Yes there are grilles that are less restrictive and quieter.
Adding a second return ,say in the master or opposite end of living area will reduce the flow and noise.
As I've posted b/4, our return air is really loud. Its in the living area (not per our houseplan specs, but its another sordid story) and its really hard to have a conversation whilst the air/furnace is going, w/out turning the Peavy amp and mic.
Is there a "quieter" return grill? Are there ways to quiet this thing down besides moving it to a room that's away from the living area.
Thanx ahead,
Rom
Yes there are grilles that are less restrictive and quieter.
Adding a second return ,say in the master or opposite end of living area will reduce the flow and noise.
What's between the return grill and the blower? If just metal, lining it with duct liner should make quite a difference.
It all depends on what is producing the noise. If it's to much air going through the grill then possibly a different style of grill would do what you need. If the noise if coming from a mechanical noise being brought through the ductwork and exiting the the grill then you'd need to line the ductwork.
Either way you need to identify what exactly is producing the noise because each reason takes a different solution.
Use the biggest hammer you like, pounding a square peg into a round hole does not equal a proper fit.
There's a platform for the air handler that impedes into the top of the opening between filter and blower. Technically, it cuts the the air return from 16x25 to about 16x20. Air, post filter, hits this platform (with its attendant 2x4's) and is redirected underneath it, then up into blower/AH.
Pull down the grill w/the A/C on and the noise IS audibly reduced. Still there seems to be some type of mechanical noise emanating from the A/H cabinet.
We've done some sound attenuation around the A/H and its helped THAT aspect, still the noise of the air rushing into a clean filter is annoying.
Platform opening should be the same size as the equipment inlet.Distance between the equipment and return grille has an infulene on noise,less is greater.
Type equipment?
Is relocating the air grill a possibility? Can you add a length of ductwork and move it farther away from the air handler? Many of the insulated plenums do a fine job of insulating both ambient air and noise.
Last edited by MissouriBound; 06-29-2008 at 10:48 PM.
A furnace has the blower at the inlet,so two elbows are needed between that and the return grille,for noise reductin.
Do you have that??