Sudden, loud, 'whirring' noise? Elephant model I have the elephant version of this model. I used to love this product but recently, it will wake me up in the middle of the night with a loud 'broken fan' noise (like if your fans in your computer are dusty) i.e. a 'whirring' sound. Has anyone else had this issue or found a method of fixing it? I am hesitant to open the unit to inspect it for dust, etc. Thanks! Sudden, loud, 'whirring' noise? Elephant model I have the elephant version of this model. I used to love this product but recently, it will wake me up in the middle of the night with a loud... » Read More Sudden, loud, 'whirring' noise? Elephant model I have the elephant version of this model. I used to love this product but recently, it will wake me up in the middle of the night with a loud 'broken fan' noise (like if your fans in your computer are dusty) i.e. a 'whirring' sound. Has anyone else had this issue or found a method of fixing it? I am hesitant to open the unit to inspect it for dust, etc. Thanks! « Show Less
80080
We have the Hello Kitty model. A week ago, ours started doing the same thing, making a very loud whirring fan noise. At first i was able to move it around and i got the sound back to the original "whisper quiet" sound level. Turned it on tonight and the fan is dead. Got it November 2010, so we're two months out of warranty... :(
80081
You can fix the fan yourself. This user posted a video showing how to do it:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjRDjOL8nCYMy penguin model started to develop a whirr, so I followed the instructions in the video and it's now back to quiet. If your fan is totally dead and you're out of warranty, it's easy to replace. It's just a standard 2-pin 80 mm computer fan. They run about $5 on eBay. Unscrew four to six screws on the bottom of the basin, lift off the top or bottom section, unscrew four screws holding the fan, disconnect the fan connector (it's not soldered, just attaches to a pair of pins on the control board,) plug in the new fan and replace the screws. Seriously, a monkey could do it. You can fix the fan yourself. This user posted a video showing how to do it:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjRDjOL8nCYMy penguin model started to develop a whirr, so I followed the instructions in the video and it's now back to quiet. If your fan is totally dead and you're out of warranty, it's easy to replace. It's just a standard 2-pin 80 mm computer fan. They run about $5 on eBay. Unscrew four to six screws on the bottom of the basin, lift off the top or bottom section, unscrew four screws holding the fan, disconnect the fan connector (it's not... » Read More You can fix the fan yourself. This user posted a video showing how to do it:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjRDjOL8nCYMy penguin model started to develop a whirr, so I followed the instructions in the video and it's now back to quiet. If your fan is totally dead and you're out of warranty, it's easy to replace. It's just a standard 2-pin 80 mm computer fan. They run about $5 on eBay. Unscrew four to six screws on the bottom of the basin, lift off the top or bottom section, unscrew four screws holding the fan, disconnect the fan connector (it's not soldered, just attaches to a pair of pins on the control board,) plug in the new fan and replace the screws. Seriously, a monkey could do it. « Show Less
80082
Yes I'm having the same problem also with the elephant model. tried to get the bottom off to look inside but it was not detatching around the feet and I couldn't figure out how to get it off. Unfortunately I'm a little past my warranty.
80083
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Daic5iodsEg - This video show the exact problem described and a solution to it. Unfortunately the hello kitty model I got do not have any screw to open it. May be I have to pry open it and try.
80084
I have the Hello Kitty model and the same thing happened. For some reason the fan gets misaligned even though I have it on a flat surface and it hardly moves. I called Crane and if you are under warranty they will replace it. I think it may be a flaw in most of their humidifiers, I have gone through 3 of them already due to the same problem every time.
80085
Great video. That's the same sound. Perfect too as I was just thinking about doing something like this and inspected the bottom of the unit. The hello kitty model must be sealed shut in the factory as it's quite a different shape compared to some of the other animals.... There are no screws or openable areas at all! I even removed the four rubber feet, thinking there would be a screw underneath each one- no dice. Absolutely no way to get inside. I am tempted to cut it open with a dremel. "if you can't open it, you don't own it"
80086
It's 2015 and this is STILL a huge problem! I bought a new one at Target because I had cracked my original Crane humidifier (just the regular blue and white one). I figured that they'd identify and fix the the problem by now, but they didn't! The new one had a bad fan right out of the box, I took the piece of garbage right back to Target and I will never EVER buy another Crane humidifier.
128881
Thank you! That was definitely part of my problem. One last question: when opening, I hear a pleasant ratcheting sound, which I don't hear when closing. Does yours also not make that sound in one direction?
1028977
I have 2 units. One I bought about 20 yrs ago, the other in the past 6 months or so. Both vibrate (oscillate), Neither make a terrible loud noise. The older one is a little more quiet then the newer. Both are not annoying, but do make 'drumming' hum. I do not leave them plugged in, I empty the tank each time and dry it out. I also put a capful of mouthwash into it each time I use it. The new unit is equal to the old one, except maybe for build quality....it could be a perception thing. so far so good.
1352568
Hey,I ended up buying the WDEUBK10000N. So far no issues. It's build seems to be able to take more "abuse" then my last one which looked more like the WDH1U. It's quiet enough; I had to actually put it to my ear to here to see if it was on. Not sure on the temp because I don't keep it running all the time.
999125
Tried mine last night for the first time, makes so much noise that I had to go back to my old unit. Will try again in a different area and see if that helps
413737
At low or medium, its like a babbling brook... On High, it kicks up quite a bit, but doesn't bother me. I run it on high all day, and turn it to medium for sleeping. As NFB replied, its like white noise, no tonal pitches, just a smooth fan sound.
703199
Ours was very loud, but my husband fixed it, actually it is pretty quiet. However, make sure you want this item, returning it whether broken or not will cost you min. $30. We enjoy it now that its repaired. ALso, our ad said it was a 1500 watt and we received a 1350, they never followed up with me when I complained about that.
449070
Sorry to hear that. It sounds like a defect. I haven't had any problem with mine. I think I've had it over a year now. Good luck.
374743
I have this same problem. It's loud and I can't for the life of me figure out why it started or how to stop it. I'll have to buy a new machine (not this one).
1996039
"Very loud"? I owned two of these after trying out three different brands/models in the last five years, and both were average noise level of a desktop computer fan. I would say if the noise you're hearing resembles something louder than a desktop computer running, then some thing is up. Good luck!
1157613
Hi sorry to hear about the issue. If you have tried everything with no luck, would suggest swapping it out for another. 1 of 3 I purchased we ended up returning. Now, we got ours at a local store so I didn't have to hassle with repackaging/shipping. My sister bought one and had issues as well. I commented on the table top version of this fan that unfortunately the manufacturer is not very consistent, or that QA is lacking. Despite the little issue i had, I am very very satisfied with my purchases. Good luck and I hope you get to enjoy your fan soon!
1677056
Did anyone read the manual? The fan is not a defect -- it expressly says on page 47 of the XBR4 manual in the troubleshooting section... "Condition: There is a whirring noise, Explanation: This is the sound of the internal fans of the TV. It is not a malfunction."
7655
It makes a whirring noise, yes. It is not, in my opinion, as loud as a large fan and other, louder noises, like a TV can drown it out some. If you are using it with no other noise happening, like if you're in bed or at a play or movie theatre, it would sound like "white noise" and could probably annoy the people around you. As an aside, moving the base back and forth causes a pretty loud "ratcheting" sound as well. That one's unavoidable and loud.
1719781
Hello, sorry for the long delay in responding, recently moved and have been busy with other things. Have not used ellipse in a couple of months and couldn't remember how quiet or noisy is was, especially since when I work out I usually listen to t.v. or iPod so wasn't paying attention. Anyhow, today I got on it, used it and it is very quiet. It makes a low wooshing sound but no louder than say a kettle as it comes to a boil. I would guess that if your floors are very thin and uncarpeted your neighbor may hear the swooshing but with a pad or carpet underneath the machine I would think that it would not be a problem. Hope this helps. Cheers, Mary. Hello, sorry for the long delay in responding, recently moved and have been busy with other things. Have not used ellipse in a couple of months and couldn't remember how quiet or noisy is was, especially since when I work out I usually listen to t.v. or iPod so wasn't paying attention. Anyhow, today I got on it, used it and it is very quiet. It makes a low wooshing sound but no louder than say a kettle as it comes to a boil. I would guess that if your floors are very thin and uncarpeted your neighbor may hear the swooshing but with a pad or carpet underneath the machine I would think that... » Read More Hello, sorry for the long delay in responding, recently moved and have been busy with other things. Have not used ellipse in a couple of months and couldn't remember how quiet or noisy is was, especially since when I work out I usually listen to t.v. or iPod so wasn't paying attention. Anyhow, today I got on it, used it and it is very quiet. It makes a low wooshing sound but no louder than say a kettle as it comes to a boil. I would guess that if your floors are very thin and uncarpeted your neighbor may hear the swooshing but with a pad or carpet underneath the machine I would think that it would not be a problem. Hope this helps. Cheers, Mary. « Show Less
1017920
I had the same problem when I ordered mine last year. They said they were out of stock and that I had to keep contacting them to find out when it would be in stock, then they would send me a new one. I really don't have the time in my life to do that. Unfortunately I really really like this fan. It is so quiet and it works way better than any other I have tried. My husband just stole mine fore his computer because he hasn't found one that works as well, so now I am stuck making a decision...buy another one because it is a great product, knowing there is no pass through...or refuse to because of the false advertising about a wire??
777949
No I have not heard it, mine is silent, though I have yet to use it for long periods. I don't think it's normal, but if it still does what it says on the pack it's ok.If it's not broken don't fix it!
1757824
We have made multiple attempts to contact the company directly (with no avail) regarding both questions. The volume on the machine just does randomly seem to almost turn itself off (so low, it might as well be). We experienced the exact same defect on several different units via exchanges to the company, although a select few customers seem to report no problem at all. As to improvements, we have noticed the product appearing and disappearing from various retailer sites...hopefully, it has been an effort to pull the item and find a solution. However, based on other reviews we've seen: No improvements have been made. Currently we are using the one-level-down model from this company and we do like it. It has far less features (fewer sounds/ tones, no clock) than the Version II, but as it actually works and we don't get startled awake all through the night with sound cutting out, it is the only one we would recommend at this time. Homedics could also stand to work on their customer service while they are at fixing the second model.