dampening components between metal parts.

2. Humming noise can also be related to the type of electrical control system used in the fan. Most quality ceiling fans rely on a capacitor control system. Capacitors allow for distinct “steps” like high, medium and low. Variable fan speed controls, which allow for a speed range from low to high, rely on a solid state control system. Solid state and capacitor electronics are not completely compatible, or interchangeable. For example, a solid state control used on a capacitor ceiling fan can cause a low level buzz or hum. For this reason, a capacitor control is recommended for most ceiling fan installations.