subject: Quieting a Noisy Furnace [print this page] When the furnace comes on and the noise is bothersome, and your furnace is old, a furnace and air unit can be installed in the attic if there is sufficient attic space.
Attic installation of the furnace will cost slightly more than the standard 3 Bedroom-3 Bath hallway closet mounting but not by much. And an air conditioning unit can be easily included, creating a temperature controlled environment for your entire house.
The furnace will take up 4 ft x 8 ft area in your attic. In that 4 x 8 area, you need to have 24 inches of clearance from the floor of the attic to the trusses. If there are gas lines and electrical in the attic, then the job is simpler and less expensive. Virtually every house has gas and electrical in the attic.
A 4 ft X 8 ft piece of plywood cut lengthwise (2 pieces 2 ft. X 8 ft) will easily fit through the standard attic access. Arrange 2 x 4's across the ceiling joists to hold the 2 pieces of 2 ft x 8 ft ply wood in a 4 ft X 8 ft configuration and fasten everything down with drywall screws. This will securely support the furnace which can lie on its side. Attach the furnace into existing ducting, hook up the power and gas and it's done.
The return air access in the hallway can be converted to an easily accessible drop-down air filter grill. Changing the filter is done by simply unclipping the facing of the grill, dropping the grill downward into the hallway by its hinges. Take out the old filter and pop in the new, clean filter.
In fact, the filter is much easier to access than with the furnace installed in the closet.
If you are an HVAC contractor and have never moved a furnace from a hallway installation to an attic installation, email me and I will gladly recap the details of the attic installation. Your customers will be very happy with their new, very quiet furnace.
