AC Noise Can Be Reduced But Not Eliminated
- It could be your air conditioner. Or it could be your next-door neighbor’s. Either way, a noisy air conditioner can keep you up at night and cause you frustration.
- Noisy air conditioners are a genuine nuisance for everyone involved. Here’s what you can do to mitigate the noise and keep your sanity. First, come to terms with a few bits of conventional wisdom about air conditioners:
- Older units are noisier than newer units.
- The compressor, more than the fan, is usually to blame for the racket coming from inside an air conditioner.
- Dirty fan blades can make a lot of noise if they get so coated with dirt that they become unbalanced, contributing to the noise.
So how can you muffle a noisy air conditioner? First, know your limitations. If you feel out of your element meddling with an air conditioner (and many homeowners do), call the experts at T.F. O’Brien Cooling & Heating. We’ll clean your compressor and blades to ensure they function at peak efficiency.
Just remember that while cleaning will help matters, the noise may continue, especially if your unit is more than 10 years old. In this case, you may wish to consider building a fence around the unit. Installed at least 3 feet from the unit and made with boards that allow proper airflow, a fence made with sound-proofing materials may muffle a good deal of the noise coming from your A/C.
Another remedy? A sound blanket, which can be carefully placed on the inside of the air conditioner or heat pump and wrapped around the compressor. Sound blankets do not impair airflow; in fact, they actually insulate the compressor and help the unit maintain a more consistent temperature, thereby prolonging the life span of the compressor’s bearings. Further, sound blankets can reduce the noise coming from your air conditioner by 30 to 50 percent. They also prevent condensate from forming on the compressor on humid days. Learn more about air conditioning repairs.
Bringing peace and quiet to the Long Island, NY area for 85+ years
T.F. O’Brien Cooling & Heating has more than 85+ years experience in bringing peace and quiet to the greater Long Island area–and we can do the same for you and your noisy air conditioner with just a phone call.
Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). Simply give us a call at 516.488.1800, and we will be happy to help.