| The arrival of colder temperatures is evident | | | | better than an emergency repair on a frigid |
| everywhere you look-sweaters and scarves have | | | | day. |
| replaced shorts and sandals, the colorful | | | | |
| leaves of autumn are long gone from the | | | | Fortunately, combating noise from a furnace |
| trees, and breezy open windows have given way | | | | can be accomplished inexpensively and with |
| to the familiar roar of the home furnace. But | | | | minimal effort. Controlling furnace noise |
| for some, starting up the furnace on that | | | | involves containing noise within the furnace |
| first chilly night of the winter season | | | | room, a task that can be approached in a |
| brings a grim reminder of a problem that has | | | | couple of ways. One option for blocking the |
| been pleasantly absent over the past few | | | | transmission of furnace noise is lining all |
| months: a disturbingly loud furnace. | | | | wall surfaces with a heavyweight |
| | | | soundproofing membrane such as dB-Bloc, and |
| Furnace noise originates from several | | | | establishing a disconnected surface by adding |
| sources. A loud furnace motor can be a major | | | | a layer of drywall onto a set of horizontal |
| nuisance, and is the sound source targeted in | | | | furring strips that have been attached atop |
| most furnace soundproofing projects. Airflow | | | | the vinyl membrane. The added density coupled |
| through ducts can also be a source of | | | | with the disconnected wall surface serves to |
| unwanted noise, particularly when components | | | | collapse a majority of sound waves before |
| are old or otherwise in poor condition. Even | | | | they have the chance to enter adjoining |
| with a furnace situated in a basement or | | | | rooms. An even simpler and more popular |
| remote mechanical room, unwanted noise can | | | | solution is to line walls with sound control |
| travel easily through walls, ceiling and | | | | blankets, which can be custom cut by a |
| openings and carry throughout the home. | | | | soundproofing supplier to match the |
| | | | dimensions needed for optimal sound control |
| Furnace rooms are usually surrounded at least | | | | in your furnace room. Such blankets are a |
| partly by a system of ducts and pipes within | | | | simple and cost effective solution, and can |
| the walls and ceiling of the room. At the | | | | even be customized with openings to fit |
| inception of any furnace sound reduction | | | | snugly around pipes and ductwork to optimize |
| endeavor, it is important to realize that the | | | | results. Such sound control blankets may also |
| presence of such openings makes it impossible | | | | be affixed to a ceiling for added noise |
| to completely eliminate the transmission of | | | | control. |
| furnace noise into other parts of the home. | | | | |
| Therefore, the goal in controlling furnace | | | | An important aspect of sound reduction |
| noise is to minimize unwanted sound | | | | treatments aimed at decreasing unwanted |
| transmission by isolating the furnace room | | | | furnace noise is ensuring that adequate |
| from the rest of the home as much as | | | | protection is afforded for the application. |
| possible. If your furnace is particularly | | | | An experienced soundproofing consultant and |
| loud, it may be a good idea to rule out any | | | | supplier can provide recommendations as to |
| mechanical defects before implementing a | | | | what treatments would be most effective based |
| sound reduction treatment. Performing | | | | on the individual characteristics of your |
| preventative maintenance, if needed, is | | | | project. |