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Cindy_Henry
Nov 15, 2011, 02:56 PM
We live in an apartment that is part of a larger home - there is baseboard heat throughout both homes. We do have a separate thermostat & have our baseboard heat off - however, our neighbors in the main house are using theirs & unfortunately it is running all the time and every single baseboard in our home is buzzing from the vibrating pipes. Is there any way to stop this? Perhaps shutting our side off at the furnace? Adjusting, removing the units? Foam & tape to muffle it! It's driving me nuts.

There are plastic brackets in place and pressing on the unit does not quiet the buzz.

I did read other similar questions & those responses - but, none of those situations are quite what we are dealing with. Our neighbors happen to be friends of ours - I don't want to cause tension with this issue & hope it can be resolved easily.
Thank you!

mygirlsdad77
Nov 15, 2011, 06:25 PM
I would start by closing the valves at the boiler that supply your unit, as you thought. See if it helps, and please let me know. Do you know if you have zone valves, or do you have circulating pumps to control the separate areas? Either way, isolating your area by closing the supply and return valves should cure the problem, hopefully.

Cindy_Henry
Nov 15, 2011, 06:50 PM
Thanks for your answer! I will look into what you suggest - I have no idea about 'zone' valves or otherwise. However, another aspect is that this furnace is also supplying our (both homes) hot water, too. And yet, there is a hot water heater in our unit, but it is rather a mystery how/what/why it's there &/or works. The other day the breaker went out for the furnace & we did not have hot water - we were mystified because the water heater unit in our closet was hot - but, that is probably a totally different issue (I hope). I'd love to close those valves & let's hope we still have hot water if I do! Thanks again & I'll keep you posted.

By the way, this furnace in the garage is monstrous - and is fueled by oil, and electric, apparently. We're in Alaska - utilities I've noticed, for whatever reason, are a bit weird out here.

mygirlsdad77
Nov 15, 2011, 06:53 PM
Really sounds like you need to get a plumber in there and check this out. They should also be able to explain the system to you, somewhat.

Cindy_Henry
Nov 15, 2011, 11:09 PM
Will have someone come out soon as we can. My husband thinks that the fan is not turning off when the furnace does, that this fan is running constantly and creating a vibration in the copper pipes. I was thinking it was simply the nature of the water in the pipes creating a vibration & that the furnace/system is never not running long enough to have the vibration slow. We'll see. Thanks again.

Cindy_Henry
Nov 16, 2011, 01:18 PM
Looks like my husband is correct - there is a pipe/duct that runs from furnace up toward garage door, then appears there is a fan then another duct connects and vents out above garage door. Fan is on all the time & vibrates ducts, etc. - even when furnace is not on. Hopefully soon we'll have someone fix the perpetual fan & therefore the buzzing.

mygirlsdad77
Nov 16, 2011, 05:22 PM
Glad you found the source of the problem. Thanks for the update, and make sure you give the hubby a little extra love for his effort.