The quietest air conditioners , how to choose the best one suited for you, as well as knowing how the noise levels of air conditioning units are measured.
When considering purchasing an air conditioner for your home, one of the factors you might think of is the operation of an air conditioner and whether it will cater to not only your cooling needs in the hot summers, but also to your comfortability, affordability and enjoyment. The thought of being cool in your home regardless of how hot it may be outside is an exciting one.
Of the many factors to take into consideration when setting out to purchase an air conditioner is the noise levels. Some units are known to be noisier than others, while some are considered to be the quietest.
Which type of air conditioner is the quietest and how can you find one?
There are different types of air conditioners to choose from should you require one. The air conditioning market offers you a variety from a window air conditioner, a split and packaged central air conditioner, a ductless mini-split air conditioner and a portable air conditioner.
Window units are known to have a noisy operation at about 50-70 decibels. The bigger the unit, the more noise it will produce. Lack of proper installation can also contribute to the noise as well as a lack of maintenance.
Split and packaged central air conditioners are not usually as noisy within the home. As these types of units are designed for quieter operation, the system components are usually accommodated outdoors to help in reduced noise level inside the home.
The outdoor unit can have sound levels reaching 69-72 decibels when the unit is functioning. Older systems will indeed be noisier than newer unit models.
Ductless mini-split units are noted to be the quietest air conditioning systems on the market and amazon happens to have some with good customer ratings on offer.
The Commercial Cool Ductless Mini Split air conditioner is described as a quiet and powerful unit. The average noise level of 32 decibels make for systems that are not only whisper quiet, but also offer some of the highest SEER ratings and the most efficient performance on the market.
What makes these units so quiet and efficient is that they use small tubes to connect wall-mount units to the condenser unit outside and distribute the conditioned air via wall-mount units, rather than (whooshing) ductwork.
How are air conditioner sound levels measured and what are the features that can help reduce levels?
Air conditioner sound levels are measured in decibels (dB). The lower the decibel rating of an air conditioner, the quieter it is. The quietest air conditioners tend to fall under the 50-60 dB range.
Some of the features that help to reduce an air conditioner noise is a variable fan speed. This is because indoor unit fans are able to operate at different speeds depending on what makes you comfortable. This can both lower your energy bills and allow for your air conditioner to run at a quieter speed.
You can also look for a unit with a separate partition or enclosed space that covers the compressor, as this will reduce the noise of the outdoor unit. An air conditioner with noise-reducing fan blades is designed to also help reduce the outdoor unit’s noise levels.
An air conditioner that comes with an insulated base pan underneath the air conditioning unit will reduce noise. It is important to note that the size of an air conditioner can also affect the level of noise it produces, with bigger units tending to be louder.
How to make your air conditioning system quieter
One of the easiest things to do to lower your air conditioners volume is to try and position it far away from areas that are sensitive to sound, particularly loud noise levels. This will help to reduce the noise level by a lot.
If that is not possible, you can wrap your air conditioning unit up with foam, as the foam will be able to easily attract excess noise as it comes out of the unit.
For outdoor units, using insulating blankets and a sound blocking wall to place around the unit can help to bring down the decibel levels of your cooling system.
So, when choosing an air conditioner and noise levels are something high on your list of needs, consider the decibel rating before purchasing.