Can you tell me what this is?

[David Rolland]

The following was a question/description referred to me.

"The grid is on the main level of my house and seems to have something to do with my boiler and the in-floor heating. There is a long ventilation pipe connected to the grid that goes to the outside and periodically the grid and the pipe make a noise when air is moving through it; it sounds like a tumble dryer is running but the pipe is cold. The top bar in the grid is warm, the bottom bar is cold.
This grid made little noise until about a year ago when a service person made some changes to my boiler.
What is this and should it make this noise?"



I think the description given is a little inaccurate.

[Steven Turetsky]

The following was a question/description referred to me.

"The grid is on the main level of my house and seems to have something to do with my boiler and the in-floor heating. There is a long ventilation pipe connected to the grid that goes to the outside and periodically the grid and the pipe make a noise when air is moving through it; it sounds like a tumble dryer is running but the pipe is cold. The top bar in the grid is warm, the bottom bar is cold.
This grid made little noise until about a year ago when a service person made some changes to my boiler.
What is this and should it make this noise?"

I think the description given is a little inaccurate.

Looks like hot water heating tube/fins to me. There should be no air in the loop and if there is, that is the cause of the noise.

If it is a loop (or part of a loop), both tubes should feel the same. Could be an air problem. Try bleeding the lines.

PS, There also may be a booster fan in there (but I don't see one), which could also be noisy, especially if the fan bearings are worn.

[David Rolland]

Thanks for the reply Steven.

[Raymond Wand]

Are you sure this is not an electric forced air electric resistance heater?

Expanding and contracting metal when heated can make noise.

[David Rolland]

I am not sure about anything in regards to the pic or description, although it does look like a copper tube with fins. The house in question is on the opposite site of the city otherwise I'd go have a look. I'm going to have a chat on the phone to draw out more info. Thanks for the input.