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kitch428 · Jan 19, 2007, 07:40 PM

This is the first house I've had that the outside condenser unit runs year round. In fact, we have 2! Downstairs is all nat gas, and upstairs is electric forced air. Home is new construction.
My ques is when the heat is on, there is a purge of hot steamy air that exits out the side of the house through a PVC pipe. It is really loud and was wondering if there was a way to muffle this noise. Do they make anything? Or could I?

Stubby74 · Jan 19, 2007, 08:58 PM

Closing that vent off or blocking in any way will shut your heat down! That is the exhaust for you gas furnace and will have pressure switches inside your furnace that act as safety devices... so when air is slowed it will trip the switch and lockout until enough air is moving. You may be able to put a 90 degree or 45 degree pvc fitting outside depending on your furnace specs... but check with those 1st!! Brian

kitch428 · Jan 20, 2007, 02:51 PM

Thanks for the response. Good advice!

labman · Jan 20, 2007, 03:43 PM

Look into replacing the existing pipe with a larger one. Replacing say a 2'' pipe with a 3'' inch one would slow the air flow down and should reduce noise. It would also reduce the back pressure perhaps increasing the air flow and messing up the careful adjustment the technician made on start up. If you do anything to it, you need the system readjusted.

T-Top · Jan 20, 2007, 04:34 PM

You have a 90 plus furnace to change the vent pipe size will not make it quieter. They all will make noise at the vent pipe, some louder than others. You may think of having it moved from one side of the house to the other. For instance bryant or carrier makes a low hollow roar lennox pulse makes a pulsating sound. The steam and the sound seams normal to me.

kitch428 · Jan 21, 2007, 11:00 AM

T-Top, you are right, it is normal. All the houses sound the same around me and all have these Goodman HVAC systems. Like I said, I'm new to these and learning more about them as I go. This is a very energy efficient home and I don't want to disturb anything that works fine. Currently the vent pipe is 2" exiting out the side of the house with an 90* elbow. Grated cap on the end. Your idea makes the most sense, but for now I can live with it. Thanks.