Ever Thought Your Air Conditioning Was Loud

Terzini, Mark. “HVAC-System Acoustics: Methods of reducing unwanted sound associated with mechanical systems in commercial buildings” HVAC System Fast Trak Newsletter www.hpac.com/fastrack/hvac-system-acoustics/ July 29, 2008. Last access 8/19/08. If you have ever noticed that your unit was being loud, this article will provide the scientific measuring system behind the amount of sound, as well as ways to combat this noise in the future. Technology always has a way of improving anoying things that we have to deal with in daily life. Hopefully, soon, air conditioners will be even less noisy. Currently, many air conditioning companies market their units using the decible rating of their outdoor compressors. These units boast “will not disturb neighbors” and “ideal for close living.” In all reality, these units are still making noise. But how much? Decibles are the measurement for sound and intensity of the sound. There is a complicated logarithm formula for figuring out the exact scale, but here is a table that is helpful in speaking about decible levels. Source: http://www.glenbrook.k12.il.us/GBSSCI/PHYS/CLASS/sound/u11l2b.html

rustle of leaves 10dB whisper 20dB normal conversation 60dB busy street 70dB vacuum cleaner 80dB Front row at a rock concert 110dB Carrier’s Comfort Series Air Conditioners Models: 24ACA3, 24ACA4, 24ACR3 According to http://www.residential.carrier.com/products/acheatpumps/ac/comfort.shtml as low as 74 decibels. In their literature, they compare this to the noise a dish washer makes. According to our chart, a busy street is about 70 decibels. Not too loud, but louder than a normal-level conversation. When a contractor installs an air conditioning unit, they must consider the path that the air is going to take to get to the reciever. In understanding this, the contractor can then think of the best way to install ducting to lower the sound. Sometimes going through ductwork in the ceiling isn’t the best way. With new understandings of sound and how they travel through different weights of ducts and various curves, we can better understand how to make life just a bit more comfortable.