Noisy Fans - tap on the vents stops the noise (fan bearings?)

[D-F]

My laptop is about 15 months old and recently the fan(s?) have started to get noisy.

I don't think it is because they are running more because the PC is "hot" - of the 8 thermal zones, the warmest is 41C.

My suspicion is that the fans are cheap and the bearings are going. This is because when they are noisy a quick tap on the vents (just above the RHS of the main keyboard) silences them - and the temperature does not rise.

Is this a known problem? I have not had this sort of trouble with an HP laptop before (this is my third over about 14 years). Any way to ameliorate this problem, or do I have to open it up and replace the fan(s)?

Any thoughts? Thanks

[Echo_Lake]

@D-F
Thank you for posting on the HP Support Community.

The most common cause of overheating is the accumulation of dust inside the laptop. The electrical components in a notebook generate heat and fans inside the notebook help move the air to keep the components cooled to normal operating temperatures.

To fix this error, use the following steps:

1. Press Enter to clear the message and allow the system to boot to the Windows Desktop.
2. Shut down the computer, and then inspect and clean the exterior vents to remove dust buildup by blowing air through the vent openings. Dust can accumulate inside the vent openings and around internal cooling components, preventing the removal of heat.

For more information on reducing heat inside your computer, see Reducing Heat Inside the PC.

1. After you remove the dust, turn on the computer. If the error message persists, continue with these steps.
2. Perform a hard reset. Performing a hard reset can reset recorded thermal values in memory and enable you to use the computer again, even if only for a short time to access and save any important files before service.

For more information on performing a hard reset, see Use Hard Reset to Resolve Hardware and Software Issues.

1. In some cases, updating the BIOS might help prevent this error from occurring.

For more information on how to update the BIOS, see Updating the BIOS.

Hope this helps! Keep me posted for further assistance.
If I have helped you resolve the issue, feel free to give me a virtual high-five by clicking the 'Thumbs Up' icon below, Followed by clicking on "Accept as solution" from the drop-down menu on the upper right corner,Thank you for posting in the HP Support Community.  Have a great day!