Furnace Noise-Reducing Features & Technology

In this article, we will take a look at how furnace type can play a direct role in the amount of operation noise you experience, popular noise-reducing features you should look for, and which innovative technologies brands are using to differentiate themselves from the competition and reduce furnace noise as much as possible.

---

Furnace noise can disrupt the peace and comfort of your home in winter, but it is possible to have a quiet furnace.

Let’s look into factors that contribute to a noisy furnace, features that reduce noise, what some brands are doing to make quieter furnaces, and steps you can take to make a loud furnace a little quieter.

Introduction: Understanding the Importance of a Quiet Furnace

A certain level of furnace noise is to be expected from any heating system, but some furnaces are so loud that they’re disruptive.

For example, a quiet hum or rumble is normal and blends into the background noise of daily life, but banging, rattling, whistling, popping, and other loud sounds can disturb the peace and quiet of your home all winter.

What’s more, abnormal furnace noise can indicate a problem with the system, such as a damaged component, a malfunction, loose parts, and more.

Any of these issues can impact the efficiency, performance, and lifespan of the furnace, so you should consult with a licensed HVAC technician to fix the problem and the furnace noise.

Benefits of Reducing Furnace Noise: Improving Comfort and Peace of Mind

Furnace noise is measured in decibels. A quieter furnace typically falls within the 50 to 60 dB range, which is in the same range as a refrigerator or electric toothbrush. Anything louder than that can be extremely disruptive.

Noise pollution has many negative impacts on health and well-being, and these are just a few of the benefits of having a quiet furnace:

• Better sleep
• Improved concentration
• Improved peace, quiet, and comfort throughout the winter
• Less stress
• Better quality of life
• Lower stress and anxiety levels
• Higher productivity
• No communication disruptions

HVAC manufacturers have realized how important it is to have a peaceful, quiet home, and that’s why many of them have taken steps to reduce furnace noise over the years.

How Does Furnace Type Affect Noise?

Canadian consumers can purchase the following major types of furnaces: single-stage, two-stage, variable-speed and modulating propane and natural gas furnaces. The type of unit you purchase refers to the operation of the furnace.

Let’s take a look at how these different types of furnace operations stack up when it comes to furnace noise.

Modern single stage furnaces have come a long way and produce less furnace noise than those from a few decades ago. That said, they still function in an on/off operation, which means that when it turns on to hear your home, it operates at 100% output. Obviously, this means increased noise, as the unit will audibly cycle on and off more frequently to maintain the temperature you’ve set on your thermostat.

Two-stage and modulating gas furnaces can help reduce noise somewhat as they are able to operate at intermediate heat outputs and can, therefore, avoid the sounds caused by firing up, and also run at quieter levels when full-blast heating isn’t needed.

Furnaces with variable-speed blowers offer Canadian consumers an even quieter home heating solution. The blower is the component that circulates the warm air throughout your home.

Variable-speed models can help with noise reduction, by running continuously at lower speeds and adjusting speed based on temperature changes within the home.

These subtle fluctuations in blower speed can also have the additional benefit of greater energy efficiency, and increased home comfort thanks to a more consistent indoor temperature, in addition to quieter operation.

Many manufacturers also utilize the sound dampening benefits of insulation to their advantage, by lining the interior of the furnace cabinet with vibration and sound-dampening materials.

4 Common Furnace Features and How They Affect Furnace Noise

The features listed below help to lower the operating noise level of your furnace so that you can enjoy a quieter home heating experience.

1. Insulated cabinet – dampens vibrations and helps seal in noise to keep it from propagating through the vents and in the area surrounding the furnace itself
2. Two-stage and variable-speed draft blowers – Modern furnaces have induced draft blowers that pull air into the system for combustion and expel exhaust gasses. Two-stage and variable-speed draft blowers can operate in lower settings that don’t make as much noise compared to a single-stage blower that’s always operating at full speed.
3. ECM motor – runs continuously, adjusting its speed from low to high as needed and in response to temperature changes. With 5 speeds, the small incremental adjustments are slight and provide you with a quieter furnace operation. Since an ECM motor runs continuously, it eliminates the loud kickback which is often heard when a furnace turns on and off at the beginning of a heating cycle in traditional Single Stage heating systems.
4. Soft-mounted blower and inducer motor – provide additional sound dampening

Noise-Reducing Technologies Used by Major Furnace Brands

The manufacturers listed below incorporate innovative technology and smart design to effectively minimize operational noise from their line up of high-efficiency natural gas furnaces.

• Bryant – QuietTech™ innovative technology is designed to reduce the operational noise of your high-efficiency natural gas furnace.
• Rheem – their patented heat exchanger design reduces airflow which acts as another noise reducing feature.
• Carrier – their trademarked Comfort Fan™ technology gives consumers the ability to control the setting of their high-efficiency furnace fan with four different settings. By allowing the high-efficiency furnace to run continuously at lower speeds noise is reduced.
• Lennox – Lennox’s SilentComfort™ technology works to minimize traditional furnace noise
• Armstrong Air – the Quiet Combustion™Technology in their economy, mid-range and premium pricing model tiers to produce quieter furnace operation in all of their natural gas furnace models.
• Luxaire – Silent Drive™Comfort System in their Acclimate™ Series LP9C model
• American Standard – Vortica II™blower
• Coleman  – WhisperDrive Comfort System, which includes a swept wing fan and composite base to reduce vibrations
• Napoleon –  Whisper Quiet involves gradual increase/decrease in motor speed to eliminate the initial rush of air
• Amana – uses a sound-isolated blower assembly, a heavy-gauge steel cabinet, and insulation to reduce furnace noise
• KeepRite – uses a soft mounted blower, inducer motor, and cabinet insulation for quiet furnace operation

3 Installation and Maintenance Tips That Can Reduce Furnace Noise

No matter how loud or quiet a furnace is to start, proper installation and maintenance can help quiet your furnace. Here are some tips:

1. Sizing. Any furnace must be properly sized for your house. If the system is too large, it will cycle frequently and create more noise from stopping and starting all the time.

Conversely, if the system is too small, it will have to work harder than necessary, leading to more noise.

Beyond that, proper sizing is also important for the efficiency, performance, and longevity of your furnace.

2. Location. If you can choose where the furnace goes, opt for places like basements, garages, and attics, which are farther from everyday living spaces and can provide natural sound isolation.

Similarly, you can reduce furnace noise and vibration by securely mounting the unit on a level, stable surface that’s isolated from floors or walls.

3. Maintenance. Over time, dust and dirt can accumulate in the furnace, causing the system to work harder and louder. Regular maintenance, such as cleaning the blower and replacing filters, ensures quiet operation over time.

What’s more, certain furnace problems can cause loud bangs, rumbles, squeals, and other annoying sounds. Proper maintenance and routine inspections may help prevent these issues.

Best Quiet Furnaces Recommendations

The quietest furnaces on the market will be two-stage and modulating models with variable-speed blowers, and potentially with additional features to dampen noise. Here is a list of examples from the most popular brands in Canada:

Ways to Quiet a Noisy Furnace

If you want a quiet furnace but don’t have the budget to invest in a new heating system, there are steps you can take to reduce furnace blower noise and sounds from other components. Here are some ideas:

• Insulate the furnace and ductwork
• Install acoustic panels
• Seal leaks in the ductwork
• Upgrade the insulation in walls, floors, and ceilings
• Tighten screws, belts, and bolts on the blower, vents, etc.
• Lubricate the blower motor, blower shaft, bearings, and other moving components
• Lower the fan speed
• Check to see if there is a noise-reducing kit for your furnace make and model

Conclusion: Enjoying a Quiet and Comfortable Home Environment with a Quiet Furnace

Constant furnace noise in the house can affect your health and peace of mind, so it’s worthwhile investing in a quiet furnace or taking steps to reduce noise from your current system.

Modern furnaces have lots of noise-reducing design features, and there are also special technologies from certain brands to target noise pollution in the home.

And if you have the budget for a it, a two-stage or modulating furnace with a variable-speed blower will be far quieter than a single-stage furnace.

Just make sure you have the furnace installed and maintained by a professional HVAC technician to ensure quiet operation now and in the future. 

Check out our Furnace Buyer Center for everything you need to know, including in-depth articles & guides, product evaluations and more!

FAQ

Is there a way to make my furnace quieter?

How to reduce furnace noise will depend on the cause of the sound, but there are steps you can take. Check out these ways to quiet a noisy furnace ANCHOR LINK.

How do I soundproof my furnace?

There are lots of ways you can soundproof a furnace, including:

• Install soundproofing panels and anti-vibration pads around the furnace
• Insulate the ductwork and seal leaks
• Soundproof the furnace cabinet with fire-resistant, high-temperature insulation
• Install a duct muffler

Are newer furnaces quieter?

Yes, most newer furnaces are far quieter compared to older ones thanks to improved technologies, new design features, and larger components that allow for more airflow. Look for two-stage/modulating burners, variable-speed blowers, soft mounted blowers, ECM motors, insulated cabinets, and other noise-reducing features.