How Much Noise Does an Electric Fireplace Make? 5 Common Noise Types

It is hard to ascertain the exact quantity of noise an electric fireplace produces. But certainly, an electric fireplace is one of the quietest house appliances. The moving parts of an electric fireplace are what produces some noise. According to mechanization, there are two groups of electric fireplaces. These are fan-heater fireplaces and infrared fireplaces. 

Infrared fireplaces do not produce any noise because they do not have any moving parts. Fan heater fireplaces produce some noise because of the rotating fan. The rotating mirrors that bring out the flame illusion can also make some noise. 

The good news is that you can regulate the speed of the fan and the rotating mirrors to have a silent system. 

Noises from a Defective Electric Fireplace 

You are only supposed to hear the blowing sound of the fans if your electric fireplace is fine. Any other noise means something is wrong among the moving parts of the fireplace. Below are some of the sounds/noises you would hear from a defective electric fireplace. 

  1. Buzzing/humming noise

This sound depends on where it is coming from. If you hear the buzzing noise from the back, then don’t worry that is the fan doing its work. But if it is coming from the front near the control panel then something is wrong with the flame speed control module. To stop this noise, replace the module with a new one from the factory. 

  1. Grinding sounds/noises 

When you hear such a sound just know it is the flame rod. This rod is fixed on the flame motor. Its function is to execute visual features and sometimes audio too. This is why when it is defective you will see unclear flames or poor audio output. 

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When defective, the flame motor will be moving it but the rod will be rubbing/scratching on other parts. That is why you hear the grinding noise. The solution here is to immediately replace the rod before it destroys other parts in your electric fireplace. 

  1. Rattling/chattering noises 

Of cause when you hear rattling it means something is loose. All fans in an electric fireplace have motors that produce some vibrations. The vibrations bring in a jarring effect on parts located in the backside of your electric fireplace. Within time, the nuts, bolts, and screws become loose hence the rattling noise when the heater is on. 

The solution is to tighten the nuts, bolts, and screws at least once in a year. Make sure the electric fireplace is off and unplugged before you start the tightening job.

  1. Whirring noise 

Whirring sound only comes from something loose attached on another thing moving in high speed. That is why your focus should be on the blower fans when you hear such noise. Then the fan draws in the air it might bring in some dust particles and loose thread-like material. When such things attach themselves to the high-speed fan they produce whirring noise. 

Here there are two solutions. You can use a vacuum or a hairdryer to remove the dirt. Or use a piece of cloth and ethanol/alcohol to wipe off the dirt. Do not use water because it takes longer to evaporate and can also lead to rust. 

  1. Intermittent sounds/noises 

An electric fireplace is divided into two sides. The front, flame side and the back, heater side. Intermittent sounds are sounds you only hear when one side is on. 

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If you hear some noise when only the flame side is on, then the flame motor is defective. And the solution is to replace the flame motor. 

If you hear some noise when only the heater side is on, then the blower fan’s motor is defective. And the solution is to replace it with a new one. 

You must get appropriate specifications from the manufacturer before you buy any of the above motors. 

How to Silence a Noisy Electric Fireplace 

Below is a simple procedure that will help you to know where the noise is coming from and how to make it stop. The procedure ends whenever you will find the noise agent and fix it. Make sure you switch off the electric fireplace and unplug it before you start working on it. 

Step 1 

Start by checking the hardware. Most noises on a fireplace are caused by loose hardware connection. Check the screws on the body of the fireplace including the nuts & bolts. Tighten them if they are loose. Plug it in and turn on the fireplace, if you still hear some noise move to step 2 below. 

Step 2 

Now check the condition of your inlet and outlet tubes. This is because bent tubes contribute a lot to noises on your fireplace. Visually check the alignment of your tubes. If they are bent, use a hammer or a pipe-wrench to straighten them. Fix the tubes back in place and switch on the fireplace to confirm if the noise is gone. Move to the next step if the noise is still there. 

Step 3

Now move to the fast-moving parts. And the blower fan is the first part to check. If the fan is loose, tighten it to the motor. If it has dirt and dust, clean it using a vacuum cleaner or a piece of cloth and ethanol. Carefully close up your electric fireplace and switch it on. If the noise is still on, move to step 4 below.

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Step 4

In this step, you have to break down your electric fireplace into the flame side and heater side.

First, turn on only the flame side. If you hear some noise then the problem can be the flame rod or the flame motor or sometimes both of them. If it is a dry flame rod, lubricate it. If it is a worn-out flame rod, replace it. If it is a defective flame motor, replace it.

If everything on the flame side is well and you still hear the noise, turn on only the heater side. Here the problem can only be on the blower fan’s motor. Replace this motor and am sure your electric fireplace must be quiet now. 

Call an expert if the noise persists. 

Conclusion 

An electric fireplace is one of the most silent home appliances. If you hear too much noise from your electric fireplace, just know something is wrong. The moving parts are the ones that can produce noise, but there are settings that can control this. If you hear noise from a new electric fireplace, then that brand is bad. 

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