Thanks for all the advice, everyone. You're all an amazing font of
knowledge! It's all a lot clearer now -- including how old this furnace
might really be.
I might be moving in a year or two, so I don't know if I'll replace the
furnace despite that being the the most obvious and efficient long term
solution. However, out of curiosity, does anyone know the general price
range of upgrading a furnace?
Thanks again!
Scott
TURTLE wrote:
"Scott" wrote in message
. cable.rogers.com...
Hi, I was wondering if anyone had any ideas about how to reduce the
noise coming from my furnace. Usually there's some steady noise,
making it sound kind of like an old locomotive in the distance.
Occasionally, it sounds like it's banging around. When that happens
I'll open it up and give a little nudge to the motor/blower
assembly until it's in a spot where it doesn't rattle so badly.
I'll have to do that maybe once a month usually, but sometimes
more.
I think my trying to describe it might confuse things, so I took
some pictures. It's an older furnace from an Ottawa company that I
think no longer exists called "Beach Foundry Limited." There's a
service sticker that has a tune up or something done in 1983, so
it's at least that old.
Here are the pictures: http://ca.geocities.com/cndscott808/furnace/
Short of replacing it, does something need to be oiled,
adjusted/lined-up, padded... ? to help keep it quiet?
Thanks, Scott
This is Turtle.
1) first your gas valve you have has not been used since 1972 or
before models of furnaces. So it's got to be made before 1972
atleast.
2) The Belt is not lined up with the motor pulley and the blower
pulley. It is off set some what. This will cause a pulling of the
blower shaft on the bearings of the blower. for short metal sound or
grinding of metal on metal.
3) The pulley on the motor seems to be just a little bigger than
the standard pulley sizes and will cause the blower to run at a
higher R.P.M. than it was designed to run at. This should not be a
problem for it will just move more air.
4) The rails at the bottom of the blower housing is not succure at
all and it will move back and forth or from side to side to cause a
vibration noise when ever it wants to and where it is setting at the
minute. Also the rails or the blower is not all the way back in the
slot where it should be to make the blower discharge be totally in
line with the hole of the furnace to blow the air into the fire
chamber. You need to slide it all the way back to make the slide at
the bottom to be even and then succure it with some screws or nuts
and bolts but do bend the rail back to match the outer rail to take
up any gaps.
5) Now I can't touch the belt to see how tight it is but it just
look to me it is too tight for the old blower shaft bearings that are
worn some and most of the time you can't tighten up the belt
properly with out putting pressure on these older bearings. So loosen
the belt a little and see it quiten down some.
6) Now to cut down on noise after sucuring the rails that the
blower housing is in. You need to put some duct tape on the blower
housing rails to act as a cussion for sound when the blower housing
rails are slide back in the slot or rail holder. You want about 2
layers of duct tape to be between the floor of the furnace and the
blower housing rails for it to sit on. This will cut down on a lot of
noise by doing this. Sucure the rails and have the duck tape under
it.
If you want to really discuss it post back or e-mail me.
TURTLE
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