New Trane XR80 Very Loud

[lilly_04]

So far, I'm not pleased with the Trane experience. When I accepted the bid, I thought the senior installer would be doing the install; instead, the young, inexperienced guys were sent to do the job.

What is really worrisome to me is the fact that I, someone with no HVAC knowledge whatsoever, had to point out things to them that didn't look right; for example, the hole they cut for the filter was entirely too large. When I called the office to see if a supervisor would be inspecting their work, I was told they don't have time to. (?!)

One of my concerns is that the furnace is LOUD - almost sounds like a jet engine. My old 30-year-old Lennox was very quiet. Is it normal for a Trane XR80 to be that loud? Or does that indicate potential installation problems?

Thanks,

Lilly

[seatonheating]

Tough to tell without more info.

A lot of homeowners are surprised at the noise of a new furnace(especially single stage) because new blowers are designed to move more air, ie. more noise. Now, a system installed with proper ductwork should run pretty quiet without excessive noise. Did they look at the ductwork as well?

[seatonheating]

Oh, and don't blame Trane. Every manufacturer has it's bad seeds, (bad contractors).

[lilly_04]

Originally posted by seatonheating
Tough to tell without more info.

A lot of homeowners are surprised at the noise of a new furnace(especially single stage) because new blowers are designed to move more air, ie. more noise. Now, a system installed with proper ductwork should run pretty quiet without excessive noise. Did they look at the ductwork as well?

They looked at it when they gave me the estimate and told me that a lot of work would be involved if I wanted to go with a 90% system, so I went with the 80% instead.

Could something/or lack of something in the ductwork be the cause of the noise-level? Thanks.

[RoBoTeq]

As mentioned, it sounds like your contractor is lacking, not the brand of equipment.

All new furnaces have more moving parts then the older furnaces had. All new furnaces make sounds that the older furnaces did not make. If you are referring to the sound of the induced draft blower that comes on just before your furnace fires up, that is a factor of all new furnaces.

If your noise issue is from the air through the ducting, that is most likely due to the installers not properly sizign your system.

[lilly_04]

Originally posted by RoBoTeq
As mentioned, it sounds like your contractor is lacking, not the brand of equipment.

All new furnaces have more moving parts then the older furnaces had. All new furnaces make sounds that the older furnaces did not make. If you are referring to the sound of the induced draft blower that comes on just before your furnace fires up, that is a factor of all new furnaces.

If your noise issue is from the air through the ducting, that is most likely due to the installers not properly sizign your system.

Thanks for the reply. Regarding the system size, does that refer to the BTUs? Or is it possible that my 75,000 BTU system is the correct size, but the ductwork needs some work? Sorry for all the questions.

[seatonheating]

Originally posted by lilly_04

Originally posted by RoBoTeq
As mentioned, it sounds like your contractor is lacking, not the brand of equipment.

All new furnaces have more moving parts then the older furnaces had. All new furnaces make sounds that the older furnaces did not make. If you are referring to the sound of the induced draft blower that comes on just before your furnace fires up, that is a factor of all new furnaces.

If your noise issue is from the air through the ducting, that is most likely due to the installers not properly sizign your system.

Thanks for the reply. Regarding the system size, does that refer to the BTUs? Or is it possible that my 75,000 BTU system is the correct size, but the ductwork needs some work? Sorry for all the questions.

Hey Lilly,

The main factor here is whether or not the ductwork you have can deliver the design CFM for the home. Is the furnace blower designed properly to fall within the parameters of what your home needs? And can the ductwork handle this "design" CFM? These are the questions you need to ask your contractor. If he balks, then find a contractor that is willing to perform the proper calculations, Manual J and D:

http://www.socalgas.com/construction/builders/Builders%20Resource%20Guide/Air%20Conditioning%20Contractors%20of%20America.ht m

[contactor]

Is the noise your refering to, when the furnace first starts, or a couple of minutes afterwords?

[lilly_04]

Originally posted by contactor
Is the noise your refering to, when the furnace first starts, or a couple of minutes afterwords?

From the time the furnace comes on until it stops, it's noisy. The noise isn't coming from the vents, it's the furnace itself that's really loud -- if that makes any sense...

The furnace is in the laundry room, which is just off the kitchen. When I'm in the kitchen or anywhere else that's near the laundry room, the furnace noise is really bothersome. The farther away I am from the laundry/furnace room, the less bothersome it is.

Does that give any clues as to the source of the problem?

Thank you

[mcjo tech]

I am not a contractor but a service technician. I have heard this complaint many times after our install department has replaced an older furnace with a new type. Often the noise that the customer is hearing is the in-shot burners which are much louder then the old type burners or the sound of the induced draft motor. If your thermostat has a fan only position then you may be able to just activate the blower fan motor. Doing this will help to determine if it is fan noise or the noise of the inducer or burners.

[mark beiser]

Because they are all forced combustion with inshot burners, just about any new 80% furnace will be very loud compaired to an older natural draft furnace.

Usually it is not a problem because furnaces are generally installed in a basement, mechanical room, closet, garage or attic that is closed off from the living areas.

A furnace with sealed combustion, like any 90%+ efficient furnace, would be much quieter.
If your furnace is located in the conditioned space of the house, it should have been a sealed combustion furnace anyway.

In most areas it is code that the furnace has to draw its combustion air from outside the conditioned space.

In my area it would be against code for me to install a 80% furnace in a laundry room attatched to the house, unless the door from the room to the house has a full seal around it, has an automatic door closer of some sort, and the room has combustion air from outside. It would also not be allowed to have return or supply ducts to the room.

If the furnace is in a closet in the laundry room, any vents in the door should be sealed, and the closet door frame should have jams on all 4 sides of the opening for the door to seal against. Combustion air would have to be ducted into the closet from outside.(ventalated attics count as "outside" for this)

Most problems with furnaces I see people complain about here are due to one or more of the same 3 issues.

1) Installation
2) Sizing
3) Application

The brand almost never has anything at all to do with the problem.

[too tall terry]

another thing,is to make sure the gas pressure was checked and set correctly.....hope they have time for that;)

[contactor]

Originally posted by lilly_04

Originally posted by contactor
Is the noise your refering to, when the furnace first starts, or a couple of minutes afterwords?

From the time the furnace comes on until it stops, it's noisy. The noise isn't coming from the vents, it's the furnace itself that's really loud -- if that makes any sense...

The furnace is in the laundry room, which is just off the kitchen. When I'm in the kitchen or anywhere else that's near the laundry room, the furnace noise is really bothersome. The farther away I am from the laundry/furnace room, the less bothersome it is.

Does that give any clues as to the source of the problem?

Thank you


The noise probably is the inducer motor and/or the inshot burners running as normal. Much louder than the old furnace when burner were lit. I would persist with the contractor about the problem tho, keeping in mind that the new one will be louder than the old. The location of the unit magnifies it more. You could have an abnormal noise tho, and I would have them still come out to check it.Mark beiser's post is good on the premise that if the furnace is in a separate closet with a door,or can be walled off separately, it needs adequate combustion air and sealed ductwork. This would also take care of furnace noise.
If they will not respond to your request,contact the building dept. in your area if possible.Another option is another contractor.

[seatonheating]

It's funny. I already gave her the answers as well as others on here, and yet you guys still chime in with off the wall garbage. Look at my posts and try to refute them? Tired of seeing these threads go on and on without people actually listening because they are afraid it may cost them more money.


All I do is fix systems that HO's thought they were saving money on,,,,RIDICULOUS!!!