Gas and Oil Home Heating Furnaces - Radiators (Oil Heat) Are they typically noisy
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nikokai
09-28-03, 07:19 PM
We are considering a purchase of a house. The house has radiators (oil Heat). I am very sensitive to noisy heating systems. I want a system that is quiet. I rented a house a few years ago whose radiators were very noisy and it was a constant annoyance to the point where it was not comfortable for me there. Are radiators typically noisy (oil heat)? Since it is still the end of September I cannot properly test the heaters. In addition, houses sell fast here in NJ if they are desirable. I am sure I would like the house if the heating was not noisy but it concerns me. Please comment.
KField
09-28-03, 08:17 PM
Systems with the old cast iron upright radiators are probably the quietest systems available.
The only noise associated with hot water baseboard heat is the sound of pipes expanding and causing a faint ticking noise in the baseboards. Some have all 4 corners of the fins covered with plastic and don't even make that noise. If you heard tapping sounds, it is the sound of the pipes expanding that go through the wood floor joists of the house. That can be the most annoying and most difficult type of noise to repair. Sometimes it can be caused by the use of metal hangers on the copper tubes in the basement. They can be replaced easily. A quality installation of a hot water heating system includes plastic inserts everywhere copper penetrates a wood member. So you may get a house with no noise at all. Any rushing water sounds indicate air in the system and needs to be repaired.
By the way, it doesn't matter what fuel heats the water, the noise issue is with the hot water in the piping and baseboard heaters.
The only noise associated with hot water baseboard heat is the sound of pipes expanding and causing a faint ticking noise in the baseboards. Some have all 4 corners of the fins covered with plastic and don't even make that noise. If you heard tapping sounds, it is the sound of the pipes expanding that go through the wood floor joists of the house. That can be the most annoying and most difficult type of noise to repair. Sometimes it can be caused by the use of metal hangers on the copper tubes in the basement. They can be replaced easily. A quality installation of a hot water heating system includes plastic inserts everywhere copper penetrates a wood member. So you may get a house with no noise at all. Any rushing water sounds indicate air in the system and needs to be repaired.
By the way, it doesn't matter what fuel heats the water, the noise issue is with the hot water in the piping and baseboard heaters.
nikokai
09-28-03, 09:06 PM
cast iron radiators.
They are not baseboards.
My concern is another house I was in the cast Iron radiators were very noisy. I have also dealt with noisy baseboards.
They are not baseboards.
My concern is another house I was in the cast Iron radiators were very noisy. I have also dealt with noisy baseboards.
KField
09-29-03, 06:03 AM
The only noisy cast iron radiators you will find will be in a home with STEAM heat. They look the same but the 2 systems are very different. Even steam heat radiators should not make noise but malfunctioning parts and improper upgrades as well as settling of the floors can cause noisy steam systems. If your prospective house is hot water with stand-up cast iron radiators, I would say you have nothing to worry about.
dougm
09-29-03, 01:08 PM
Almost every heating system makes some sort of noise, with the possible exception of electric radiant floor heat, which is supposed to be totally silent... Next house... Wish I could get electric radiant floor air conditioning...
The question becomes what types of noises are you most sensitive to?
The fact that this is an oil system makes no difference in regard to the movement of water or steam, but an oil burner makes more noise than a gas burner. When the burner cycles you might hear the sound of a small motor running as well as the roar of the burner. So, with radiators (oil Heat) expect to hear: The oil pump motor, the burner, sound of steam running through the pipes and an occasional clunking sound. Anything else would be indication of a problem in need of repair.
If the boiler is as old as the rest of the system, maybe the seller would consider an upgrade allowance. Then, if you have noise problems, you'll have something to cover repairs.
Doug M.
The question becomes what types of noises are you most sensitive to?
The fact that this is an oil system makes no difference in regard to the movement of water or steam, but an oil burner makes more noise than a gas burner. When the burner cycles you might hear the sound of a small motor running as well as the roar of the burner. So, with radiators (oil Heat) expect to hear: The oil pump motor, the burner, sound of steam running through the pipes and an occasional clunking sound. Anything else would be indication of a problem in need of repair.
If the boiler is as old as the rest of the system, maybe the seller would consider an upgrade allowance. Then, if you have noise problems, you'll have something to cover repairs.
Doug M.