Quieting the Return

[RomulanSpy]

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

[dash]

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.

[BaldLoonie]

What's between the return grill and the blower? If just metal, lining it with duct liner should make quite a difference.

[adrianf]

What's between the return grill and the blower? If just metal, lining it with duct liner should make quite a difference.

Would you be concerned about increasing the return static this way?

[firecontrol]

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.

[RomulanSpy]

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.

happen next year and redux of the duct work

[RomulanSpy]

What's between the return grill and the blower? If just metal, lining it with duct liner should make quite a difference.

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.

[RomulanSpy]

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.

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.

[dash]

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?

[MissouriBound]

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.

[RomulanSpy]

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?

Armstrong Ultra 80-Furnace and Concept 10 A/C-3T

1993 Installation
Nordic Pure Filter

All air leaks are sealed around the filter
12 supply vents for 1650 sq2

[RomulanSpy]

Is relocating the supply air grill a possibility? Can you add a length of ductwork and move it farther away from the air handler? Many of the insulated supply plenums do a fine job of insulating both ambient air and noise.

We're gonna try an answer that next spring, this is sort of a stop-gap type thing.

My tech has talked about adding an extra return in my office (other side of wall) and redoing the ductwork

[dash]

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??

[RomulanSpy]

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??

Dash, I'll look into those possibilities