Name that noise! (Video included)

[friskyweasel]

hello all -

Was hoping someone could help me identify the cause of this noise coming from my main HVAC unit?

I noticed last season that the air being sucked into the main hole in the ceiling where the air filter is installed (return ?) was starting to have a "whistling" background noise...like sucking air through your teeth. Then, just today, it started making the sound heard in the youtube video below. It's not easy to see in the video, but the black pipe that I focus in on was also shaking/vibrating back and forth pretty bad.

Video Link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLh1RL-Fys4

[Rcb2875]

you need to make the video public so we can see it.

If you are talking about the liner of the flex duct in your return, it may be that it has a tear and is sucking in air through the side of the flex or it is somehow obstructed.

[friskyweasel]

sorry about that - the video is now public

yeah i guess maybe the behavior could be consistent with some sort of tear / puncture in ductwork...but the unit itself seems to be making a repetitive sound, and as i was saying about the pipe in the video...that thing was shaking back and forth like crazy - scared me enough that i shut the unit down

[rglasgow]

I would turn unit off. The black pipe is the gas line; not causing noise. It vibrates because of blower. If unit has starved for air in past (whistling return) there is chance that blower wheel is separated from hub. Time to call a service tech. Good luck.

[SolarMike]

Weird fan bearing?

[Rcb2875]

Wow LOL That is a horrible racket. I would have to put money on the blower wheel. Sounds like it is rubbing against it's shroud.

BTW that noise has nothing to do with your duct or return. I couldn't see the video and was just assuming you were talking about a black pipe in your return making a whistling/fluttering sound as you described.

[kangaroogod]

Center portion of wheel slipping on vanes.

[mark beiser]

Ummm.....turn it off and call your HVAC contractor now!

It is going to need a part(s) that are not normal truck stop items though, so the system will be down for the weekend.

If you leave it running like that, you could loose the compressor due to lack of airflow through the evaporator coil.

[friskyweasel]

mark - how soon can you be here? lol - im kind of kidding, but kind of not...if your location listed in your profile is current, then you're only a couple of miles from me

[Mr Bill]

Sounds like you have a construction crew working inside your furnace, maybe their hungry, throw a cup of coffee and a couple sandwiches inside it. :grin2:

[demorrison]

If it is the blower wheel you could turn the indoor fan on with the thermostat without the heat or air conditioning running just to check. I had one do the same thing recently. I got one thru the local hvac supply and it looked like the leaning tower of Pisa. Had to return it for one that was constructed properly. Call a tech.

[dandyme]

if you haven't turned that thing off by now, I think it will turn itself off soon

yea that's a blower come apart, never a good thing

[ga-hvac-tech]

One more person piling on here...

Turn it OFF before you shred something and maybe cause an elec problem or a gas problem.

Just my :.02:... this is not a normal home repair... you need a Pro out to fix it. Reason is lots of specialty tools and parts availability.

Best to you, hope you get it fixed soon.

[heaterman]

Probably gonna need a new blower wheel.

[friskyweasel]

Just wanted to thank everyone for all the great info - it was indeed a faulty blower wheel. The center piece of the wheel was spinning FREELY without the fins turning. The fins basically had become detached from the center portion.

Mark Beiser came out and got the problem diagnosed, replaced the blower wheel, and now she's purring like a kitten...ahhhhhh cool air ; ). That dude knows his stuff!

Thanks again Mark and everyone that took the time to help out with answers.

[jpsmith1cm]

Just wanted to thank everyone for all the great info - it was indeed a faulty blower wheel. The center piece of the wheel was spinning FREELY without the fins turning. The fins basically had become detached from the center portion.

Mark Beiser came out and got the problem diagnosed, replaced the blower wheel, and now she's purring like a kitten...ahhhhhh cool air ; ). That dude knows his stuff!

Thanks again Mark and everyone that took the time to help out with answers.

Thanks for the feedback.

It is always good to hear a happy ending

[mark beiser]

Thanks for the lemonade! :)

[dandyme]

we'd already told him what the problem was :gah: :whistle:




thataboy Mark

[rglasgow]

Hey Mark, do I get a SPIFF for the first correct answer?

[kangaroogod]

I think I get the runner up. Mine was more precise :)

[Mr Bill]

Sounds like you have a construction crew working inside your furnace, maybe their hungry, throw a cup of coffee and a couple sandwiches inside it. :grin2:

So I guess my great response was just chopped liver. :grin2: