Baseboard Heating Question

JeffD

These ticking and crackling noises are metal expansion and contraction. This is normal. Sometimes the piping is installed right up against something and makes a little more noise than usual. Expansion and contraction will not cause your pipes to burst. Make sure the little plastic isolators are installed in the baseboard units, these isolators keep the fins from contacting the metal bracketts on the baseboards. Metal expanding against metal makes more noise. A little ticking is nothing to be concerned with.

Danielle_2

Baseboard Heating Noise Question

Background:
- Before we bought the house the previous owner's son
didn't keep up with it during the winter after his
parent's passed away (the son in this equation =
alcoholic man in his early 60's)... pipe burst in
their radiator so they converted to baseboard heating
and replaced the furnace in the basement to what the
inspector said was a great "Burnham" furnace
- We had a couple "minor" problems with this new
furnace (small, a couple times there were drips out of
the front where the rubber hose goes in) that was
attempted to just be tighten initially (twice) but
then got replaced a couple months ago and has been
fine since
-- because of this I am freakish about everything
heating related now, I am a paranoid freak about every
noise, which leads to my question

Q:
Initially when the heat started to go on in the fall
(first time this new furnace and baseboard heating
elements were being truly used) the baseboards made
some "normal" (according to the oil guy and my FIL and
everyone else) noises. Then after the oil guy came
and fixed the furnace problem (couple months ago,
maybe mid Fed) he flushed the lines (we have 2 zones,
1st floor and 2nd floor)... he said there was a little
air in 1st floor zone and not much at all in 2nd floor
zone. At the same time he also raised the minimum
tempurature on the furnace water (he reasoning is that
the hotter the water that goes through the pipes to
heat the house the warmer the water that comes back,
causing the furnace to kick on less often to heat the
water - because I mentioned that the furnace kicked on
a LOT and many times just for 1 minute to heat the
water in the furnace, not to heat either zone). After
that the zone 1 pipes started making different noises
(again I am paranoid and most people may not even pay
attention). They now sound like they are
cracking/crackling. When I asked the oil guy about
the original noise he said that if the fans weren't
placed on perfect that when the pipes heat up they
expand and when they cool off they contract, causing
the fans to move and make random noises. I understand
the idea, but the noise scares me that my pipes are
going to crack or explode. BUT my other question
(that prompted me to post) is in zone 2 (upstairs).
Recently, maybe the last few weeks, they now make a
thudding noise. This doesn't happen when the furnace
is on. It will thud loud, then have maybe 6-8 thuds
after that lessen in intensity each time. This also
freaks me out.

Are these noises normal? Why aren't the noises the
same (thud in zone 2 vs. crackling in zone 1)??

Thanks so much!

Danielle_2

Thank you and ...

Thank you Jeff.

Is the thud noise I hear up in zone 2 normal as well? And why would these noises change over time?

Thank you very very much for your response.

JeffD

Thud

A thud, could be a tight fitting pipe expanding where it goes through the floor. When I install 3/4 inch pipe I drill 1 1/4" holes so the pipe is not right up against the flooring. It may be wise to have a good heating company come in and check things out for you. A little detective work on your end may reveal where the noises are coming from. Copper pipe is tough stuff, so don't worry about it just breaking. If you have pex instead of copper, pex is a type of plastic line, then the noise is probably coming from the baseboards themselves. Pex is also very durable by the way. Hope this helps.

JeffD

Forgot

To add that noises can change over time, as houses do shift and move over time. Also baseboards can move if not fastened tight to the wall. I really think these noises are more of an annoyance. Try to locate them, correct the issue if any. Without seeing your system I would only be guessing as to where the noise is coming from.

Danielle_2

Reply

We do have copper pipes.

At one point last October (just after we bought the house) we had a plumber come in to repair a minor water drip (very small drip) at a point were the baseboard piping connected horizontally and vertically (dining room going down to basement). The plumber at that time said he took a look around and everything seemed ok. But sounds have changed so that is what worries me.

Thanks again.