Why Your Humidifier Is So Loud – And How To Fix It

Almost 20 million households across the United States use humidifiers to provide moisture to their indoor air. However, humidifiers can begin to create unusual, loud noises that need to be fixed before using them again.

A humidifier produces loud noises because it is clogged with dirt or mineral deposits, or has an damaged fan. Fan issues, including broken, loose or obstructed fans that need replacement, or fan blade lubrication, can cause clicking, grinding or rattling noises. An unseated reservoir can also cause a humidifier to make excessive noise.

This troubleshooting guide will take you through all the reasons why your humidifier might suddenly become loud, and provide step-by-step solutions to each of the problems.

4 Reasons Why Your Humidifier Is So Loud

Humidifiers are not supposed to be loud, and should produces less than 60 decibels of noise when operating. Humidifiers that don’t use a fan, such as ultrasonic or warm mist models, are often quieter than those with a fan.

There are a few reasons why a humidifier can start producing noise.

It usually means that the humidifier is dirty, defective or malfunctioning. Some causes of a noisy humidifier though, only apply to a certain type of humidifier like warm mist, cool mist or evaporative. Where possible we have included which reason applies to which humidifier, if it doesn’t apply to all of them.

1. Clogged reservoir or outlet.

The number one reason for a humidifier making noise is because it is clogged.

A humidifier is almost guaranteed to become clogged with dirt or scale after a period of use. The dirt or mineral build-up is from regular use without cleaning, and the type of water you use.

Especially if hard tap water is used in the humidifier. The two main ions responsible for mineral build-up are calcium and magnesium, found in all tap water – but in high concentrations in hard water.

The mineral build-up is particularly common in ultrasonic and cool mist humidifiers. When scale builds up in a humidifier, it reduces its performance, making it struggle to humidify the room, and generates the noises you are hearing.

Most manufacturers recommend using filtered, distilled, or demineralized water as they are free of salts or metal ions caused by water hardness.  

Some humidifiers like ultrasonic ones have transducers which produce a cold mist as they vibrate at a very high frequency.

When you use tap water or hard water in the humidifier, the minerals build up on the transducer. If you fail to clean the mineral build-up, the transducer will no longer be able to oscillate effectively, resulting in grinding or buzzing noises as it works.

Diagnostic characteristics.

• Whitish, greying or brownish hardened deposits or scale in the humidifier’s reservoir and tank.
• Presence of white dust in the air and around the humidifier as it disperses the room.
• The humidifier producing loud noises as it works.
• The water tank appears or looks cloudy.
• The humidifier not misting.
• Scale build-up can also cause the humidifier to spit or splutter water.

How to remove mineral build-up in a humidifier

• Switch the power off and unplug your humidifier.
• Empty its reservoir of any available water.
• Follow your user manual instructions on how to disassemble your humidifier model (most are available online).
• Pour one litre of white vinegar into the humidifier’s reservoir and swish it for 5 minutes to allow it to touch every part of the humidifier, including the hard to reach spots.
• Leave it to soak for one night.
• In the morning, scrub the humidifier’s reservoir with a soft bristle brush and swish it again for two minutes before draining away the vinegar solution.
• Sometimes if there is a lot of scale, it can be difficult to remove it completely. If there are still stubborn streaks of mineral buildup after draining the solution, soak a soft cloth in a vinegar solution and scrub the places with the towel until all the scale dissolves.
• Next, rinse the humidifier several times (two to three is usually enough) with clean water until it is sparkling clean and the vinegar smell disappears.
• Use a damp cloth to wipe the exterior of the humidifier.
• Allow it time to dry before using it again.

How to prevent mineral build-up in your humidifier

• Only use water directed by the manufacturer in the humidifier (usually distilled water).
• Regularly disinfect and descale the humidifier.
• Drain away any remaining water in the humidifier’s tank and drying it after every use.
• Cleaning the humidifier regularly.

2. Fan issues.

A humidifier can make loud, clunky noises if it has fan issues, these are mostly:

• Obstructed fan.
• Loose fan.
• Broken/damaged fan.

Fan issues affect many humidifiers, including vaporisers, evaporative and cool mist humidifiers, but do not affect ultrasonic humidifiers as these do not typically have a fan. The fan’s job is to disperse freshly formed mist into the air outside of the humidifier, allowing it to humidify the space.

Most humidifier fans are quiet (<50 dB), but if the fan becomes damaged, loose, or obstructed it can suddenly become louder than normal.

It usually takes a period of use before a humidifier develops a fan issue (unless the device is bumped or dropped). In dusty environments, the likelihood of the humidifier developing fan problems increases.

In dusty environments, dust collects unevenly on the fan’s blades, causing the blades to become unbalanced and wear out faster.

The lubrication can also dry out when dust reaches the fan’s axle and bearing and collects on it. Normally, you will be able to tell when this occurs as the fan will become progressively louder as it humidifies the room.

To be sure, try listening to the noises carefully. If you can’t hear the fan but can hear other loud noises and your humidifier isn’t producing any mist, the fan is most likely the source of the problem. Also, if the humidifier’s fan continues to run but does not disperse the water vapour, it is most likely broken.

The fan will make clicking, rattling, or grinding noises when it is broken or dislodged. In this case, the fan may need to be lubricated or replaced with a new one.

Diagnostic characteristics.

• Loud rattling, clicking or grinding noises as the humidifier works.
• Lack of misting even when the humidifier is on.

Solutions to humidifier fan issues.

• Lubrication of fan bearings.
• Replacing the fan.
• Purchasing a new humidifier if the old one is totally damaged and nothing you do can resolve the noise issue.
• Contact the manufacturer if the device is still under warranty.

How to lubricate or change the fan in a humidifier.

• Switch the power off and unplug your humidifier.
• Empty its reservoir of any available water.
• Disassemble your humidifier’s parts, especially if the humidifier has a detachable reservoir.
• Keep all the disassembled parts safe.

Note: Before doing anything on your humidifier, confirm if it is still under warranty. Read the user manufacturer’s instructions first. Keep in mind that some Do It Yourself (DIY) fixes may jeopardise your device’s warranty.

• To locate the screws and open the humidifier, turn your humidifier upside down.
• If you cant see the screws, access and locate any rubbers as some humidifiers screws can be hidden.
• Unscrew the screws one by one after removing the rubbers. Keep those screws safe because you’ll need them later for reassembly.
• After removing the screws, pull the cover off slowly to avoid damaging any of its underneath parts.
• When you take the cover off, you’ll notice that there’s probably a lot of dust.
• Clean the accessible dust and dirt with a handheld vacuum.
• As you search for the fan, be careful not to break or touch any parts.
• Remove it from the humidifier before lubricating or replacing the humidifier’s fan.
• Unplug the fan connector once you’ve found it to make room for easy removal.
• Humidifier fans are not all mounted the same way. If the fan is press-fit, simply pull it out; if it is screwed in, you must first loosen the screws.
• After removing the fan, check its condition to evaluate whether it needs lubrication or replacement.
• To lubricate it, partially peel the paper off the back of the fan, drop a single drop of lubricant into the hole where the axle and bearing are located, and then push the partially peeled-off sticker back onto the fan.
• After that, use an empty squeeze bottle to clean the blades and fan cage of any dust.
• To replace the fan, remove the connector from the old fan, strip the insulation from both the fan and connector wires with a pair of wire strippers, slip a piece of heat shrink over each fan wire, and solder each set of red and black wires together.
• Next, attach the fan back into the humidifier using glue to stick it into place.
• Put the cover back into place and tighten its screws using a screw driver.
• Put back the rubber, turn the humidifier and reassemble it ready for the next use.

Note: If you cannot perform this by yourself, contact your brand’s customer service.

3. An unstable water reservoir.

One reason a humidifier produces loud noises is an unstable water reservoir. Some humidifiers have detachable reservoirs that need to be removed and filled with water before being attached to the base. This applies to cool mist, warm mist, ultrasonic, and vaporiser humidifiers.

If the reservoir or water tank of a humidifier is not sturdy or seated properly on the base, it can make loud, excessive noises as it works and cause the ultrasonic humidifier to vibrate. 

When a water tank is not correctly attached, it vibrates each time the humidifier runs, resulting in an obnoxious noise.

Diagnostic characteristics.

• Check if the base is overflowing.
• Double-check that the water tank cap is sealed properly.
• While the humidifier is on, press down or hold the water tank with your hands, if the humidifier becomes quieter, then the issue is most likely an unstable water reservoir.

Solutions.

• Switch the power off and unplug your humidifier.
• Remove the water tank from the unit’s bottom.
• Double-check that the water tank and its slot are free of dirt, debris, or moving parts. If there is any, remove it.
• Also, check if there is something stuck on the outside of the water tank.
• If there is any, get rid of it.
• Next, gently place the water tank back into its slot. When it fits perfectly, there is usually a clicking sound.
• Consider replacing the water tank if you see it is broken or cracked.
• Make it a point always to consult your user manual for any troubleshooting tips.

4. Low power

Low power is another reason your humidifier could be producing loud noises. This specifically applies to vaporiser humidifiers. Humidifiers use power and vaporisers are no exception.

If the wattage on your adjustable power vaporizer is too low, surplus fluid can collect in the atomizer head and if it’s not vaporized rapidly enough, it will swamp the coil, resulting in a gurgling or spitting sound.

The vaporiser could also be producing loud gurgling noises because water is flowing into the base of the unit.

Diagnostic features

• Check if you filled the tank correctly. Is it overfilled?
• Check if the humidifier still has water in it.
• Check the power wattage your vaporiser has been set to for it should never be used with an exceeding or lower rate than that specified by the manufacturer.

Solutions.

• Switch off and unplug your vaporizer from the electrical outlet.
• Allow it to cool.
• Confirm if the vaporiser has exceeded or is below the power settings advised by the manufacturer.
• Double-check that the heating elements are clean and that there is no mineral build-up. If there is, ensure you remove it by cleaning with white vinegar.
• Clean and dry the drip tip of your atomizer.
• If necessary, you should replace the device’s coil and the wick.
• When using the vaporiser, use it with the correct water level, specified power wattage and loosen the tank cap to allow for a uniform flow of water.

Silent Humidifiers

A humidifier is considered silent if it produces less than 30 decibels (dB) of noise. These humidifiers are labeled ‘whisper quiet’. For instance, the Levoit Smart Classic 200s (25 dB) is one of the quietest humidifiers available.

Humidifiers with fans tend to produce more noise levels than those without fans. To prevent your humidifier from producing loud noises wash and maintain it regularly. Consult your user manual on where to place it, the kind of water to use in it and most importantly how to use it.