The noise of the air conditioner is one of the most common complaints of owners of HVAC equipment. Noisier floor or window air conditioners and a smaller split system. But the latter sometimes buzz quite strongly. Can noise be removed and what are its causes?
Noise fans
The noise of the outdoor unit of the air conditioner is most often associated with the operation of the compressor. And the noise of the indoor unit of the air conditioner is with a fan.
According to manufacturers:
- 40% of noise is made by fans;
- 38% refrigeration circuit and cold tracks (not on all models);
- 22% of the noise emitted by the compressor.
The noise source depends on the type of air conditioner:
- in monoblocks, the main noise comes from the heat exchanger fan and compressor;
- in central systems, the main sources of noise from the air conditioner external unit are the fan and the transmission between the engine and the fan, it makes noise when the bearings are worn or the equipment is poorly adjusted;
- in air conditioners of the rooftop system, the compressor and fans of compressors and condensers are the source of noise.
As a rule, air rustles when passing through the listed nodes.
Air conditioners for apartments or offices emit 25-50 decibels depending on the power.
How to remove the noise of the air conditioning unit
To reduce the noise of the external air conditioning unit:
- eliminate the source of noise;
- eliminate noise transmission paths.
The first category includes the following measures:
- When installing, consider the possibility of reflection of sound from nearby structures;
- Eliminate the blockage of the radiator and fan of the outdoor unit. This is the first reason for the noise of the outdoor unit;
- Repair the compressor or replace it if necessary.
By transmitting the noise of the external unit of the air conditioner, there may be brackets and racks on which the module rests. To reduce vibration, special gaskets are used between the housing and the bracket. As a rule, they are included in the kit for installing the air conditioner.
Another way of transmitting noise may be a mount adjacent to the metal reinforcement of the walls. This problem is typical for houses with reinforced concrete walls. And there is only one way to eliminate it - moving the outdoor unit to the side or up.
The noise of the indoor unit of the air conditioner in some cases can be eliminated independently. Sometimes it’s quite simple to clean the air filters or tighten loose bolts. If, when you open the lid, you do not find anything suspicious, provide further action to professionals.
