Noisy air conditioners are not only annoying; they can signal problems in your cooling system. If you have a noisy air conditioner, but it still has some years of service left before you need to upgrade, try these remedies for reducing noise, and even potentially obtain improvements in energy efficiency and home comfort as a bonus. If the problem seems more serious, make sure you contact a trusted HVAC technician to inspect your equipment.
Noisy air conditioners
Most of the time, the compressor is the culprit in noisy air conditioners. There are, however, other noise sources. These include the blower assembly, the acoustic dynamics of the A/C’s location and poor mounts. Fortunately, a number of solutions are available.
- Sound blankets are designed to cover the compressor to muffle noise. They are effective at reducing noise by about 40 percent. If you’re comfortable working with the air conditioner, this could be a do-it-yourself project. However, it’s wise to consult an A/C pro for safety and expert know-how.
- The blower produces a substantial amount of noise. This is particularly true if it’s dirty, which increases air friction, throws system operation off balance and wears out the bearings. Scheduled service by an A/C pro is in order.
- The location of the A/C impacts noise and noise perception. First, if the air conditioner is right outside your bedroom window, you probably wish you could relocate it. Or, for instance, if the A/C is positioned in a right angle from your home’s exterior, that may be amplifying an already loud system. If you have space, consider installing a sound-absorbing fence or barrier around the unit. Keep at least two feet of clearance between the A/C and sound barrier.
- Reducing your A/C’s workload and reducing the amount of time it’s on, in combination with a noise-reducing remedy, is a solution that also will improve home comfort and the state of your home finances. An energy evaluation can pinpoint areas that need sealing, insulating and even sunlight control with window coverings. A ductwork evaluation may yield even more energy savings, decreasing air conditioning running time, and improving A/C (and furnace) performance.
Noisy air conditioners can be awfully stressful, but there are remedies. Contact Ace Hardware Home Services Inc. for more information. We provide Dayton-area homeowners expert solutions for all of their HVAC needs.
Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about air conditioners and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
Ace Hardware Home Services services the Ohio’s Miami Valley. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!
