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How to reduce low frequency noise from a gas furnace?
I had a new gas furnace instilled at my house. When the burners come on it makes a very loud rumble, similar to a drum-roll on a timpani. The installing company claims this as normal, and refuses to do anything other than sell me another furnace. While I may buy a different furnace – the 90+ % efficient furnaces are reported as much quieter than most 80% efficient furnaces, I definitely won’t be buying it from the same vendor. I want to investigate to see if the noise can be dampened before spending several thousand more to replace the furnace again.
I'm looking for feedback on how reduce or eliminate the noise. The source of the noise is the burners. The noise passes through ducting and comes out of baseboard heat vents. I guess the frequency is somewhere between about 20-70 Hz. The noise can be heard at all the vents at the downstairs area, but not at all upstairs. Note that the furnace is mounted under the downstairs area, in a crawl space. Based on this, one possible solution is to change the installed ducting to use a kind that has sound absorption material. Another possible solution, is to modify the plenum to provide better sound absorption - or something along those lines.
It occurred to me to use the plenum or the ducting to create a muffler of sorts, but I don’t know how mufflers are made, or if concept is applicable to a furnace.
Any suggestions on how to eliminate the noise without loosing a lot of air flow?
TIA
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06-19-2008, 09:50 AM
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