You know you’ll hear some noise when your home’s HVAC system is operating. The muffled sound of air traveling through the ductwork, or the gentle hum of a fan motor is expected. Unusually loud HVAC noise can quickly become an annoying nuisance, though. Understanding what causes common noises like the following, and learning about effective solutions, can help you cope.
Bangs and Pops in the Ductwork
Banging or popping noise from the ducts is completely normal, because metal naturally expands and contracts with temperature and pressure changes. If the noise is irritatingly loud, you can have an HVAC technician investigate the source and take measures like these to quiet it:
- Fix sagging or damaged duct sections
- Seal the accessible ductwork, then add a sound insulating wrap
- Place baffle-equipped silencers in the ducts
- Add rubberized spacers to keep ducts from contacting close-by framing members
Whooshing Air Movement Sounds
If you hear an annoying “whooshing” sound whenever the blower fan is running, it can indicate there’s more than just a noise problem. This kind of noise can be a warning of high static pressure in your system, which can restrict airflow significantly and lead to component damage or premature failure. Your technician can perform some tests to find the underlying cause, then take appropriate steps to correct it, such as:
- Fine tuning the blower fan speed
- Correcting any undersized ductwork
- Increasing return airflow
- Switching to high flow registers and return grilles
- Replacing a poorly designed duct system
Loud, Bad Vibrations
A badly vibrating blower unit can send shock waves through your ductwork and produce aggravating rattling noises at the air vents. A technician can make sure the fan is working properly, then offer advice on ways to quiet the rattling, such as putting the fan on a rubberized pad or mounts, or adding a sound-reducing wrap.
These measures are also effective against a too-loud outdoor unit, so you can enjoy your backyard, deck or patio without hearing the constant din of nuisance noise.
For effective solutions to quiet HVAC noise in your Lorain-area home, contact us at Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning.
Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning
1 (440) 246-5440
Serving the Lorain, OH Area