You may not need that full louvered door. It's a gas furnace or heat pump? Does it have a separate source for combustion air if gas? If a heat pump, you may be able to extend the return air into the room and mount new solid door above. A heating tech can tell you if that's possible. If you remove the return air grille, is the plenum lined with insulation? That would help.

Thanks so much for your reply. I really should know the answer to this question but I don't. I think it's gas though bc during the rare times we turn the heat on (I am in South Florida), our gas bill goes way up.

When you say extend the return air into the room, what do you mean?

I would assume the plenum is not lined. The home was built in 2005 in a development and probably the builders didn't pay much attention to that.

I am positive I could put a solid panel over the top. In fact, I don't know why I didn't do that in the first place. As long as the panel is removable, it would be fine. I imagine a lot of sound comes through the gaps in the door itself.

It looks like there's a return air grille below the unit. I was thinking part of your solution might be to relocate the grille to the face of the wall, then install a solid door above (if allowed). However, those louvered doors may allow the air needed for combustion in heating season to the unit. There may be a duct or pipe that allows combustion air to enter from exterior.

Ahhh...thanks Seabornman!

I will check on needing the doors for combustion. Here is an original pic of the space before the built-ins. If anything, I think I have more ventilation going in there now versus the original louvered door.

I don't think I can relocate the return though - that would be a huge undertaking as the wall on the left side is an exterior wall.

Ultimately, it might be easiest and best to get a mini-split system like my HVAC contractor recommends. I like him a lot and have worked with him for a while and usually when he says not much can be done, he is correct. This is 12x12 space with its own air handler and outside compressor - it's kind of ridiculous it was even designed like this as it can't be that efficient.

Thanks again for your help!

Jonathan

Try removing the grill from the return - they tend to restrict airflow and increase velocity (noise). Then try removing the filter behind the grill (if there is one). If this works, you can have a filter installed at the air handler. If all that fails, install a secondary return, that will cut the air flow (velocity, noise) in that room.

I take it the air handler is in the basement/crawlspace?

Thanks. I will try that. The air handler is right there above the return. And an exterior wall is right behind it. So there is nowhere else for it to go. I not only have the air handler noise but the return noise as well.

This is the most helpful forum on the Internet!

Ah, yes, I see it now. That's going to be a tough one! Is it possible to install a solid removable panel above the return to seal off some of the noise coming directly from the air handler?

Hi - wanted to give an update. I cut out sheet rock panels and placed them on the door back and then covered those with a product called Noico which is similar to mass loaded vinyl. That along with removing the air return grate and the vent grates has helped a lot. I was able to create a tight seal with the filter higher up inside the rerturn duct but am working on a more permanent solution. But using a noise meter, I have been able to reduce things about 10db.

Question, the air handler’s cool is in good shape. The model of the unit is a Rudd ubhc-14j06sfe. My AC person once lowered the speed of the blower and that certainly helped but there are only two speeds.

Could I get a new motor that potentially would be a lot quieter and replace the existing one? It seems like motors are relatively inexpensive versus the cost of doing major ductwork / getting a new system.

Any thoughts? Thanks!

Sorry forgot to add some pics.

I don't know if the noise is coming from the motor or the air movement but I'd be surprised if changing the motor would help significantly. Also, I wouldn't get a lower RPM motor as this will reduce airflow over the coil which will likely end up in a frozen coil.

There's a limit to how quiet you can make an air handler that basically in the room.