Arlec Energy Efficient 20cm Exhaust Fan

I purchased this model despite the warnings that it makes a noise on start-up. Every time it is turned on it sounds like it's going to fall out of the ceiling! Pity I didn't see these reviews beforehand and I'm not encouraged by the comments that it gets worse over time. I could not recommend buying to anyone.

To begin with the start up oscillation rattle was only a second or two. Over a few months this has become worse and now is very noisy for 20 to 30 seconds. Once running it is fairly quiet but the rattle noise on start is audible throughout the house.

Noise is insane for an energy efficient fan it’s crap even comes with a note saying noisy at start up but it just keeps going on and on. Waste of money.

Quite satisfy with this product. I bought in Australia and bring it back to Malaysia to install in our new house. It works perfectly. The noise isn't disturbing at all.. after using it for 4 years only i realized that the fan keeps on running even though i didn't turn on the switch... (i cant remember whether it was designed to automatically running or not.)

Bought this fan to replace a airflow that wasnt spinning fast that was installed from when the house was built. When I installed this I heard the start up rattle but I wasn’t to upset about because it was that loud and I didn’t really need it no be quiet, I was happy with it. But, after only 3 months the fan just didn’t work anymore, it did nothing. I tried spinning the blades tapping the motor but it was just broken so it was replaced with a hpm that has excelled at its job and has more airflow then this one ever did. and, doesn’t rattle.

It uses next to no power and just makes a hum when running. Plus it moves around 2 cubic meters per minute. I run mine a couple times a day and just leave them running for hours at a time. Some people have complained about start up noise etc. This hasn't affected me - I guess it depends what you consider annoying. If any noise then it only lasts a second. I'd suggest people check their mounting and others who haven't purchased yet to check their technical requirements. I probably wouldn't put this in a brand new house but if you're into saving power and understand what this fan offers then yeah.

Yep it rattles on start up. Little sticker said it would. Im ok with that. But is a bit excessive when it rattles for about 30 seconds! I tried it with the cover off, 50% of the time it runs backwards! When it does go the correct way it still wouldn't suck the steam off a hot coffee.
Waste of money, buy a better one. Replaced it with IXL and is awesome

I so wish had seen this site prior to purchasing 2 Arlec exhaust fans! I want to remove them as start up noise is getting louder but there’s the cost of getting an electrician! Why haven’t these fans been recalled and Arlec and Bunnings doing the right thing?? Think our complaints just stay here so perhaps a phone call to ACCC might help!

Read the notice in the manual that it might oscillate audibly "momentarily" before starting. However it would oscillate for as long as I'd watch it for in the roof. It would only start if I flicked it or turned it off and on again. Very quiet when running. Took it out if the ceiling and when held in hands it would start most of the time. It seems being held rigidly and horizontal the start problems are worse. Which is unfortunate because that's exactly how it gets installed.

Exchanged for another thinking I had a dud unit and tested it in hands. It seemed to start every time. Installed in fm ceiling and it required flicking off and on to start every time.

It's a shame because when running it's great. But I can't recommend it at all.

Yes agree with other general comments ... not a great design! I installed two of these fans in a flat I rent out ... initially the start-up noise was acceptable, but less than a year later, the tenant complained that the noise was getting worse and I have replaced both with a different make of exhaust fan (with much better bearings). I've examined both faulty Arlec fans (I'm an electrical engineer) and found that one would keep permanently shaking/oscillating in efforts to start rotating (failing to do so) and the other one, having managed ...

We had one of the standard (non-energy-efficient) versions of this same fan, and it gave us 10 years of faithful service before it started to vibrate too much on startup and eventually died. We bought the energy efficient version and hoped for similar longevity from it, but the momentary (and expected) vibration on startup quickly transformed into minutes of terrible hammering/shuddering that was loud enough to wake our kids, and could be heard from our backyard. Switching the fan off then back on initially helped stop the shuddering, but withi...

Just installed the 200mm fan. It does rattle for a second (no more than that) at startup, and clicks when it stops. Doesn't bother me. In my view the improvement in power consumption from 26 watts to 4 watts is an astonishing achievement and full marks to Arlec for that. I will buy again.

Every one is whining about the noise. That is a DC motor. They are efficient but are suspended within the frame and rattle upon start up. You bought them for energy efficiency; why do you expect them to operate EXACTLY the same as an inefficient AC motor?

Sadly I never looked on Product Review before buying 2x of these crap fans! Disgusted to say the least. Upon opening the boxes, both fans had screws loose. DON'T BUY! They can't be fixed.

As every other person has stated. There is a noise apon startup. On closer inspection I found that it is actually the whole motor assembly that is loose inside the housing. Ok, bummer, I'll just take it back to Bunnings. A 25 minute wait after a 20 minute drive, then wander right to the back of the store to get a change over. I get home and plug it into a PowerPoint just to check it. Same thing. It has been in less that 36 hrs and it takes about 3 minutes after starting for the bumping, banging and general noise until it spins properly. Though ...