While unpleasant, portable air conditioner noise is not physically painful. Because of this, some people find it difficult to accept the notion that air conditioner noise poses a significant risk to their health. However, AC noise might actually lead to more issues than you might realize. You must therefore learn how to make a noisy air conditioner quiet. Continue reading to find out how to lower air conditioner noise.
The problem with noisy air conditioners:
Decibels (dB) are the units used to measure noise. The average sound level produced by a discussion is about 60 dB. At 70 dB, your radio or vacuum produces sound. However, a lawnmower typically produces sound at a level of about 90 dB. The problem starts at this sound level. A subway or yelling aloud has a sound pressure level of 90 to 95 dB.
Last but not least, an air conditioner emits a sound that ranges from 80 to 89 dB. Your hearing can be harmed by exposure to noises louder than 85 dB. Depending on how long the sound plays for and how long it persists, different negative impacts result.
You need to safeguard your hearing. There are a few warning indicators that can suggest a loud noise is harmful to your health. For instance, a sound is probably too loud if you have to shout to be heard. Sometimes, hearing too much noise can hurt your ears. If AC noise is keeping you from enjoying a restful night’s sleep, then it is unquestionably a problem.
Reasons why air conditioners are noisy:
Understanding why air conditioners are bothersome in the first place is crucial before considering how to reduce AC noise. After all, you can’t solve an issue if you don’t know what caused it. Here are some of the most frequent causes of increased noise from your air conditioner:
- Age: Because professionals are constantly developing new soundproofing technologies, older air conditioners are noisier than newer ones. Some older air conditioners will be noisy even if they generally operate as intended since newer technology wasn’t available when they were built.
- Parts that are loose:An air conditioner has many parts, and if one of them becomes loose, the other parts may become more stressed. Your air conditioner will eventually get noisier due to a loose component. You could fix the loose component as a remedy.
- Compressor wear: A worn-out compressor may be making your equipment much noisy than it has to be. The remedy to your issue might be to check to see if your compressor needs to be changed.
- Cleanliness: An air conditioner creates a greater disturbance when it’s dirty. Cleaning out your fans may help with the noise issue because AC units are always accumulating dust and other debris.
In general, it’s beneficial to have your air conditioner examined out for repairs if it’s acting unusually noisy. Air conditioners can occasionally be noisy just by nature.
Location is everything in reducing air conditioner noise:
When installing a new HVAC system, you must give great consideration to where you will put your air conditioner. Ask your contractor to put it away from bedrooms or other common areas. Your exposure to noise while sleeping will be reduced in this area. Additionally, it will lessen how much noise disturbs your day. The more distance you have from the sound’s source, the better. Also, avoid placing the unit close to air ducts or hallways with tight spaces.
Your air conditioner’s noise will sound louder because it will reverberate off the walls or small space. Consult your contractors about the best places to install your air conditioner. Any hard, flat, and smooth surface will reflect sound. Find a location for the installation that is away from your doors and windows by working with your contractor. Last but not least, ensure that your AC unit doesn’t regularly cycle on and off by working with your contractor. Noise disturbances in your home may result from continuous cycling.
How to reduce noise from an air conditioner?
There are still a number of solutions for AC noise reduction if your AC unit is still noisy after installation or if you had no choice where to set it up and would rather not replace it.
1. Install a sound blanket:
Installing a sound blanket to serve as an air conditioner noise barrier is one of the simplest and most affordable ways to reduce noise. You can either buy a universal sound blanket or ask the maker of your AC unit what size blanket would fit it. Even though installation only takes a few minutes, you’ll be able to hear a difference right away. Your air conditioner will run more efficiently if you use a sound blanket. By promoting airflow, the blanket will prevent the air conditioner from overheating.
2. Build a fence:
You may construct a fence to serve as an air conditioner sound barrier if your AC unit is outside. This will create a barrier by limiting the amount of sound that can escape the fence. Additionally, this installation will greatly lessen your unit’s noise levels. Make sure you pick materials that are effective at reducing sound if you decide to go with this method. Usually, vinyl or wood are both great options.
When installing your fence, make sure to provide a space of around 3 feet between it and the air conditioner. The unit will be able to circulate air effectively to avoid overheating with this spacing. Additionally, since gaps between the fence boards would enable more sound to get through, you should make sure there are none.
3. Soundproof your house:
There is another option if your air conditioner is still too noisy. You may concentrate on your home instead of attempting to silence a noisy air conditioner. Although soundproofing your home will not make the air conditioner itself any quieter, it will improve the quality of life for everyone who lives there. This might be the answer for you, provided your neighbors aren’t bothered by the noise from the AC unit.