skip to main content

Muffle noise from power vent hot water heater?

16 years ago

My neighbors have a Rheem Power Vent water heater. It vents through PVC pipe through the side of their garage about 10' from my living room window. It's quite noisy and sounds like a clothes dryer running. It's particularly annoying in the summer when I open my windows.

My plumber took a look at it and suggested I call Rheem to see if it could be vented or muffled. I spoke with Rheem's technicians (who weren't too helpful) and they said that they didn't know of a way to muffle the noise and that the plumber shouldn't try to reduce the noise by extending the PVC pipe away from my window. They said the noise was not excessive for that unit. I didn't have a lot of confidence in the two people I spoke to.

My neighbors say they will try anything even if it's not to code. Do any of you have any ideas how to muffle the noise of the fan? Thanks.

Jeannette

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (5)

tjdabomb70
16 years ago
I suppose the severity of your attempt at muzzling the sound sound be in direct proportion to how much you like your neighbor.

;)

Maybe stuffing the pipe with some course ground polenta would help - no sauce though!

I know I am being of no help, sorry.

:)
zl700
16 years ago
Mentioning it was PVC tells me it is a power vented tank type water heater and not an incorrectly installed on-demand right?

Is the PVC 2" or 3"

If it is 2", upsizing from the heater to the termination with 3" reduces the velocity and can quiet it considerably. In addition as long as you stay within manufacturers maximum vent lengths, the more elbows between the heater and the termination ell outside, the quieter it will be. Also if allowed, use a 90 degree elbow to shoot the exhaust gases down rather than straight or a 45 to deflect the noise at the ground.
Related Discussions
My power vent on water heater keeps running non-stop
Q
Comments (24)
Look at the cost benefit of going tankless, the cost will be much higher and payback may be years coming. May need a larger gas line, will need a new vent stack, etc. For the two of us the cost for tankless was not justified. I installed a 50 Gallon Bradford White, the tank cost was approximately $400. Normally with labor in the area it costs around $800 to install. Power vents not normally used where I reside. Guess with power vent cost to install $1000 assuming electrical is near. Tankless quotes here are between $3000 to $4000. Most gas lines need to be changed to accommodate gas volume requirements and the vent needs to be changed to handle the increased heat. Not a fan of Sears or their water heaters, Bradford White was rated the best by Consumers Reports. I am very satisfied with Bradford White. Looks like turning on and off reset the blower. My two cents.
...See More
Is a power-vent water heater right for me?
Q
Comments (5)
They're VERY loud IMHO. Totally NOT worth it for that feature alone. My cousin put one in for the garage apartment he did, and we stayed there for a couple of weeks. The heater was in a tiny laundry room space that didn't have the wall and access door put in yet, and the whole place has wood floors, but the bathroom and 1 bedroom were in between us and the heater. We could barely hold a conversation with the door closed while that thing was running. We had suggested a tankless gas fired for the application, as that is what we have and love, but he couldn't find anyone that'd give him a decent install price on it so he went "conventional". At least with a power vent tankless, you'd only hear it when someone was using the hot water. We were there for 2 weeks, and I never did get used to the sound of that thing kicking on in the middle of the night to keep the tank warm. Even in the daytime when you were up and around, it was startling. And,my cousin is kicking himself for installing it and not casting the net a little wider to find someone to do the tankless. What good is saving money when you have to use it to buy earplugs?
...See More
direct vent or power vent gas water heater
Q
Comments (6)
You may want to consider an atmospheric vent style with a flue damper. These heaters can get an efficiency of 0.67 to 0.69. This is as good as some of the powered vent models. They should be much less expensive to install and buy. See this announcement from Rheem. On venting out the side of the house and fumes I would not worry about it, if you install to code. We have gas furnace that vents out near a window and it is no problem at all. You just have to allow for ice and snow build up below the vent if you live in a freezing winter climate. Here is a link that might be useful: Rheem Energy Star Phase II Heaters
...See More
Traditional Water heater V Power vented V Electric
Q
Comments (20)
ionized_gw: I think that gas tankless has become more mainstream. In addition, the incentives have started to go away. Much of the initial complaints with gas tankless were around bad installation and/or bad retrofitting. I don't think they are sliding in popularity as much as they simply aren't the new kid on the block any longer. On new installs, gas tankless doesn't cost significantly more than a power vent heater and you see them installed on new upscale homes here because of the unlimited hot water. Rheem has addressed the "cold water sandwich" by delaying a "post purge" cycle when the heater is turning off and on frequently. This means that the heat exchanger doesn't rapidly cool off -- eliminating the "cold" part of the sandwich. I insulate my hot water lines also to reduce heat loss between uses. I know I'd never go back to a standard tank water heater. As for electrical requirements on the hybrids - it's the same as a standard electric water heater. The reason is because they sometimes have to fall back to electric resistance heat if the ambient temp is too low or quick recovery is needed. There was some reliability issues on the early hybrids that has since been worked out, I believe. As a side note: Hybrids are being linked up with PV -- meaning that while you would never use solar PV to power electric resistance water heater, it's a good match up for a hybrid water heater. Oil isn't much of "a thing" where I am, so I can't really comment on that. SaltiDawg: The op was seen screaming and running from the building
...See More
samlowry44_hotmail_com
15 years ago
Hello. The whine from our neighbor's vent fan, directly opposite our dining room window, has been so severe and at such an unfortunate frequency that its noise could be heard even in the farthest corners of our big house. We tried a variety of acoustic solutions, some suggested on websites like this one - basically following the idea that a longer pipe, or a "tee," or stepping up the pipe diameter, or running it to the ground behind bushes, adequately kills he noise. No go in our case. We ended up piping the vent into an old plastic garbage can filled with discarded fiberfill pillows and comforters. They must be packed loosely enough to allow the very moist hot air to escape freely, but densely enough, obviously, to kill the noise. It's also important to drill air vent holes in the sides, top, and bottom of the garbage can. It's an experiment,but so far, so good. - SL
zl700
15 years ago
Are you kidding me?

Do you have a fire supression system installed in this vent can also?
HU-579230539
3 years ago
Here's how to make a cheap muffler and silence it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dB1sxsmz3Vk

Related Stories

HOUSEKEEPING What's That Sound? 9 Home Noises and How to Fix Them

By Mitchell Parker

Bumps and thumps might be driving you crazy, but they also might mean big trouble. We give you the lowdown and which pro to call for help

HOME OFFICES Quiet, Please! How to Cut Noise Pollution at Home

By Christine Ciarmello

Leaf blowers, trucks or noisy neighbors driving you berserk? These sound-reduction strategies can help you hush things up

GREAT HOME PROJECTS How to Switch to a Tankless Water Heater

By Mariana Pickering (Emu Building Science)

New project for a new year: Swap your conventional heater for an energy-saving model — and don’t be fooled by misinformation

LIFE How to Prepare for and Live With a Power Outage

By Lisa Frederick

When electricity loss puts food, water and heat in jeopardy, don't be in the dark about how to stay as safe and comfortable as possible

GREEN BUILDING Off the Grid: Ready to Pull the Plug on City Power?

By Jen Dalley //

What to consider if you want to stop relying on public utilities — or just have a more energy-efficient home

KITCHEN DESIGN 16 Practical Ideas to Borrow From Professional Kitchens

Restaurant kitchens are designed to function efficiently and safely. Why not adopt some of their tricks in your own home?

DISASTER PREP & RECOVERY More Power to You: How to Pick the Right Generator

By Marianne Lipanovich

If your home's electricity goes, don't let it take your necessities with it — keep systems running with this guide to backup power

FIREPLACES 12 Hot Ideas for Fireplace Facing

By Charmean Neithart Interiors

From traditional brick to industrial steel, there’s a fireplace cladding here to light up your design

HOUZZ TOURS My Houzz: A Backyard Getaway Emerges From a Grain Shed

By Julie Ranee Photography

Cozy and brimming with country charm, this snug antiques-filled hideout encourages quiet pastimes

FEEL-GOOD HOME 12 Very Useful Things I've Learned From Designers

By Becky Harris

These simple ideas can make life at home more efficient and enjoyable

Sponsored

More Discussions

Fotile In-Sink Dishwasher

0

Can anyone help me ID this ~20 year old Rohl faucet finish?

0

Why don't more people have Farmhouse sinks in the Bathrooms?

41

Brizo Matte White has changed

3

Check valve required for hot water recirculation pump & water softener

1