Noisy air vents can be a distraction, particularly in the overnight hours when the home is otherwise silent. Your HVAC ductwork recirculates the entire volume of air inside through the house multiple times each day, so it’s not surprising that some sounds of moving air can be heard. However, when it’s a high-pitched “wind whistling” noise that comes and goes as the system blower cycles on and off, or banging and popping sounds inside the ducts, it becomes an annoyance. Here are some reasons why you’re hearing more than the sound of silence from your noisy air vents.
- Clogged air filter. A dirty air filter causes increased pressure inside the ductwork as the system blower strains to draw air through the return duct, which is obstructed by the clogged filter. This increase in velocity can cause high-pitched noises of air movement that are very audible. Changing the air filter monthly to keep the airflow moving freely is the best way to silence it.
- Closed vents. Closing supply vents in certain rooms doesn’t increase energy efficiency or comfort in the house as some people mistakenly believe. What it does do, however, is unbalance the volume and velocity of air moving through the system, which in turn increases pressure in the return ducts. Excess noise is the likely result. The duct system is designed to function effectively and most silently with all vents open. Don’t close air vents and do make sure they aren’t obstructed by furniture or other objects.
- Temperature changes. Ductwork is mostly fabricated from thin sheet metal. As the system cycles on and off, the metal slightly expands and contracts due to temperature variations. Faint popping and banging noises may be heard inside the ductwork. Metal ductwork construction often amplifies this sound and distributes it throughout the house, making it hard to track down. An inspection by a qualified HVAC technician may be able to pinpoint the noisy span of ductwork and suggest solutions to quiet it down.
For more solutions to noisy air vents in Elyria and Oberlin, contact the HVAC professionals at Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Lorain, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about noisy air vents and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Guide or call us at 440-201-2959.
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Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning
1 (440) 246-5440
Serving the Lorain, OH Area