Noisy Shower Room Ceiling Extractor Fan Manrose Gold Ask questions and find answers to many subjects relating to electrics and electrical work

[adrianmole]

Hello,

I have a shower room ceiling extractor fan that comes on automatically with the light switch, and turns off automatically after a certain amount of time when the light is switched off (though it varies every time). I've only moved into my house a few months ago, the house itself is 4 years old but I have no idea how old the fan is.

Recently it started to become very noisy, and can even be heard from the floor above. I have since taken the cover off and cleaned as much as I could, using a cotton bud and tissues etc (as I didn't have any compressed air to hand), but it doesn't seem to have resolved the noise issue.

I've read solutions online such as replacing either the whole fan, or just the motor. Is this a simple DIY job? I am definitely no expert so I may need some simple things explained to me as to how to go about this. But hopefully it would be much more affordable than having to call an electrician for what could be a simple job! It would just be nice to be able to use the shower room and not have to worry about the noise disturbing housemates in their rooms above me.

Please let me know what I can do about this.

Thanks!

[Mr White]

Without being there to check, I would guess the motor bearings have gone. Cheapest option would be to buy another fan the same make / model as that one, take a picture of where the wires go, turn the electricity off then change the fan.

[kbrownie]

Manrose Gold usually a reliable fan but not quietest.
Go for something less dbs, Manrose do do a quieter version. Providing you get one with the same spigot size, should not be an issue or hard to replace.
If house is only 4 years old, the wiring colours should be the harmonised ones.
Core colours being Brown, Black, Grey and Earth.
I would expect the Brown to be perm Live, Black (sleeved Brown) and the Switch Line on the fan and the Grey (sleeved Blue) to be neutral.
The earth is not often terminated to the fan but it should remain in a safe location within a connector block.

But do check because I can only guess that the install has fitted to expected way.

[adrianmole]

Manrose Gold usually a reliable fan but not quietest.
Go for something less dbs, Manrose do do a quieter version. Providing you get one with the same spigot size, should not be an issue or hard to replace.
If house is only 4 years old, the wiring colours should be the harmonised ones.
Core colours being Brown, Black, Grey and Earth.
I would expect the Brown to be perm Live, Black (sleeved Brown) and the Switch Line on the fan and the Grey (sleeved Blue) to be neutral.
The earth is not often terminated to the fan but it should remain in a safe location within a connector block.

But do check because I can only guess that the install has fitted to expected way.

Thank you for your replies. I've attached a couple of photos of the fan, with and without the cover. Could you let me know which particular models would be quieter than the manrose gold? I've found a few from B&Q, but want to make sure i get the right one before going through the trouble!

do the diameter measurement refer to the large circle (i.e. enclosing the fan), or the entire fan including the casing? if so, mine would be 100mm, which seems to be suitable for most of the ones i could find.

[adrianmole]

forgot to also mention, the fan does go quieter after about 5 minutes of being on, though I have no idea why. not sure if this is relevant, but thought i'd mention it just in case!

[kbrownie]

I would recommend the Envirovent SIL100T. Very quiet fan and has won awards, not over expensive at around £35.00.
The back plate will likely be different and location of terminals, but that can be dealt with.

The central hole/duct would identify the size of the spigot, they are normally somewhere near 100mm.

I cannot see and earth cable,nor have the conductors been identified by sleeves. Not going kill any one, but bad practise.

[adrianmole]

Thanks kbrownie for the suggestion. I read in some instruction manuals that since the fans are double insulated and plastic, that the earth wire isn't required.

Can I just confirm that it is a job that can be easily done by myself, without having to call in an electrician? To my understanding, since the connections are all there, is it simply a case of (after disconnecting main supply of course) unscrewing the wires from that blue box (sorry, have no idea of the terminology), taking off all the plastic covers and fan etc from the ceiling, and simply screwing the new one into the ceiling and putting all the connections in to match the old connections? Do let me know if I am oversimplifying things!

And would the only tools I need be a screwdriver? I assume the wires won't need to be stripped as they already should be, and I just leave them as they are now?

Thanks for your help so far!

[kbrownie]

Yes the fans are double insulated and a CPC (earth is not required), but as an electrician the earth is a very important part of testing and fault finding, so we who care leave the CPC present at all equipment and accessories. There is also a related regulation within BS7671 that states that a CPC must be present at all equipment/accessories, so to leave it out, is a no no.


With regards to swapping "like for like" there is nothing legally to stop you, and if you do copy the terminals from old to new, there should be no issue.

The law under part p, states this "Reasonable provision shall be made in the design and installations, in order to protect persons operating, maintaining or altering the installation from fire and injury."
Comply to this and you will not go far wrong, but then you need to consider, how would you do this?

[adrianmole]

managed to replace it myself without any issues, was as simple as I thought it would be! the only downside is that the cover clips on, rather than screws on, and there is no gap in the cover for the wires to go through. the wires seem too thick for me to clip the cover over them, no matter how i rearrange them. shame, as it means I'll have to leave the cover off (or find a way to cut a gap for the wires into the cover myself!)

still, much quieter than before, and can no longer be heard from the next room or upstairs!

thanks for all your help everyone!

[kbrownie]

You cannot leave the cover off.
Pictures of your issue please.

[adrianmole]

Photo attached. Hopefully you can see that the cover wouldn't be able close over the wires. However, I have a housemate who says they could cut out a gap for me in the cover so that it will fit over the wires, so hopefully problem solved!

As the extractor fan is the ceiling, surely as long as I don't touch it it should be quite safe?

[adrianmole]

woops, seemed the photo was too large before. should be attached now

[kbrownie]

I would have drilled an entry hole in the ex fan base, so cable came directly in to the unit from ceiling. The cables can then be located at a more advantageous position to allow a less bulky mess.

[adrianmole]

Unfortunately I don't have a drill to do that with. It's a shame it didn't already come with a hole large enough to fit wires through, as the gap they provide in the fan unit isn't large enough to tuck them all in, and as I said there's no gap at all in the cover.

Nevermind, hopefully my housemate can cut a gap in the cover which should be the quickest and easiest solution for now.