Our new build house has 6 extractor fans in kitchen, bathrooms and utility as a 'cheat' for full MVHR. They have a boost switch and run at very low speed all the time. They work well - the house has fresh air and doesn't get damp even after shower or drying washing.
However, they are (unsurprisingly) cheap ones. They are unbranded 'UFO on the ceiling' things. After a few months use they are making a just noticeable low level 'buzz' as they work, which reverberates around floors somewhat.
Has anyone suggestions for really quiet fans, and/or can I add something like a thin layer of felt or rubber to absorb some of the reverberation?
We have Faro fans, in the bedroom on low they are super quiet but move ample air
a thin layer of felt or rubber to absorb some of the reverberation
Worth trying. I fitted a new super-turbo inline extractor fan for the family bathroom, mounted to the roof rafters a meter or so from the ceiling vent. I cut up some gym flooring foam mat to sandwich between the fan and rafters when attaching it. We don't get any reverberation etc.
To know whether a 'better' fan will be quieter try cleaning one of the existing fans (isolating it first obvs.). Take the cover off and get both sides of the blades as clean as possible with a microfibre cloth of similar them put it back together. If this reduces the noise back to acceptable then it is unlikely the fan 'quality' is the issue as imbalance from dirt on the fan is causing the noise.
In this case some damping on the fan mounts (which some fans may have) will reduce noise. Not sure how to set that up if they're the usual mounted flat(ish) to the walls. Also larger fans at lower speed= less noise but the wind may blow back in instead!
Another possible way to damp is to add damping material (soft textured and probably heavy rubber) to the hard plastic (and therefore noise transmitting) fan tubes. Or pull the tubes out and mount them in soft mounts.
try cleaning one of the existing fans (isolating it first obvs.). Take the cover off and get both sides of the blades as clean as possible with a microfibre cloth of similar
This
I've nosied in, they are pretty much clean. Now spotlessly clean on one...not really made a difference.