[sar-con]

So I recently installed a central vac in my laundry/furnace room, and wow, is it loud. The room is 8' x 12' and the central vac itelf is in a 3' x 6' closet with the hotwater tank and furnace. The closet walls stop short of the ceiling by about 12", and the doors are byfold louvres, so I'm not too concerned about airflow.

Is there anything to dampen the noise - like matting or otherwise that could be fastened to the walls?

Any advise would be much appreciated!

 

[kossuth]

Not sure how much you want to get into this but I have seen sound deadening drywall at your typical home stores not sure how effective it is being I've never used it

 

[bob22]

Three thoughts:
1. If I'm visualizing this right, the vac is in a closet but the walls don't fully enclose the space? If so, I don't think you'll get much to deaden the sound by drywalling as the sound will just exit the top.
2. Likely not ok due to combustion issues with water heater and furnace, but that acoustical spongy stuff you always see in recording studies would likely work although the open walls would likely also work against it.
3. Could you move the vac motor to the garage or basement?

 

[Ron6519]

Is the vacuum vented to the exterior?
These units don't need air intake.
Ron

 

[nking]

we usually try to install those in the garage for that very reason. they are loud. if the room you installed it in is a "cased opening" (no door), you could install a door to that opening and it would help immensely. and a solid door is going to deaden the noise more than a hollow core door

 

[sar-con]

No garage or basement to install it in, the spot I've put it is the best of the worst...

I'd like to keep it in the furance "closet" due to space restraints in the rest of the utility room. So I think what I'm looking for is some type of non-combustable acoustic lining that I can tack up on the walls in the closet itself and perhaps some regular acoustic treatment in the rest of the room.

I have it vented to the outside, mostly because I thought that would eliminate most of the noise inside the room. I might try disconnecting it and adding a muffler.

Any recommendations on acoustic lining?

 

[rightit]

This may be more that you are prepared to do, but if you can provide any necessary fresh or combustion air to the closet for your furnace and water heater (and vac?), you could build the wall up to the ceiling, double drywall the inside of the closet, using a viscioelastic glue between the sheets. You would also need a solid door with a threshold (or at least a door sweep).

You could even add an additional layer of drywall to the outside to further dampen the sound, if needed. Or you could try the outside first if that is easier. Could be work, but would definitely reduce the noise. Of course, this all hinges on what code in your area will allow. Don't forget any necessary ouside air requirements.

 

[Red Squirrel]

I can't think of any way to do this, but have it hung by something that is rubbery or springy, it may help avoid the sound from resonated throughout the structure. I have a central vac too and yeah, they can be very loud. Especially when it's from 1982, I'm sure the newer ones are a bit more quiet.

 

[1MoreProject]

Before I made any major mods to the house, I'd try installing a central vac muffler instead. I've "heard" those make quite an improvement.

If you do that, let us know how it turns out.

 

[1910NE]

Before I made any major mods to the house, I'd try installing a central vac muffler instead. I've "heard" those make quite an improvement.

If you do that, let us know how it turns out.

I installed a Vacuflo with a muffler in my current home. I had the same Vacuflo motor in my last home, with no muffler. Both are installed in the basement, and vented to the outside. The muffler definitely makes a difference. But keep in mind that it's all relative..

 

[High Gear]

Yes get the muffler , mines in the garage and it doesn't bother me at all when

running ( and I'm in the garage ) and it has a muffler.