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Home fix for loud return intake on A/C?

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Discussion starter · #21 ·
Sorry. Does anybody think lining the space between the return grille and filter/flan with some sort of sound absorbing duct liner might work?'

Or how about a less powerful fan?

Thanks
Chris
 
#22 · (Edited)
C&EC said:
Guys, thanks for all the replies. I couldn't find those quieturn vanes on the Duro Dyne website.

Also, I know it is tough but does anybody have a guesstimate as to how much adding a return vent would cost? Just roughly?

Thanks
Chris
Click to expand...
Durodyne,then Glassline Catalog,then Quieturn

No pricies ,but depends a lot on space available,pics would help advise what to do.
 
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#23 ·
I used this product on my noisey return. It did wonders. I ordered the 2" thick stuff.

http://www.soundprooffoam.com/echo-absorber-natural.html?section=image

I also did the straight down "blocker" as mentioned above. One of those US Priority
12"x12"X 2" shipping boxes fit perfectly wedged up at the front rectangle area of the
framed in return at filter. Still gets plenty of air, but it has to go around the box.
That cut down the sound by 20% at least. Along with the padding, add another
20% and I cut down the return air grill sound by 40 -50%. A significant noise
reduction.
 
#24 ·
derbysr said:
you wrote that you had 18X14 grill = 504 CFM for a 2 ton furnace.(needs 800CFM)
Click to expand...
He most likely is getting a lot more then 504 CFM through that grille.

Your assuming that his FPM is low. Its most likely high.
 
Discussion starter · #26 ·
Thanks, I'm going to try some of this liner/sound absorbant material. Not sure it will work since the noise seems to be coming from the air over the grille (liner will be after that) but if it does work it will be cheaper than moving the return intake to the basement or someplace else.
 
#27 ·
DanW13 said:
http://www.soundprooffoam.com/echo-absorber-natural.html?section=image
This product looks to be the same or similar to carpet padding, which can be had at most any home centers or if your lucky enough to know a carpet installer you might be able to get some remants from them and try putting it in.
Click to expand...
Most if not all carpet padding nowadays is of a cell foam type.
The sound absorbing properties of Soundway's fiber product is superior to
carpet padding.

PS. I opted not to use that for lining my closet door and closet next to my furnace, it's not fire retardant.
I used Soundway's fire retardant closed cell soundblocking/sound absorbing foam instead.

http://www.soundaway.com/Soundproofing_Closed_Cell_Foam_p/15014.htm
 
#28 ·
Loud sounds from a/c systems usually indicate a problem from my past exp.

Bad bearings
To small of a return
Not enough supplies
Filter clogged
Not balanced
Rat....
ect..
ect...

Don't put a band aid on it. That's not solving the problem. Since noise is something most mfg would design to remove as much as possible the indication that there is excessive noise is telling you that something was not designed properly....when things aren't designed properly they fail. Putting a band aid on a wound doesn't make it heal it just keeps crap out...eventually the band aid needs to come off for the wound to heal.

Probably a horrible analogy but you get the point.
 
#29 ·
C&EC said:
Thanks, I'm going to try some of this liner/sound absorbant material. Not sure it will work since the noise seems to be coming from the air over the grille (liner will be after that) but if it does work it will be cheaper than moving the return intake to the basement or someplace else.
Click to expand...
If it's the grille ,sound should be acceptable with the grille temporarily removed,is it??

If so a different style grille can likely solve the issue,in fact if it's a "stamped" grilles,fins can be bent to reduce the angle and the noise,might have to repaint if the the paint chips.
 
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Discussion starter · #30 ·
The grille isn't the problem, I removed it and it was just as loud. The problem is the return intake is in a poor position (living room), only 14 inches or so from the fan, and the tech told me the unit itself is probably too big (powerful?) for our little house since it is blowing more than enough cool air through the vents. I realize pople have it worse with not even enough cool air coming out bit my problem is it is like a wind tunnel when it is on.

I don't have the money right now to hire somebody to relocate the return intake (although the basement would probably be perfect for it....right?), so I'm looking at some less expensive, home fix-it ideas.

Thanks.
 
Discussion starter · #31 ·
Ok so the more I think about it, the more I am considering adding and/or relocating a return intake, depending on the price of course...everything is overpriced in the DC area.

1) If I added a return intake somewhere else in my house, do you think it would lessen the "wind" noise from the living room intake?

2) Should I just relocate the living room intake to somewhere else?

3) Where is the best spot? I know that's a tough one to answer without seeing the home layout, but it is a 1 floor house with a finished basement. To me, the finished basement seems like the best place.

Thanks
Chris
 
#32 ·
1) It may help, but the fact that the blower is right behind the return grill isn't going to change.

2) In my opinion, you're best bet is to both A. relocate the living room return and B. add another return in a central location.

3) Do you have any supply air in the finished basement? A central location would be good.

Where exactly are you? Are you in Maryland, or actually in D.C.?
 
#33 ·
My return cavity was big enough that I could line it with lots of sound absorbing material. IF your return cavity area isn't that big, adding some sound absorbing material won't be as effective. I was also able to work with the airflow there and misdirect it a little, which also helped. You may not have that option.

Did you post some pics with the grill off?
 
Discussion starter · #34 ·
As soon as I find the cable for my camera (still unpacking from our move) I will post some pics.

I am in Maryland.

Not sure what you mean by supply air in the basement. The basement has three rooms. An unfinished supply/utility closet where the waterheater is located. A large finished room....future living room probably in a year or two. And a finished bedroom/office which is the only room in the basement that is heated and air conditioned.
 
#35 ·
If you're in Mont. County, send me an email (in profile) and I can give you a couple of company names in our area--if you wanted to call around to get some input from someone who can see your situation.
 
#36 ·
I seemed to have opened a can of worms with my suggestion.
while I don't think it will solve other problems, as a sound dampening
solution I believe it will work.
BUT I have an issue with products similar to carpet padding
and foam in a return. With foam, in the winter there will be
a potential issue of offgassing. Foam off gasses a dangerous gas.
The hvac company did their own sheetmetal work and used
2" (R-8) duct insulation. That would be the product I would use.
As for what the other product is comprised of..I certainly do not know.
but wouldn't use anything other than the duct insulation.
You should be able to have a hvac co make you the metal piece
and insulate it, at the very least you could buy some of the cut pieces
(scrap) to insulate it yourself. Spray on adhesive recommended by hvac co
and insulation placed on sheet metal.
I just wouldn't take the chance on foam & the other product, but again that is
IMO.

Like all the above and previous pages of info, this may not be the only issue.
Keep that in mind. But you may need time to afford these changes,
which is why I chimed in with my opinion. Mine was to reduce noise,
not fix other issues. Please keep that in mind. There may be other issues
best addressed by a hvac pro.

best of luck to you.
 
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#37 ·
C&EC said:
As soon as I find the cable for my camera (still unpacking from our move) I will post some pics.

I am in Maryland.

Not sure what you mean by supply air in the basement. The basement has three rooms. An unfinished supply/utility closet where the waterheater is located. A large finished room....future living room probably in a year or two. And a finished bedroom/office which is the only room in the basement that is heated and air conditioned.
Click to expand...
POics would be helpful,but you need to reread the posts and think about what has been mentioned.

Quieturn vanes would help,but I have no idea if they can be used,pics would tell us.

Ithought you said it was the grille noise,then you said it wasn't,a little confusing,did you remove it to test??
 
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#38 ·
Dash, I lined my hallway closet return cavity with 80% cotton mat soundproofing material off the net. It did wonders for my AC noise. Then I fired
up my new Carrier furnace. I'm getting kinda a slight noticable smell.

Damn, it's 80% recycled cotton fiber.

Maybe the smell will dissipate over time. The smell is very slight as of now.

Hehe..it's funny, I go to do all this soundproofing and it's summertime. I fire up the furnace just to check it out..and..."what's that
smell? I still may try your right angle idea. It's just that adding that
net bought 80% recycled cotton fiber mat seemed a sure thing and quieted down AC a lot.

Heat magnifies whatever odor is present, unlike AC. Damn.
 
Discussion starter · #39 ·
Dash, thanks for the reply. It is the noise the air makes going into the intake grille. I have removed the grille and it has not affected the noise level.
 
#40 ·
C&EC said:
Dash, thanks for the reply. It is the noise the air makes going into the intake grille. I have removed the grille and it has not affected the noise level.
Click to expand...
Still waiting for those pics of your return. That would help the pro's help you.

I actually lined my small condo closet with some closed cell foam and thought
that was where the smell was coming from. So I did a test. I sprayed some
Fabreeze on that fire retardant net bought soundblocking/sound absorbing foam
and got no smell out of my registers. That's kind of a relief, not having to rip it all out.
 
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