Hello all. I'm needing some opinions by experienced HVAC contractors or installers or people with similar heaters as mine.
I have built a new 51x72' with 16' high wall barn/workshop. After some research, I decided on overhead propane radiant heaters for heat. I have 2 Enerco 125,000 btu units with 50' radiant tubes and another 25' of exhaust (double walled through the metal ceiling/attic/exterior wall) installed running off a 1000 gallon tank. There is a lot of $ wrapped in these.
I have had relentless vibration noise from the tubes/deflectors/hangers. The vibrations are during warm up and then at-temperature operation. These are not the normal metal expansion and contraction sounds. Rather this is a vibration noise that occurs at various and changing locations along the tubes/deflectors/hangers and on both units. I have not noticed a constant noise from a vibration in my experience with these units in other barns, at livestock operations, outdoor bars, and warehouses.
The deflectors are not screwed together, rather a slip-fit. They were previously screwed together and that did not make a difference. They are hung from eyebolts in the trusses, then short lengths of chain, then the hangers. I am not saying this is the issues, but this installation method did not allow for installation of the hangers at 18" on either side of each tube joint, as specified in the manufacturer's paperwork. This could not be done because of the location of the trusses and blocking (running perpendicular to the tubes and deflectors). The numerous other units that I've seen are hung from unitstrut with the hangers spaced at standard intervals.
These were installed in October 2013. I have had 6 service calls attempting to fix these units with no success. Inlet gas pressures have been checked when the units are off and at load. My not-an-HVAC-professional (I'm a wildlife biologist) opinion is that there is a vibration causing noise that has not been addressed. The biggest moving part would be the fan/blower in the burner boxes, by my understanding. These have not been a target for any attempted fix. Instead, there have been numerous band-aids attempted to minimize the vibration, not stop it.
The HVAC contractor is becoming increasingly difficult to work with, to understate the issue. The territory manager for Enerco has been brought in and does not have many suggestions. Their conversations with the manufacturer engineers has not resulted in progess.
I have attached two photos. Unfortunately they are not the best. I will not be at the location until Sunday to shoot more photos. One photo is during the installation and the exhaust tubing through the ceiling is not installed on either unit. The other picture is from January. The twisting problem has been fixed. Previously the burner boxes were hung so they could not move as the radiant tubes expanded 1/2" for every 10".
Any productive ideas, thought, or suggestions on remedies would be appreciated Thank you.
I have built a new 51x72' with 16' high wall barn/workshop. After some research, I decided on overhead propane radiant heaters for heat. I have 2 Enerco 125,000 btu units with 50' radiant tubes and another 25' of exhaust (double walled through the metal ceiling/attic/exterior wall) installed running off a 1000 gallon tank. There is a lot of $ wrapped in these.
I have had relentless vibration noise from the tubes/deflectors/hangers. The vibrations are during warm up and then at-temperature operation. These are not the normal metal expansion and contraction sounds. Rather this is a vibration noise that occurs at various and changing locations along the tubes/deflectors/hangers and on both units. I have not noticed a constant noise from a vibration in my experience with these units in other barns, at livestock operations, outdoor bars, and warehouses.
The deflectors are not screwed together, rather a slip-fit. They were previously screwed together and that did not make a difference. They are hung from eyebolts in the trusses, then short lengths of chain, then the hangers. I am not saying this is the issues, but this installation method did not allow for installation of the hangers at 18" on either side of each tube joint, as specified in the manufacturer's paperwork. This could not be done because of the location of the trusses and blocking (running perpendicular to the tubes and deflectors). The numerous other units that I've seen are hung from unitstrut with the hangers spaced at standard intervals.
These were installed in October 2013. I have had 6 service calls attempting to fix these units with no success. Inlet gas pressures have been checked when the units are off and at load. My not-an-HVAC-professional (I'm a wildlife biologist) opinion is that there is a vibration causing noise that has not been addressed. The biggest moving part would be the fan/blower in the burner boxes, by my understanding. These have not been a target for any attempted fix. Instead, there have been numerous band-aids attempted to minimize the vibration, not stop it.
The HVAC contractor is becoming increasingly difficult to work with, to understate the issue. The territory manager for Enerco has been brought in and does not have many suggestions. Their conversations with the manufacturer engineers has not resulted in progess.
I have attached two photos. Unfortunately they are not the best. I will not be at the location until Sunday to shoot more photos. One photo is during the installation and the exhaust tubing through the ceiling is not installed on either unit. The other picture is from January. The twisting problem has been fixed. Previously the burner boxes were hung so they could not move as the radiant tubes expanded 1/2" for every 10".
Any productive ideas, thought, or suggestions on remedies would be appreciated Thank you.
