Effective Ways to Deal with HVAC Noise Complaints

Out of sight, out of mind: this saying has been around for quite some time, but it doesn’t quite tell the whole story. It’s more like out of sight, out of mind…until something goes wrong. At least that’s what it’s like for most building owners and property managers when it comes to their HVAC systems. It’s easy to ignore HVAC equipment and delay maintenance until something malfunctions. And malfunctioning equipment is typically accompanied by noise, leading to every property manager’s biggest nightmare: tenant complaints.

Effective Ways to Deal with HVAC Noise Complaints

When HVAC equipment starts to make noise, it’s only a matter of time before the complaints start rolling in. To appease your tenants, and also preserve indoor air quality, comfort, and energy efficiency, it is important to act fast. As another old saying goes, a stitch in time saves nine. While not directly related to HVAC equipment, the principal sentiment still applies. It is far better to fix a small issue now then to let it snowball into a major (and costly) issue down the road.

Step #1: Find the Source

First, you must narrow down the cause of the complaint. Where is the noise coming from? By finding the source of the noise you will better be able to narrow down the causes.

Vibrations

The problem could be as simple as excess vibrations from the HVAC equipment. This is especially true if the HVAC noise complaint is coming from a room directly under a rooftop unit.

VAV System Issues

“[With a VAV system] if too much air is going past the damper, there may be a noise problem – think of when you have your car window down,” explains Ron Davis, a project manager with Crockett Facilities Services, Inc. (CFSI), in the Buildings magazine article “How to Deal with HVAC Noise Complaints.”

“If a room has reached the right temperature and the controls are slowly closing the damper, it may close most of the way but not fully, which also creates a lot of noise. You have a lot of airflow going through ductwork, and when it’s forced through a small area like that, the velocity of the air speeds up and creates more noise than it would if the damper were three-quarters of the way open.”

Wear and Tear

Over time, normal wear and tear can lead to noise issues.

“If the computer is telling the damper to close but the gears are worn out, chipped, or broken, it will try to close but only move slightly before the gears lose their mesh and the damper bangs,” explains Davis. “It might sound like a water leak in the ceiling, but in reality it’s the actuator.”

Step #2: Fix the Issue(s)

There is no one-size-fits-all solution in the HVAC industry. Each unique issue requires its only equally unique fix.

1. Excessive Pressure in the Ductwork: Davis recommends lowering the speed of the main fans to help reduce air flow through the system. This should help eliminate at least some of the noise.
2. Equipment Vibrations: This type of issue can be addressed several different ways. Springs under the offending equipment may help, or mufflers inside the ductwork. Tony Mori, senior HVAC estimator and planner for CFSI, recommends internal fiberglass lining, which serves as thermal insulation and absorbs sound, or a canvas collar between the HVAC equipment and supply and return mains to help reduce vibrations.
3. Supply and Return Diffusers: Sometimes supply and return diffusers are placed too close to one another, which can lead to excessive noise. Fortunately, the grills are easy to move, according to Davis.

Of course, the only way to pinpoint your exact issue is to enlist the help of a professional HVAC technician, like the ones at CFSI. Or, better yet, invest in an HVAC preventive maintenance program and catch small issues before they develop into HVAC noise complaints.

“We walk all eight floors of our building every day and essentially use all of our senses to determine whether or not there’s an issue with our system,” says Davis. “If there’s a noise issue, we’re going to hear it.”

As a commercial HVAC and mechanical contractor, Crockett Facilities Services, Inc. helps building owners, property managers and facility engineers to lower their operating expenses and energy costs through preventative HVAC maintenance. CFSI can develop a cost-effective, customized preventive maintenance plan for your commercial building that will provide you with peace of mind, improve comfort, save you money, and protect your capital investment.

To learn more about how to effectively deal with HVAC Noise Complaints, please contact CFSI at 202.600.2787 or sales@crockett-facilities.com. As a commercial HVAC and mechanical contractor, CFSI’s MSCA STAR and GreenSTAR certified technicians help building owners, property managers, and facility engineers to sleep better at night with 24/7 service throughout Maryland, Virginia and Washington, DC.

Like us on Facebook; follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Google+.

Sources:

“How to Deal with HVAC Noise Complaints,” Buildings

This entry was posted on Thursday, October 23rd, 2014 at . Both comments and pings are currently closed.