Englander 25-PDVC Exhaust Fan Whining

[gjr1027]

Hi, first time posting. I just installed a 2005 Englander 25-PDVC stove and the exhaust fan seems to be making a loud whining noise. Its kind of annoying, especially during shutdown when its just that fan running for over 30 minutes. I cleaned the entire stove before I installed it including taking the fan off and cleaning all the soot build up off of the blades and reinstalling it with a new gasket. Its not a vibration sound, more of a high pitched whistle/whining noise. Is this normal for this stove and if not does anyone have any suggestions for quieting it down?
Thanks.

 

[smoke show]

not normal.

did it makes any noise before you took the comb blower off?

 

[gjr1027]

I didn't run it before I cleaned it. I unloaded it from my truck to my back deck and cleaned everything before I brought it in. It seems to run fine, starts ok, no real noises from auger motors, heater fan comes on when it reaches temp, its just the exhaust motor that makes that hi pitched, whistle like noise and like I said its worse when the unit is on shut down and thats the only fan running, you can hear the whistle throughout the whole house. No broken blades on the fan when I cleaned it and it seemed t spin fine.

 

[WoodPorn]

Try running the fan off of the stove. Hook it up to a lamp cord (without touching the terminals!) and see if you get the same noise.

 

[gjr1027]

I'll give that a try tonight or tomorrow. What am I listening for, just a regular hum like a desk top fan ? I can deal with the heat blower fan, should it sound similar to that even though its blowing into the chimney pipe? By the way, its vented to the outside with the 3"kit they sell at Lowes if that make any difference.

 

[WoodPorn]

The motors are identical, the fans are different..

You should hear nothing but the fan itself.

And welcome to the forum!

 

[gjr1027]

Thanks, I'll take it off tomorrow morning and try running it off a lamp cord and see how it sounds.

 

[imacman]

I get an occasional "whining" noise from the exhaust blower in my 10-cpm....almost sounds like a harmonics issue. But it doesn't do it at higher fan speeds....just on lower ones (1,2,or 3).

When you remove the blower, make sure none of the blades are bent, caked with ash, or out of balance (you'll feel that while running it out of the stove).

 

[gjr1027]

Haven't removed the exhaust blower motor yet as I had the stove running this morning but I turned it off and waited till the heat blower stopped and now just the exhaust blower is going and the howling noise is there and I opened the front door and the noise went away and as soon as I closed the door it comes back. Its more of a howling noise than a high pitched squeal. Is this normal in shut down mode or should I just hear a whisper of the fan going. It is real annoying listening to that howl for over 30 minutes plus while in shut down mode. Any ideas what might be causing this?
Thanks

 

[WoodPorn]

You've got an air leak somewhere that's whistling. maybe through a thin gasket or a piece of foil tape...

Think of blowing across the outer edge of a piece of paper, it becomes a reed and vibrates to the point of making a buzzing or whining noise.

Grab a cigarette or cigar or something that emits smoke at a relatively steady pace, and run it slowly around the blower seals, door seals, hopper seal, etc, etc you'll find the leak when the smoke gets pushed away from the seal/gasket.

 

[gjr1027]

Thanks, that sounds very logical. I quit smoking 7 years ago so don't have a cigarette handy but I'll find something to use and give it a try. Thanks .

 

[BrotherBart]

Also check to see if it is coming from the two holes under the front of the stove that feed the glass airwash. They can set up a harmonic before the stove us up to temp and after it cools down.

 

[gjr1027]

Ok, will check those 2 holes also, thanks for the suggestions.

 

[gjr1027]

Just turned stove on and howling noise started as soon as the exhaust fan got up to speed, put a finger over one of the window air wash holes on the bottom of the stove and the noise went away. So now I know where it is coming from, is there any way to fix it? Can I block one of the holes over or will that screw something up? Any suggestions?
Thanks.

 

[SmokeyTheBear]

Just turned stove on and howling noise started as soon as the exhaust fan got up to speed, put a finger over one of the window air wash holes on the bottom of the stove and the noise went away. So now I know where it is coming from, is there any way to fix it? Can I block one of the holes over or will that screw something up? Any suggestions?
Thanks.

Your glass will likely get dirtier faster.

 

[BrotherBart]

I wouldn't mess with the holes. They are not only there for the airwash but that incoming air is in the calculation for combustion air.

 

[WoodPorn]

Maybe you could diffuse the incoming air stream with a piece of filter media or steel wool??

I know I cant whistle with a cracker in my mouth!

 

[slvrblkk]

Just turned stove on and howling noise started as soon as the exhaust fan got up to speed, put a finger over one of the window air wash holes on the bottom of the stove and the noise went away. So now I know where it is coming from, is there any way to fix it? Can I block one of the holes over or will that screw something up? Any suggestions?
Thanks.

Mike from Englander recommended putting a small dab of silicone on either side of both holes....not to cover the hole but right next to it....it worked on mine. I did it as stove was making the noise so you can place the silicone on and adjust it until the noise goes away....

 

[gjr1027]

Thanks, I'll try the silicone idea later today and if that doesn't work I may try a small piece of course steel wool in one of the holes tomorrow.

 

[slvrblkk]

Thanks, I'll try the silicone idea later today and if that doesn't work I may try a small piece of course steel wool in one of the holes tomorrow.

He said you just need to re-direct the way the air flows into the holes......

 

[gjr1027]

Thanks for the info on the silicone, put a dab on the side of each hole and the sound is completely gone. It is so much quieter that I had to ask my wife if it was still on while it was in the shut down mode. You made my day, thanks again.

 

[slvrblkk]

Thanks for the info on the silicone, put a dab on the side of each hole and the sound is completely gone. It is so much quieter that I had to ask my wife if it was still on while it was in the shut down mode. You made my day, thanks again.

Glad it worked for ya.......

 

[imacman]

Thanks for the info on the silicone, put a dab on the side of each hole and the sound is completely gone.....

Mike Holton is the MAN!