Space Heater Making Noise? Ticking, Clicking or a Loud Fan

An oil-filled radiator that ticks or crackles

Why it happens. As the heater warms, the oil inside the fins can expand. Honeywell says that can make a slight ticking sound that stops once the oil reaches its working temperature, and that its radiators can take up to several minutes to get there. De’Longhi says crackling is normal the first time a heater is switched on, or when it has not been used for a while.

A squeak on day one. De’Longhi also says a squeaking noise is normal when a new radiator is first turned on.

Keep it upright. De’Longhi says to use its radiators in the vertical position only. If one has been lying on its side, stand it up properly before you switch it on.

Oil on the floor. That is not a noise to wait out. If oil leaks, De’Longhi says to contact the maker or an authorized service center, and only they may open the radiator.

It turns itself off and on

The thermostat at work. Honeywell says its ceramic tower runs either continuously or on a thermostat setting, where it cycles on and off to hold the temperature you chose. If the room is already warmer than your setting, it stays off until the room cools. If it shuts off while the room is still colder than your setting, that is not the thermostat: Honeywell says a safety feature may have acted to prevent overheating, so go to check 5.

A click from an oil-filled radiator. On a De’Longhi radiator, the thermostat gives a click at the point where it switches the heat off, and its instructions use that click to set the temperature.

Metal settling. Dimplex says a slight clicking or pinging sound is normal as its heaters’ metal parts expand and contract.

The fan. On a Vornado set to Auto, the fan adjusts higher or lower with the heat to hold the set temperature. On Honeywell’s ceramic tower, the heater counts down 6 seconds after you press off, to cool the parts inside, before it shuts off.

A fan that has got louder

Why. A fan heater pulls a lot of air through it, and Vornado says dust, hair and debris can build up inside as it runs. Dimplex says that if its heater’s noise becomes loud or persistent, check that it is secure and that nothing is obstructing it.

Vornado’s cleaning. Unplug it first. Vacuum the dust off the front grille and the air inlets on the sides with the brush attachment, then wipe the heater with a soft, dry cloth. Vornado recommends cleaning the outside every week, and blowing the heater out with compressed air now and then to keep the element and motor clear.

Honeywell’s filter. On its ceramic towers with a filter, Honeywell says to switch off, unplug, let the heater cool, take the filter cover off and clean or vacuum the filter. It recommends cleaning the heater at least once a month and before you put it away for the summer, with a dry cloth only and no water, wax or polish.

A turbo radiator. On De’Longhi radiators with a turbo fan, a safety device switches the heater off if dust builds up on the air intake and output grills. Unplug it, let it cool, vacuum the grills, then plug it back in.

Something caught in it. Vornado says an object that stops the fan blade turning can make the heater overheat and cut its own power. Honeywell says that if you find an obstruction, turn the heater off and unplug it, let it cool completely, then remove it.

A rattle, or a noise that will not settle

Where it stands. Honeywell says to place its heaters on a firm, level, open surface, never on bedding or deep carpet, and that their rubber feet hold them firmly in place. Vornado says not to use a heater on an uneven or unstable surface, or up on a shelf or desk: only on the floor, standing upright.

Room around it. Keep it at least three feet from anything that can burn, such as curtains, furniture or bedding, CPSC says. Honeywell gives the same three feet from any wall or anything combustible.

If the noise stays. If it still rattles after cleaning, on a firm, level floor, do not take it apart. Stop using it, unplug it and contact the maker: Vornado says a heater that needs repair should be unplugged and not used, and Honeywell says to contact it first.

It clicks off and stays off

Or just the settings. Honeywell says the heater may simply be off because the room has reached your temperature setting or the timer has run out. Check those first.

A safety switch. Vornado’s MVH cuts its own power if it tips more than 10 degrees, or if the airflow is blocked and it starts to overheat. Honeywell’s heaters have a tip-over switch too. Stand it back upright. Before you clear anything blocking it, turn it off and unplug it, as Vornado and Honeywell say, and Honeywell says to let it cool completely first.

Getting it going again. Each maker resets its heater a little differently, and the steps are in a space heater not working.

If it will not come back on. Honeywell says its heaters also have a thermal cut-off fuse that shuts the heater down for good if it runs hotter than normal, and on the HCE200 the heater then has to be replaced. De’Longhi says the overheat safety device on its radiators is reset by an authorized service center, not at home.