Get a new heating person who understands hydronics.. some plumber do so some don’t . I hate second guessers, well it could be this, it could be that, Do the work and figure out what the issue is. A good micro bubble air eliminator is not cheap . Depending on the size pipe the part wholesale is 150 to 250 bucks plus install. It also has to be installed in the correct location in the system . Even then the system has to be bled properly after it’s installed . You should not hear anything when the boiler is off . As this point I would get someone else into look at it. Making sure the gas

combustion system is working properly and preferably with a complet combustion analysis, that the boiler is properly filled and air properly bled out of a system. Operating properly a hydronic system should be quieter than your gas furnaces .

Ps if that little valve near where the pipe exits the boiler is the air eliminator the plumber installed? Get your money back . It is worthless where it is located and will not work . Air elimniatos need to be located on the higher point of the near boiler piping on the hot side of the boiler .

Thank you so much for your expertise. It certainly appears you are a pro, now I’ve read your posting history.

The photo of the boiler is actually from the video that she sent us. I’m told there isn’t much to glean from the audio, but it wasn’t possible to post it on Houzz. Maybe you would have another perspective on the recorded sound. I would be pleased to be able to display it..

Do you believe that the sound made by air in the system could be heard beneath her baseboards, ie one floor below if there is no insulation between floors? (TV is heard from floor below us)

How to find a competent master heating person?

Two questions:

1. Would shutting off the boiler let us know if the noise is coming from the heating system?

2. Would anyone have a recommendation for a master heating professional in NW MA?

Thank you all, with much appreciation.

Here are some potential causes of the knocking and banging noises that you are hearing when your boiler for your baseboard heating system turns on: 1) Air is trapped in the line, which needs to be bled out. 3) A pipe to or from your baseboard radiators are running through a hole in a wall, etc.

A different plumber checked out our neighbor’s gas heat boiler while we were there with the neighbor. The flame was VERY loud, and I questioned the noise. Plumber claimed that the loud sound was normal. I have new photos that were taken by someone else at an opportune moment, so I don’t have a photo of the brand name (forgive me for not looking) or a photo of the flame and it’s location. I am thinking at this point that the sound we’re hearing beneath her utility room is the flame. The new photo shows more of the furnace, maybe able to see the valves that weren't visible in the previous photos.

Would the seemingly industrial State brand hot water tank make noise? Please help me to figure this out! Thank you!

The system hadn’t been shut down. The gas flame makes a rather loud noise as its burning. Thank you for your help.

There could be two reasons why your forced baseboard heat could be making noise. The first reason why your baseboard heat could be making a rolling noise is because you need to bleed the air from the pipes. The second reason could be that you are experiencing something called water hammer and that’s a completely different noise then the rolling noise that you will get from air in your heating pipes.

Thank you! What is water hammer?

We’ve been advised that an HVAC tech should check the A/F mix through combustion analysis - Air fuel ratio and carbon monoxide rates. If you feed too much air to the burner the flames will jump the burners and sound like a jet engine. Too much fuel and when it lights off can go "whoosh". They have special testers that measure the A/F and gas pressure.

What are your thoughts on this?

These sounds are mostly due to the metal reacting to sudden changes in temperature when they are turned on after a prolonged shutdown

Simulator, I don’t think that is the cause. The boiler has been on all winter. It appears that it’s the flame making the whooshing sound. The unit needs to be checked for correct A/F mix through combustion analysis.

Hot water baseboard piping or radiator piping makes creaking or crackling sounds as the piping expands.

@jimct01

I very much appreciate your knowledge and input. The issue still hasn’t been resolved. Can you please circle or mark the little valve near where the pipe exits the boiler that you refer to in your comment of February 13, 2021? I’m not sure which valve you’re talking about.

Another question, if the heat was not turned on, with the gas remaining on and the flame still lit, if there is an issue could we still be hearing a whooshing or blowing sound?

Thank you over and over for your help.