8 BEST Ways To Soundproof NOISY AC Unit! 

Sound reduction is most effective and efficient when done at the sound source.

LOL yes he talks about AC units while showing a fantastic reason for NOT getting a unit! :-)

Can you put a picture?

@@lenorcerezi3457 I have a video on my channel. If you can't find it I'll send a link later.

Can you post a link?

The compressor body (the small black thing in the center) does not need ventilation at all. What needs air flow across it is the coil itself. The coil is the thing composed of the pipes and fins that make up most of the condenser unit's physical size. The fins look like a car's radiator and do the same thing; they give off heat. The fan draws air in from the sides of the condenser unit, across and through the fins of the condenser coil into the interior of the unit, and then blows it up and out the top. If you restrict air flow across the coil, the system won't work and you'll destroy the compressor because the refrigerant won't be able to be cooled and condensed into a liquid. The compressor itself in the center is cooled entirely by the cold, expanded refrigerant gas that is sucked in through the low pressure suction line. The cold intake refrigerant goes into the compressor's crankcase where it cools the motor, and then up into the piston or scroll chamber where it cools them before it's compressed again into a very hot and high pressure gas. That gas then goes into the condenser coil where it's cooled off and condensed into a high pressure cool liquid. That liquid then goes inside where it's expanded into a low pressure very cold gas and cools off the air inside as it flows through the evaporator coil. It is still pretty cold gas as it leaves the evaporator coil with a bunch of heat that it removed from the house's air, and it goes right to the compressor after this to cool it down last before being compressed again and starting the cycle all over. When you block or have no air flow across the condenser coil, the hot high pressure gas stays a hot and high pressure gas and therefore it can't expand and cool inside the house and it can't return to the compressor as a low pressure cold gas to cool it off. That overheats the compressor. When you have no air flow across the evaporator, there's no heat being extracted from the household air and liquid refrigerant can get back to the compressor which washes oil off bearings inside and can break pistons or scrolls because it isn't compressible. TL;DR The compressor itself needs no air flow but both indoor and outdoor coils NEED proper airflow across them or things will be destroyed in short order. Compressor blankets don't impede cooling because compressors are not air cooled, they're refrigerant cooled internally.

You are overthinking things a bit much. As long as the air is circulating as intended

@@ehcanadianguy27cod31 Not really, the question is valid. There's a difference between circulation and ventilation. A convection oven circulates air at 400°F within the same volume. Ventilation implies the exchange of the air within a contained volume with air from outside that container, which-in the context of the video-is hopefully cooler air so heat can be extracted from the system.

Emailed you 😊

@@soundproofguide What was the solution to this question? Because I just had new HVAC installed, and the interior unit is louder than the exterior unit! It sounds like the blower is way too strong, or something. I complained about it today, and all the guy did was switch two cords that made the blower no longer on the highest setting. It's still WAY too loud, and I asked if he would just TRY the absolute lowest setting, and he flat out told me no. He said we need to sit with it for the weekend, and see if we adjust to the sound. Adjust to a jet engine? Yeah, no thanks. All of this is going to cost us thousands, too, so we are really upset, and don't know what to do. He said it sounds normal. You can't even hear people while you're on the phone, have to have the TV volume jacked up, and your phone speakers at the highest setting just to hear a video. Someone knocked on the front door, and I didn't even hear them. That's how loud this thing is.

@@beetlejes I have yet to find a solution. We have the same problem. From what I've read, old ductwork isn't compatible with new a/c units. Our house was built in the 70s. The new unit sounds like a jet taking off when it turns on. We hate it! We put a small bookshelf a few inches away from the intake which is in the hallway and that cut the noise about 50%. You can't push anything too close to the intake or it will overheat. But a couple of inches away has helped at least. From what I read it would take getting larger ductwork put in and it would be a big job. I don't know how HVAC companies don't address this issue when they install new units in older homes.

can you install a ceiling curtain rod around the unit so as to hang a heavy curtain or quilt to the floor? (still need air flow and access around the unit tho) --or get a portable, folding, thick wood room barrier; or build a temporary wall of cement or other solid blocks (place them on floor pads so as not to damage floor) (heavy I know). stacked water blocks (heavy to load, and "maybe" leaks)? All these are temporary so you can take with you when you leave; you also have to leave room for periodic maintenance of the unit; or get a dog that snores loudly...Hope this helps

@@zsuzsuspetals If the main source of jet-engine-like noise is from the INTAKE (return air) grille… you have a problem, as that means the airflow into the air-conditioning unit is being severely restricted and your unit is not operating efficiently, resulting in higher energy costs. There is a mismatch between the airflow capacity of the air-conditioning unit and the airflow capacity of the ducting in the home. The grille may need to be replaced with one that allows more air to flow through. The best are stamped out of flat sheet metal, with the grille simply bent out at an angle so the thickness of the sheet metal is the only obstruction to the air flow.. If it is just fan noise, it may be because the return air grille is very close to the blower fan, i.e. the air-conditioning unit is on the other side of the wall or very close by. Either way, putting an obstruction in the way of the return air flow-anything closer than about half the width of the return duct- is not a good idea.

Use foam tape wherever it is touching a surface and make sure theres a solid foundation and clean tue screen

The compressor is cooled by the cold refrigerant gas being drawn in from the suction (low pressure) side. The very cold gas is drawn down into the crankcase first, and then up into the compressing mechanism intake port. It keeps the compressor cool, but not too cold. Most compressors actually have a crankcase heater to make sure the oil and lower crankcase is kept hot enough to prevent liquid refrigerant from existing there. If there is saturated refrigerant returning to the compressor, it may be damaged because liquid washes oil off bearings and it's incompressible so it can damage pistons or scrolls over time. TL;DR no a blanket has no effect on cooling of the compressor because the refrigerant itself is what does that.

@@mannys9130 are you a HVAC tech?

@@sativa2050 he is o ly trying to help, he never had to respond to you

You can put egg crate style foam blanket on the inner walls of the generator housing, or you could build an additional exterior enclosure which is commonly called a "generator shed" or a "baffle box." If I was you, I'd just build an exterior enclosure that can be removed for servicing. The term "baffle box" comes from the use of 180* turns to force sound to bounce into noise absorbing material while still allowing air to circulate for cooling and intake. You'd ideally build a large rectangular box with 1 or 2 direction change baffles on each end. Cover the whole interior and baffle interiors with egg crate foam. I'd add a fan that's connected to the generator's output so whenever it runs, the fan runs to force air through the box for cooling. I'd probably just do one 90* turn for this fan inlet and face the fan toward the house for another forced bounce. You can install an automotive car muffler in place of the stock muffler and run the exhaust tip outside of the box with a 45* or 90* elbow on the tip to direct the exhaust down to the ground. If you realllllly want a quiet generator setup, this is how to get it. 👌 It's a big project but it's worth it. The difference a good baffle box makes is incredible.

You misunderstood that segment

Horrendous reduction in efficiency for anyone reducing airflow around a unit

9:26 xPeke

is it slightly tilted back from window sill? hole in base plate blocked? may be condensate over coils sweating...

Yes there is, my ac unit is on a four legged platform. I don’t have any vibrational noise but I’m sure you could put some sort of rubber base underneath the legs. I just have mine bolted in a cement slab.

SoundProof Guy is correct, a LOT on the market ("QuickSling" by Diversitech being one to give you an idea). He also suggests a rubber mount or base rubber either under unit or under legs (mine are under and attached to unit to avoid rattling to the metal base frame).

Great point! Thanks for the feedback!

where do you live? ice is where-- around base of exterior condenser? on refrigerant line-set? internal unit? does the noise build up (like an old radiator), or is it constantly rattling (loose wall screw or interior item)? refrigerant leak? air flow around both units may be the culprit...some units operate no lower than -4 +/- degrees, some even lower (but refrigerant still flows albeit slower) due to heated coils freezing over; sometimes just the same in summer, if a blockage or poor air or condensate flow exists (heated coils also frost over). Clean all indoor filters and outdoor unit blockages every-single-year. Protect, protect, protect the outdoor condenser with a "barrier" of 6" air flow all sides.

😳

You didn't click on this video to hear the benefits of having AC? 😂

Necrostic Gaming ..,, ya but it feels like your talking to grade school kids.... anyway I think the best way for noise is to have your shit far enough away from the house ...like 3/4 feet.,, and build a 4 ft tall block wall around the unit in a U shape .., with enough space for it to vent itself still.....

@@jfdesignsinc.innovationsid1583 yes in a perfect world but most builder homes do NOT give the choice of where the outside unit is located. Also, communities with HOAs will NOT allow a block wall---it would have to be approved. I personally never knew about the compressor blanket until this evening.

@@xsteel3292 You can stack cinder blocks a lil higher than ac unit I’m sure ....nothing technical , just carry them back there and stack em

The compressor itself does not need air blown on it to stay cool. It is cooled by the refrigerant internally.

​@@mannys9130 That is completely false

I agree, I was much younger and inexperienced back when that video came out.

Why not? Most of the quietest new A/C-Heat pumps sold today come with one from the factory.

@@jeffscott3160 That is my concern about overheating but I am reading that a lot DO have the sound blankets. So what in the outside unit needs ventilation?

@@xsteel3292 The only thing that needs unrestricted air flow is the condenser coil.

Wrapping the compressor is not harmful. It is cooled internally entirely by the cold refrigerant entering via the suction/intake port. The coil is what needs the air flow, not the compressor body.

@@xsteel3292 Jeff is correct. The coil is what needs air flow, not the compressor body. The compressor is cooled by the suction line's cold refrigerant gas entering the crankcase of the compressor.

She's just a lady in a bikini or underwear. The sentence accompanying it remarks about hot weather being uncomfortable, therefore a woman laying down in a bikini or underwear is a relevant. I certainly don't sit down fully clothed in my house during the summer... I walk around in underwear only, nothing else. If a lady in a bikini walking around on a public beach is completely acceptable, why is the imagery shown here unacceptable or inappropriate in your opinion?

Its just to emphasize what its like to not have AC. I thought it was the best part of the video actually.

Karen

@@nbl9100 I’m a woman in her 20s and I feel fine about it. (It was a little odd to include in the video), but I wasn’t upset by it in any way.

@@nbl9100 ummmm....us men objectify women all the time, pretty much every time we see a pretty girl.....get over it....

There’s an updated video. No butt shot. Cheers.

A sound blanket is aesthetic? Or were you just looking for a pretense to object to the "butt shot."

LOL, what are you 10? You're a grown man! Ignore and carry on.

Seriously?