How can a portable air conditioner be made more soundproof? What is the best way to quiet a raucous portable air conditioner?
By putting a portable air conditioner on an anti-vibration pad, reducing the power settings, and routinely cleaning or replacing the air filters, you can make the unit quieter.
Following this succinct response, let’s dig a little deeper to discover what causes portable air conditioners to be noisy and how to quieten them.
What Makes a Portable Air Conditioner So Noisy?
When trying to use a portable air conditioner in a confined space, the majority of them are quite noisy, which can be a serious drawback.
There are many different reasons why portable air conditioners can be noisy. Any problems with the compressor, fan, or exhaust, which all work together to cool the air, could cause your AC unit to be louder than usual.
Read More: How To Vent A Portable Air Conditioner Without A Window?
Let’s examine each conceivable reason for the noise.
Compressor:
The compressor in air conditioners pushes refrigerant through it. Rattling might happen if there’s a problem with the compressor.
Fan:
Over the evaporator coils, the fan aids in air circulation. The blades may make a humming or grinding noise if they are out of balance or damaged. A noisy air conditioner may result from a failing fan motor.
Exhaust:
The AC unit’s exhaust vent blows hot air out your window. The hot air may bang loudly as it attempts to escape if the vent is blocked or otherwise restricted.
Additionally, the air conditioner may make noise and perform less effectively if the exhaust hose separates from the air conditioner or window.
How to Make a Portable Air Conditioner Quiet?
The few techniques covered in this section will enable you to have a portable air conditioner that won’t annoy you with its noise.
1. Setting Your Portable A/C Further Away and Use a Fan
Undoubtedly, a noise becomes quieter the further away it is. Therefore, another excellent solution to the excess noise it produces is to place your portable air conditioner farther away from you.
The area where you are sitting will cool more slowly if your unit is positioned farther away from you. That problem has a straightforward fix.
That problem can be resolved by using a standard stand-up fan. The portable air conditioner is releasing cold air, which the fan will assist in moving. You can place the air conditioner further away and thus reduce noise by doing this. A fan can help spread the cold air produced by the air conditioner.
2. Buy a Used “New” Portable Air Conditioner
You can also purchase the quietest portable air conditioners used if the up-front cost is too much for you and does not fit your budget.
You can frequently find really good deals from college students who are leaving their residence halls. As they settle into apartments, they try to get rid of their portable air conditioner because they no longer require it.
3. Lower the Cooling Settings
You can also turn down the cooling settings on your portable air conditioner to reduce noise. The amount of power required to compress the gaseous refrigerant increases with the temperature you set on the air conditioner’s thermostat.
The compressor typically produces more noise because it must perform more work in a shorter amount of time. Like pressing the gas pedal in a car, it’s the same thing. The engine is only getting louder.
Generally speaking, noise levels rise as power levels do. Numerous space heaters, refrigerators, and fans also fall under this category, in addition to portable air conditioners.
Lowering the cooling power has the advantage of working immediately and with any portable air conditioner. Your air conditioner’s age is irrelevant. Additionally, you don’t need to purchase any additional equipment.
However, reducing the cooling power has a significant disadvantage that you may have already guessed: Your portable air conditioner no longer cools as effectively.
Read More: How Long Can You Run A Portable Air Conditioner Continuously?
Therefore, you can only lower the cooling power if you don’t rely on your air conditioner. When it’s not too hot outside, this might be the case.
It is not possible to reduce the cooling power during the intense summer heat.
Although this advice will have an immediate impact, it is not a sustainable solution. The best long-term decision is still to buy a brand-new, modern portable air conditioner.
4. Place Your Portable AC on An Anti-vibration Pad
Walls and floors both allow for a lot of sound transmissions. You are aware of how little soundproofing insulation many walls offer if you have ever had an apartment neighbor drill into a wall.
Even when they are off, portable air conditioners vibrate. They couldn’t make any noise if they couldn’t. Noise is just vibrations in the air.
When your portable air conditioner stands on the bare ground, the vibrations of your portable air conditioners travel through the floor and walls and you are able to hear them almost anywhere in your home.
To dampen these vibrations, anti-vibration pads will make a major difference! An anti-vibration pad is special padding that absorbs vibrations and thus reduces noise.
Also, they can prevent structural damage caused by the vibrations of your appliance.
This means that an anti-vibration pad not only reduces the noise to a moderate level, it can also increase the lifetime of your portable AC.
With an anti-vibration pad, you can continue using your portable air conditioner. There’s no need to replace, repair or modify your portable AC. Just stand your AC on top of the pad.
The advantage of this product is that it’s generic. It does not fit only one product. In the long run, you can reuse this pad for all kinds of electric appliances including washing machines, audio equipment, or your personal home gym.
Personally, I like buying products that are of good quality and fit many different purposes. Likely, you won’t use your portable air conditioner for a lifetime. Once you stop using it, you can reuse the anti-vibration pad elsewhere.
5. Wear Noise-canceling Headphones
Noise-canceling headphones are something that I want to mention as well. Not only do they enable you to reduce your portable air conditioner noise, but you can also cut any noise anywhere.
Even though noise-canceling headphones do not solve the source of your noisy portable air conditioner problem, they are an invaluable tool to reduce noise whenever you need them.
Personally, I have used noise-canceling headphones in trains, on airplanes, and in libraries when studying. They are a game-changer.
They are especially useful when you need to block noises but you can’t do anything to fix the issue directly. For example, if your neighbor has a noisy portable AC.
One advantage of noise-canceling headphones is that they are cost-effective. You pay for them once and they will last you a long time. You don’t need to do any manual DIY work to fix the portable air conditioner noise. And you don’t need to be familiar with electronics. All you need to do is wear them.
6. Replace Or Clean Air Filters
Check your air filter as soon as you notice noise from your portable AC unit. Your AC unit will work harder and make more noise if you have a dirty or clogged air filter.
Using a soft brush attachment, vacuum your air filter after removing it from the unit. If the filter is very dirty, you may need to wash it with warm water and mild soap.
Put the filter back in the unit after it has dried. Also, clean the AC condenser coils and fan blades.
A build-up of dirt and dust can make your AC unit work harder than necessary, increasing the noise level.
It may be necessary to replace your air filter if it is damaged or excessively dirty. You can purchase replacement filters at most hardware stores or online retailers.
7. Use a Portable Air Conditioner Silencer
With a portable air conditioner, you know how loud it can be. Some people say they can’t sleep with one running in their room.
But there are ways to silence your portable air conditioner so it doesn’t bother you or your neighbors.
It is possible to do so by purchasing a portable air conditioner silencer. These devices attach to the exhaust hose of your unit and help to muffle the noise.
Even some models come with a timer, so they can automatically turn off after a certain period.
Alternatively, you create your DIY silencer. It can be done by wrapping the exhaust hose in insulation or placing it inside a cardboard box.
You’ll want to ensure no gaps or holes in your makeshift silencer so that all noise is trapped inside.
If you need help finding that your portable air conditioner is too noisy for comfort, give one of these methods a try.
8. Place the Air Conditioner on a Large Carpet
The leading cause of noise in your portable air conditioner is the internal vibration of the motor that drives the fan.
This will reduce the level of vibration. You can also wrap the carpet around it as a blanket method while keeping the airflow area open.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, there are many simple and effective ways to make your air conditioner works quietly.
From regularly cleaning and changing the air filter to consulting a professional technician to diagnose and fix underlying issues, such there are several steps you can take to reduce the noise and improve the performance of your air conditioner.
By following these tips and taking proactive measures to address noise issues, you can enjoy a peaceful and comfortable living environment without the disruption of loud and annoying noises.
So don’t let the loud noise of an air conditioner ruin the enjoyment of your home – take action today to keep your air conditioner works quietly and efficiently!
FAQs
Why is My Portable Aircon So Noisy?
A portable air conditioner, in contrast to a split air conditioner, is all-in-one. The air conditioning compressor, which makes noise, is therefore built into the casing, according to this. A lot of noise is produced by this.
Is It Normal for Portable AC to Be Loud?
A portable air conditioner will naturally make some noise while it is running, but depending on the type of room you are in or how sensitive your ears are, the noise may seem louder to you. Due to the lack of ambient or background noise interference, sounds are also inherently perceived as being louder at night.
Why is My LG Portable Air Conditioner So Loud?
The sound of the air flow may appear louder if the air conditioner’s wind path is blocked by debris, foreign objects, or other obstructions. This occurs as a result of the path for the airflow being disturbed when the wind collides with such obstructions. Clear the air filter or any obstructions from the area surrounding the inlet port.