Dampen the Noise With Fences, Bushes, or Shrubs Purchase a compressor blanket. Ask your HVAC technician to install a compressor blanket. The blanket is specially designed to damper the sound of the compressor, which is often the reason homeowners deal with nuisance HVAC noise.
Place Sound Barriers Around the AC Unit
A sound blanket can reduce noise by up to 40%. These blankets wrap around the compressor (typically the loudest component), where the rubber and glass insulation absorbs the noise, trapping it inside the blanket.
You can reduce noise from an air conditioner by installing a sound blanket or sound curtain, choosing the location of the unit carefully, surrounding it with a fence, and adding sound absorbing or sound blocking material to the enclosure.
Sound Blankets will not completely eliminate all of the noise from your air conditioner. They are designed as a cost-effective solution as compared to moving or replacing your air conditioner. In general terms you should expect the noise level to drop by 30% to 50%.
Reposition the motor unit to tighten the fan belt and tighten the nuts to hold the motor components in place once the fan belt is taut. Replace the access panel covering the blower compartment and restore power to the unit.
Optimize Fan Placement: Position fans away from hard surfaces that reflect sound and place them to encourage smooth airflow, minimizing turbulence and noise. Perform Regular Maintenance: Clean fans and nearby components regularly to prevent dust buildup, which can cause imbalances and increase noise.
Install Acoustic Panels
If your AC is still noisy after all of the basic treatments, consider installing acoustic panels. Acoustic panels are large, soft-furnished panels that absorb sound. You can install acoustic panels around your AC unit or strategically around your home. It may cost a little bit of investment.
Most air conditioner blankets, or compressor blankets, reduce noise levels by 65 percent.
Wrap the unit with sound damping materials
If you want to achieve a high level of soundproofing, it's a good idea to wrap the unit itself with sound damping materials. Many HVAC sound dampening materials are very easy to work with, and you most likely won't need to hire anyone to install it if you don't want to.
Dust, dirt, and debris around the coil fins, air ducts, and outdoor condenser unit are common causes of noise. Loose or misaligned parts like the fan blades or belt, lack of lubricant, blockage in the drain pipe, copper lines, or vents, and a malfunctioning thermostat can also lead to a noisy air conditioner.
Utilizing anti-vibration mounts or pads under the cooler can further reduce noise by absorbing vibrations before they can spread through the floor or furniture. Maintenance plays a vital role in keeping your air cooler running quietly.
A jet engine sound may be produced if the condenser fan in the outdoor unit is working improperly. The noise may indicate an accumulation of dirt and debris within the unit or an electrical issue with the fan.
Ductless 'mini split' systems like Mitsubishi home air conditioning systems are the quietest air conditioners on the market today.
Fencing: Try putting a fence in front of or around the air conditioner, this creates a barrier for the sound and traps the sound's movement. You can use plywood to fence the air conditioner, or buy an air conditioner fence.
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.
Below are some of the quietest air conditioners on the market, from top-brand manufacturers: Lennox XC25 Variable-Speed Air Conditioner = As Low as 59 dB. Carrier Infinity® 19 Variable-Speed AC = As Low as 56 DB. York Affinity™ YXV Variable-Capacity Air Conditioner = As Low as 53 dB.
A compressor blanket made of sound-dampening material can reduce compressor noise up to 65 percent. Available to fit popular brands, these easily-installed blankets simply wrap around the noisy single-stage compressor.
A lot of problems can lead to a noisy air conditioning system. Some of the most common issues include: Loose connections: Electrical connections, nuts, and bolts can all rattle around while an AC unit runs. Damaged blower motors: Air conditioner blower motors can struggle to spin correctly after years of wear and tear.
An HVAC duct silencer is specifically engineered to reduce airborne noise carried along ducts or produced by enclosures. You'll also find these silencers described as sound attenuators when they are used in industrial settings.