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Ductwork noise is a common occurrence in many homes. Clicking, ticking, and cracking noises when your furnace turns on or off are a byproduct of metal ductwork expanding and contracting as they are heated and then as they cool down. However, the noise that results should not be noticeable.
It is important to ensure that the noises you hear are coming from your ductwork, and not something else, like your furnace. Ductwork noise is often easily remedied and doesn’t usually indicate a problem with your HVAC system. The permanent solution requires that you identify the problem areas. This usually means removing drywall so that you can see where a pipe or duct might be rubbing against the wood framing of your home.
Contact a qualified contractor to investigate the problem before cutting into joists or framing. Although enlarging the contact zone to isolate the ductwork from the surrounding framing members seems simple, it is not. Isolating the ductwork requires that you enlarge the space around the ductwork to prevent it from rubbing against the framing when it expands, but are limited to how much you can cut, even if it is a small notch or hole, in framing members. Making the cut too large, or cutting in the wrong place, can compromise the structural integrity of your home.
In most cases of ductwork noise, shoddy workmanship by your home’s builder is not to blame. Most builders do account for lumber shrinkage and expansion of the ductwork, but conditions such as unusually low humidity levels in your home can cause greater-than-normal shrinkage. This means that ductwork that makes no noise for several years, may suddenly create all kinds of racket. A professional inspection and repair is the ideal solution if this occurs.
If you live in the New Jersey area and would like more expert advice about how to reduce or eliminate ductwork noise in your home, contact us at Pipe Works Services.
