An appliance that was quiet when you bought it and is loud now has often not broken. In the manuals we have read for our buying guides, the same handful of causes come up again and again, across washers, fans, heaters, treadmills and robot vacuums. Most cost nothing to fix.
This page collects them. Everything here comes from a manufacturer's manual or support page, and we name the maker each time. We are not repair technicians and we have not tested any of these fixes ourselves. If a manual tells you to stop using a product, stop.
It is not standing level
This cause comes up for almost every kind of appliance we cover.
- Portable air conditioners. Midea's manual says to install the unit on an even surface to minimize noise and vibration, and lists a floor that is not level as a cause of a noisy unit. Danby's manual lists the same cause.
- Dehumidifiers. Danby says a surface that is not flat and sturdy could result in excessive noise and vibration.
- Tower fans. Levoit's manual gives a hard, flat, level surface as the fix for a fan that makes noise while running.
- Mini fridges. Summit's manual lists a unit that is not level as a cause of rattling.
- Washing machines. Bosch says to align the appliance correctly in order to reduce noise and vibrations, and to tighten the lock nuts on the feet. LG warns that extending the leveling feet more than necessary can cause the washer to vibrate.
- Treadmills. NordicTrack says to check that all four feet make solid contact with the floor, and to adjust the leveling feet if needed.
A level from a toolbox and five minutes will rule this out.
Dust, filters and hair
Several manuals list blocked airflow as a cause of noise.
- Portable air conditioners. A dirty or blocked filter is on both Midea's and Danby's list of noise causes. Frigidaire's filter light comes on after 250 hours of fan use.
- Space heaters. Lasko tells owners to vacuum the intake grills every two weeks. Dr. Infrared asks for a monthly filter clean.
- Tower fans. Lasko says to clean its fans only with a vacuum and a brush attachment, and never to take the fan apart.
- Robot vacuums. iRobot says to clean the brushes at least once a week. Roborock's manual says an unusual noise when the dock empties means the filter, air duct, dustbin or dust bag is blocked.
- Ceiling fans. Hunter says to clean blades regularly to prevent dust imbalance.
Loose hardware
Loose parts are the next thing the manuals point to.
- Ceiling fans. Hunter says clicking noises are most often caused by a loose blade or loose blade holder screws. Visual Comfort's guide says most wobble comes from unequal blade levels, and tells you to measure each blade tip to the ceiling and keep them within an eighth of an inch.
- Treadmills. NordicTrack says to check that all frame bolts are snug.
- Washing machines. Bosch, ASKO and Speed Queen all tell installers to tighten the lock nuts on the feet. Speed Queen says that if they are not tight, the washer will not stay put.
Something left in from the factory
A front load washer is shipped with bolts that lock the drum. LG's manual says failure to remove the shipping bolts may cause severe vibration and noise, which can lead to permanent damage. Bosch lists transit bolts left in place as a cause of vibration. Speed Queen's top loaders ship with a brace and a plug that have to come out. Maytag's manual says removing all shipping materials is necessary to avoid excessive noise.
If a washer is frighteningly loud on its first spin, this is the first thing to check.
The wrong wall switch
This one is specific to ceiling fans, and it surprises people. Craftmade's install guide says that using a full range dimmer switch to control fan speed will cause a loud humming noise. Honeywell's manual says the same. Hunter explains why: capacitor controls change the speed in a way that does not produce a hum, while solid state variable controls often create one. Minka-Aire voids its warranty if a dimmer or another maker's wall control is used.
Levoit's tower fan manual carries a similar warning against solid state speed controls such as dimmer switches.
The floor, not the machine
Some noise is the building. LG's washer manual says concrete flooring is best, that a wood floor is sufficient if it is built to FHA standards, and that a floor with too much flex should be reinforced, because a floor that is not solid may cause severe vibration and noise. Miele says concrete is far less prone to vibration during the spin than wooden floorboards or carpet, and specifies a plywood base anchored to the joists for wooden floors.
Treadmills are the same story. NordicTrack's own guidance says the noise that reaches downstairs neighbors is footstrike impact, not motor hum, and that a concrete slab building transmits very little vibration. Peloton says a hardwood or concrete floor can create more reverberation and noise than a carpeted floor or a heavy rubber mat.
Lubrication and wear
Treadmill belts dry out. SOLE's manual sets a lubrication reminder at 90 hours of use and warns that skipping it may void the warranty. LifeSpan says every 50 hours or three months.
On robot vacuums, iRobot says to check that the brush bearings have not seized to the shaft, and to replace the brushes if they have.
The setting, not a fault
Sometimes louder is simply higher. Dreo's support pages say the higher the setting on a fan or heater, the louder it will be. Frigidaire's advice for a portable air conditioner that is too loud is to set a lower fan speed. eufy says its carpet boost feature increases the noise level, and that you can switch it off. Honda recommends its generators' Eco Throttle to further reduce noise whenever less than a full load is applied.
Temperature can do it too. ENERGY STAR says that below 65°F, frost can form on a dehumidifier's coils and make the compressor cycle on and off repeatedly.
Sounds the makers call normal
Not every noise needs fixing.
- Fridges. According to Whirlpool and GE, a click is the compressor or temperature control switching, a hum is the compressor and fans, and a gurgle is refrigerant moving through the tubes.
- Portable air conditioners. Frigidaire, Midea and Dreo all describe gurgling or hissing as refrigerant flow, and normal.
- New ceiling fans. Minka-Aire says most noises associated with a new fan go away within a 24-hour break-in period.
- New treadmills. Peloton describes a thump and a chirp as normal operating sounds during break-in.
- New oil-filled radiators. De'Longhi says creaking on first use is completely normal.
- New robot vacuums. iRobot says a new Roomba can be noisier at first, and that the noise diminishes with use.
A checklist before you call anyone
- Is it level, and are the feet tight?
- Is a filter, grille or brush clogged?
- Are any screws, blades or bolts loose?
- If it is a new washer, are the shipping bolts out?
- If it is a ceiling fan, is it on a dimmer?
- Is it on a higher setting than it needs?
- Does the manual describe the sound as normal?
If the answer to all seven is reassuring and the noise persists, contact the maker. Most of the products in our guides carry a warranty of at least a year.
Common questions
Why is my new appliance louder than I expected?
Some new-appliance noises are documented and fade. Minka-Aire tells ceiling fan owners to allow a 24-hour break-in period. Peloton describes a thump and a chirp as normal while a new treadmill breaks in. De'Longhi says creaking the first time its oil-filled radiator runs is completely normal. If a front load washer is violently loud on its first spin, check that the shipping bolts were removed.
Why is my ceiling fan humming?
Most often because of the wall control. Craftmade and Honeywell both warn that using a full range dimmer switch to control fan speed will cause humming. Hunter explains that capacitor controls set the speed without a hum, while solid state variable controls often create one. A fan with its own remote should be fed from a plain on/off switch.
Why is my washer banging on the spin cycle?
The manuals point to shipping bolts left in, feet that are not level or lock nuts that are loose, a floor that flexes, or an unbalanced load. LG says that if a thumping sound continues, the washer is probably out of balance, and you should stop and redistribute the load.
Why did my robot vacuum get louder?
Usually hair or debris. iRobot says to clean the brushes at least once a week and to check that the brush bearings have not seized. Roborock's manual says noise during cleaning can mean the main brush, side brush or wheels are jammed.
When is a noise a sign of a real fault?
When the maker's own checks do not fix it, or the manual tells you to stop. We are not repair technicians, and this page covers only the routine causes the manuals list. For grinding, burning smells, or anything electrical, stop using the appliance and contact the maker or a qualified technician.
Sources
Every statement above is drawn from the manufacturer manuals and support pages cited in our buying guides, where each source is listed with the product: washing machines, ceiling fans, portable air conditioners, dehumidifiers, tower fans, space heaters, treadmills, robot vacuums, mini fridges and generators.
