Knowledge Builders

why is my air handler so loud

by Erika Weissnat Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
image

Indoor units – whether the air handler or furnace is reasonably typical complaints when it comes to noise. In many cases, it’s caused by a bad belt or bearing in the blower motor. In most cases, these are inexpensive repairs—adding lubricant, tightening parts, and replacing belts. How can I make my HVAC quieter?

In many cases, it's caused by a bad belt or bearing in the blower motor. Unusually noisy motors inside air handlers and furnaces make squealing, screeching, rattling, and/or banging noises when the equipment malfunctions.Mar 14, 2018

Full Answer

Why are my air vents making loud noises?

It is normal to hear noises from your air vents. Well, that is... If your heating and cooling system are effectively running. If the sounds get louder or unusual noises get mixed in, it could indicate any potential problem in the vents. These loud noises are mostly because of the return air. These noises are nothing to be frightened about.

Why is my air conditioner so loud when it runs?

Keep in mind, the unit outdoors will be loud when it’s running, but it shouldn’t produce any strange or shrill noises. In order to troubleshoot an overly-loud AC, you need to identify which part of the system is producing the noise. Let’s start with the indoor components:

Why is my return air grille making loud noises?

These loud noises are mostly because of the return air. These noises are nothing to be frightened about. You can easily get rid of this ruckus without spending any money; reducing noise from the return air grille is pretty simple, as we’ll see. This article includes some hacks to muffle loud noises created by return air.

Why is my air conditioner making noise like a helicopter?

The helicopter-like noise occurs when the blades are spinning at an angle, out of place, or hitting what they should not be. But faulty parts are not always to blame. Sometimes, the whirring noise can be due to a piece of debris being stuck in the outdoor fan or the indoor blower.

image

How can I make my air handler quieter?

High static pressure makes airflow more audibleAdjust the fan speed. Your blower or furnace fan should be set to deliver the proper airflow per ton. ... Add ductwork. ... Add a bypass duct. ... Add or expand grilles and registers. ... Replace existing registers and grilles with high velocity models.

Why is my AC blower so loud inside my house?

If you hear rattling, bangs, or clanking inside your home's indoor HVAC system, something may have been knocked loose or broken. Often, this means a part got loose inside the blower. The louder the rattle, the worse the situation. If the rattling is loud, turn off your HVAC system and contact an HVAC company.

How loud is an air handler?

Sound Ranges and Ratings Even with the varying, AC units tend to fall somewhere between 25 decibels and 70 decibels, making the loudest unit eight times louder than the quietest. A 25-decibel air conditioning unit would operate at a loudness just above a whisper, so they're hard to hear.

Why is my blower motor so loud?

The blower motor needs routine lubrication, and often a specific kind of lubrication to upkeep performance and function over time. Otherwise, the fan might seize up and cause a loud noise (and an even louder repair bill). If you are knowledgeable of the process, you can add lubrication to the motor.

Are all air handlers noisy?

Air handlers are the heart of an HVAC system, moving the conditioned air through a building. Like a heart, they can generate a lot of noise while operating. Manufacturers, however, are taking steps to reduce that noise.

Why does my AC sound like a jet engine?

If your air conditioner sounds like a jet engine, this is a sure sign that it is breaking down. The problem could be a faulty condenser fan, a failing compressor, or frozen evaporator coils.

Why is my forced air furnace so loud?

A majority of furnaces will produce a low humming noise while they are operating. If this noise is becoming noticeably loud, this is a signal of a severe problem with your blower fan or capacitor. To prevent damage to your fan, it's important to call a licensed technician to inspect and repair the blower motor.

Why is my new HVAC blower so loud?

Your New System Works Correctly The sound that you are hearing could simply be more airflow. The new blower motors that are put into the current furnace technology are much more effective than older blower motors and are made to push air through your house.

Why does my furnace sound like an airplane taking off?

If your furnace sounds like an airplane or jet engine taking off, it's usually a gas issue. Gas could be leaking from a line or valve. Or, if you hear a click before the swooshing sound, you may have a broken heat exchanger that is leaking gas.

How can I make my blower motor quieter?

Tighten the motor mounts and see if that solves your issue. If it doesn't, insulating the blower might be the best solution. If that doesn't work, then you may need to replace the whole blower. If the annoying sound is a screech, you might just need to oil the blower motor.

How do you quiet a blower motor?

10 Ways on How to Quiet a Noisy Furnace BlowerFind and Replace the Loose Parts. A loose part can be noisy. ... Fix Damaged Insulation. ... Fasten Your Furnace Motors. ... Use Return Air Ducts. ... Replace or Repair Motor Mounting Grommets. ... Oil the Furnace Motor and Parts. ... Attaching the Furnace to Support Beams. ... Fix the Noisy Blower Fan.More items...

What does a bad furnace blower motor sound like?

A thumping, banging or clanking sound could be the result of a loose or broken off part in the motor or blower assembly. Should you hear one of these noises, turn off your furnace immediately. Call a professional to examine and repair or replace the broken part before you turn your furnace on again.

How do I make my furnace blower quieter?

10 Ways on How to Quiet a Noisy Furnace BlowerFind and Replace the Loose Parts. A loose part can be noisy. ... Fix Damaged Insulation. ... Fasten Your Furnace Motors. ... Use Return Air Ducts. ... Replace or Repair Motor Mounting Grommets. ... Oil the Furnace Motor and Parts. ... Attaching the Furnace to Support Beams. ... Fix the Noisy Blower Fan.More items...

Why is my AC furnace so loud?

The simplest explanation for screeching or whistling is that your furnace air filter could be clogged with dust, hair, and dirt. That eerie screech you hear might just be air desperately trying to get through. Fortunately, you can take care of this noise issue yourself, quickly and inexpensively.

Why does my furnace sound like an airplane taking off?

If your furnace sounds like an airplane or jet engine taking off, it's usually a gas issue. Gas could be leaking from a line or valve. Or, if you hear a click before the swooshing sound, you may have a broken heat exchanger that is leaking gas.

What does a bad furnace blower motor sound like?

A thumping, banging or clanking sound could be the result of a loose or broken off part in the motor or blower assembly. Should you hear one of these noises, turn off your furnace immediately. Call a professional to examine and repair or replace the broken part before you turn your furnace on again.

Why Is My Air Conditioner Loud? Is It Normal?

As I mentioned above that the air conditioner is a very complex system, and it’s normal to hear noises while it’s running. Generally, you’ll hear humming sounds coming from your system. However, if you hear abnormally loud noise such as hissing noise or rattling noise coming from your AC, there is a high chance that your air conditioning unit has an issue and it need repairs.

Why is my AC making a loud noise?

Malfunctioned fan blades and parts could be the reasons behind your noisy air conditioner issues. As you all know that the HVAC system is made of numerous parts. If any of these parts get loose, your AC may produce abnormal sound. Again, your outdoor compressor has a fan in it. If the fan of the compressor gets misaligned, it’ll start to produce abnormal sound and will make your system noisy.

Why does my AC make a rattling noise?

But dirt and debris are very harmful to your AC unit. When this dirt and debris accumulate in the air conditioners , it starts to make rattling noises. That’s why you’ll have to make sure that you change your HVAC air filter regularly and do regular HVAC maintenance checkups to keep your AC unit from heavy repairs.

What to do when you hear a screeching sound from your AC?

As it is the heart of an AC, when you hear the screeching sound from your HVAC system, you should ask for help from an HVAC professional as soon as possible. A little delay in repairing can cause your big bucks.

Does Green Leaf Air do AC repair?

Besides, for any Air Duct Cleaning, AC installation, AC replacement and AC repair services, call Green Leaf Air to ensure you get the best quotes and satisfying service.

Why does my AC make a loud noise?

One of the most common reasons for this problem is a refrigerant leak, which, aside from being highly detrimental to your AC unit, can also harm the health of the residents of your home. Another dangerous reason for the screaming sound is the over-pressurization of the internal compressor. In some situations with this type of problem, the AC unit is equipped with a sensor that will shut the unit off. If this happens, don’t worry. This is a failsafe mechanism included for your safety.

How loud is an air conditioner?

Contemporary air conditioners are designed to stay quiet. These high-efficiency units use 2-stage variable heat compressor technology, as well as sound reduction, in order to keep noise levels under 55 decibels. If you own such a unit, you likely seldom think about its noise levels. That is until the unit begins to sound louder than normal. If this starts occurring, chances are that you will notice, and might wonder if something is going wrong with your unit.

When Is It Time To Replace A Noisy Air Conditioner?

Older units that begin to be noisy are usually best if they are discarded and replaced. While repairs are still possible, some problems are just too expensive to address. For instance, older units used R22 refrigerant, which has since been replaced by R410-A in newer units. However, the two are not interchangeable, so older units require their type of refrigerant. The problem is since it’s far less common these days, it gets more challenging to find services that still stock and carry R22, and its acquisition ends up being more costly.

Why does my compressor bang?

If you begin to hear banging from inside your unit, it is most likely due to a broken or detached part. It might be a piston pin, a crankshaft, a connecting rod, or any number of other internal components that make up the internal compressor that has snapped or disconnected, or there is a poorly balanced internal blower in play. If a component of a compressor has broken, it is almost certain that the compressor will need to be replaced.

What does it mean when a fan blows cold air?

More seriously, it could mean that the internal fan blades are not balanced correctly, the unit has loose parts, the blower is imbalanced or failing, or there is a refrigerant leak. The latter is especially evident if the unit seems to be working but not actually blowing cold air. If the refrigerant has leaked out, it will need to be refilled and the source of the leak needs to be patched.

Why does my outdoor fan squeal?

When indoor blower motors and outdoor fan motors begin to degrade in terms of efficiency, they exhibit the tell-tale sign of squealing as the noises travel through the duct systems. Squealing can also be indicative of malfunctioning or damaged housing or blower wheels. Because certain units may squeal inherently to some degree, it’s important to pay attention to the nature of these squeals in order to distinguish between those that are normal and those that are irregular.

Why is it important to replace an air conditioner compressor?

As the main functional component of an air conditioning unit, when the compressor becomes deficient it will likely cost more to replace it than to just invest in a new unit. The newer unit will carry the benefits of being quieter, as well as more energy efficient. You might find that your electric bill drops substantially with a new unit, meaning that over its life, the savings will have the unit pay for itself.

Why is my air conditioner loud?

Your indoor or outdoor unit could be so loud for a few of the following common reasons: Most units use isolation padding to absorb the motion noise produced by the internal parts , especially the fan. These pads can wear over time and begin to crumble and break, increasing the noise level ...

What does it mean when you hear a hiss in your HVAC?

Ductwork. A quiet rush of air is reasonable to hear from the ductwork, but if you hear a hiss, the coolant is leaking and the ducts are improperly sealed. This requires immediate attention from an HVAC team.

Why does my indoor air conditioner belt squeal?

The indoor unit’s belt is worn or misaligned. The squealing can vary as different temperatures and humidity levels cause the belt to expand and contract.

Why does my furnace make a clicking sound?

Furnace vibrations sound similar to an out-of-balance washing machine because the motor is most likely off balance.

What does it mean when a furnace is squealing?

Squealing or screeching means that the furnace’s belt and/or motor bearing is having problems. These issues can be solved with the addition of the correct lubricating oil or an inexpensive repair from a professional.

What does it mean when a fan thwaps?

A “thwapping” sound is typically indicative of something stuck in the fan blades. This problem isn’t dangerous, but it could hinder the longevity of the system’s motor, so carefully shut off the blower and remove the roadblock.

What does it mean when a gas furnace makes a chirping noise?

A chirping noise is usually a sign that two parts are rubbing together without proper lubrication.

How much reduction in blower speed is med hi?

Cannot really tell the difference in noise level but from what I read into it; med-HI is only a 10-15% reduction in blower speed. So I probably wouldnt notice unless I went back and fourth a couple times to compare them.

Do you need a PRO for airflow analysis?

You need a PRO with all the required test instruments to do some airflow analysis testing.

Is the blower far from the wall?

As you can see there is a very short return to the wall. And of course the blower is therefore not far from the wall either.

Why Is My Air Conditioner So Loud?

When functioning efficiently, your air conditioning system should be relatively silent, aside from a slight humming when the system kicks on and off. Keep in mind, the unit outdoors will be loud when it’s running, but it shouldn’t produce any strange or shrill noises.

Why is my HVAC system making noise?

You want to make sure your HVAC system is installed in an appropriate place in your home to minimize noise. You also want to make sure your air ducts are not too small for the flow of the air, as this routinely causes noise issues due to air being pushed through the ducts at a high velocity.

What to do if your AC is obstructing?

If this is the case, we recommend having a professional HVAC technician service your air conditioning system. They will be able to quickly determine if there is anything within the ductwork that is obstructing airflow and contributing to the noise level.

Why does my refrigerator make a hissing noise?

Hissing Noise: Likely caused by a refrigerant leak and can cause inefficient cooling. Refrigerant can be dangerous to humans so have this inspected promptly.

Why does my AC make a squealing noise?

Squealing Noise: This noise can occur when there is too much internal pressure built up within the system. Turn your AC off right away if it is making this sound and call a professional to inspect it.

Can air conditioning be noisy?

Noisy air conditioning systems are a frequent complaint from homeowners — but good news your comfort can (and should) come in silence.

Is a brushless AC motor quieter than a blower motor?

HVAC systems that have a brushless D/C variable speed motor are going to be much quieter than an A/C blower motor. When both of these motors run at the same RPM, the brushless D/C variable speed motor routinely is quieter. This is because the brushless D/C variable speed motor has a series of permanent magnets that do not need to be charged like those in the A/C blower motor. So the brushless D/C variable speed motor can start and speed up as it goes, creating less noise.

Why is my air conditioner noisy?

It can also make the system noisier. The solution is to clean or replace your filter regularly and have your ducts cleaned if they start to impede airflow.

Why do variable speed blowers run at low speeds?

That's because variable speed blower or furnace fans usually run at a low speed, circulating air throughout your home more consistently than the old school , on/off systems you're probably used to. The fan speed varies depending on the cooling or heating load, but the fan operates at lower speeds most of the time.

Why is my ductwork sagging?

Those sags and bends can make it harder for your system to move air, which can increase static pressure and create noise.

What to do after checking for closed vents?

After checking for closed vents and fixing kinked or sagging flex duct, your best move is to have an HVAC professional measure the static pressure in your system. If you're hearing a lot of noise, static pressure is probably high. After checking things out, the contractor will likely propose one or more of the solutions we just discussed.

What does static pressure mean in ductwork?

When static pressure is too high, it means your ducts can't adequately accommodate the volume of air that your equipment is trying to move through them. And when the volume of air exceeds what your ducts are intended to handle, you get noise.

How to reduce noise in a home?

Add a bypass duct. If you have multiple zones within a single system, it's sometimes possible to add a bypass duct that relieves pressure within the system and reduces noise. Add or expand grilles and registers. In our experience, most homes don't have enough return air.

What to check if air is moving through HVAC system?

If the air moving through your system makes a lot of noise, the first things to check on are: Closed vent dampers: One closed damper probably won't make much difference, but closing several dampers at once might make your system noisier. Closing supply vents actually puts undue stress on your HVAC equipment.

What Causes Noise From The Return Air?

It is normal to hear sounds from a running HVAC system or AC unit. Though, if you feel like the sounds are increasing and have become bothersome. Any unusual noises can indicate some kind of potential issue in the system.

How To Quiet A Noisy Air Return?

By being familiar with the cause of noisy air return you can easily eradicate the issue. Now you have to learn how to reduce noise from return air.

FAQ Section

You can easily make the air return quitter. Initially track down the source of the noises coming from the system. Try the above-mentioned step to muffle the annoying noises. Open up the vents, clean the filter, check for leaky vents or ask for an expert’s advice.

Conclusion

A noisy air vent can be annoying, as they disturb your normal routine. Shushing it down is possible following the above-mentioned basic troubleshooting stages. The steps are quite simple and easy to perform.

image

1.Loud air handler - DoItYourself.com Community Forums

Url:https://www.doityourself.com/forum/air-conditioning-cooling-systems/299770-loud-air-handler.html

24 hours ago  · One thing you can do is make sure your filter is clean so the air doesn't make too much noise passing through it. If you that doesn't help, check to see if the evaporator coil, …

2.Why Is My Air Conditioner So Loud? 10 Common HVAC …

Url:https://atticsandmore.com/why-is-my-air-conditioner-so-loud/

8 hours ago Why is my AC unit louder than normal? If the noise comes from the outside the unit, it might be the condenser fan motor breaking down. If the noise happens every time the air conditioner …

3.Do You Know Why Your Air Conditioning Unit Is So Loud?

Url:https://www.warnerservice.com/do-you-know-why-your-air-conditioning-unit-is-so-loud

5 hours ago  · I am trying to figure out if and how I can reduce the circulator blower noise on this Goodman air handler. Its making a really loud blower noise that can be heard all through the …

4.Circulator on air handler too loud. can I turn it down?

Url:https://hvac-talk.com/vbb/threads/886782-Circulator-on-air-handler-too-loud-can-I-turn-it-down

22 hours ago It is possible that your air conditioning system’s outside components are the source of the obnoxious noise. Squealing Noise: This sound can be heard when the system is under too …

5.Why Is My AC So Loud? 3 Tips to Quiet a Noisy Air …

Url:https://energyair.com/how-to-quiet-a-noisy-air-conditioner/

15 hours ago  · If the loud noise is coming from the outdoor components of your air conditioning system, there could be a number of underlying causes. Squealing Noise : This noise can occur …

6.How to Make Noisy Air Ducts Quiet | PV Heating & Air

Url:https://www.pvhvac.com/blog/noisy-air-ducts-heres-how-to-make-them-quieter

14 hours ago  · The most common scenario involves a leaky vent. The outside air is forced in, increasing the air volume inside the vent. Air with increased volume is harder to pump and the …

7.How To Reduce Noise From Return Air: A Step-By-Step …

Url:https://soundprooftechnologies.com/how-to-reduce-noise-from-return-air/

10 hours ago

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9