Air Conditioner Decibel Levels

Your air conditioner keeps things nice and cool, but it can also contribute to the noise level in your home. The decibel levels of air conditioners depend on the age of the machine, the type of air conditioner, and its condition. Generally, expect older machines to be noisier. The decibel levels may go up as the older machines wear out, and newly designed air conditioners are built with noise reduction in mind.

Decibels indicate the volume of a given sound based on a logarithmic system. Basically, a 10-decibel differential equals a sound twice as loud as the sound 10 decibels lower. Noise at 60 decibels, which would be roughly the loudness of a loud window air conditioner, seems twice as loud as something at 50 decibels. To achieve this doubled sense of loudness, a sound 10 times more intense is required, which is why the doubling occurs every 10 decibels.

On average, air conditioners run through the same range of noise levels as the dishwashers but are often perceived as quieter because decibels are related to distance. If you're in the kitchen when the dishwasher runs, it will sound as loud as 60 decibels. An air conditioner won't sound that loud unless you're standing right next to it. Local ordinances regulate how loud an air conditioner can be. In the city of Los Angeles, for example, an air conditioner can't be more than 5 decibels louder than the ambient noise.

Air conditioner decibel levels range widely from one unit to the next. A very quiet air conditioner with quieter technology might only make around 25 decibels of noise, which is just louder than a whisper. Portable air conditioning units get as loud as 55 decibels. This is a little louder than a normally humming refrigerator, which is typically around 40 decibels, and slightly quieter than normal talking, which is around 60 decibels.

Some older units might be louder when they run. This is especially true if something is wrong with the air conditioner and it makes unusual noises like a humming sound or banging.

Air conditioner manufacturers give the machines a decibel rating, which is listed on its label. The decibel rating typically describes the sound output heard by a person standing near the air conditioner in a uninsulated setting. Air conditioners with a high cooling output often produce high decibels. Some air conditioners equipped with special sound reduction technology are also more expensive than regular conditioners. Sound insulation and distance will reduce the perceived loudness.

You can reduce the noise produced by air conditioners with some soundproofing techniques. Window models should have a shield with a layer of sound-absorbing foam mounted on the outside of the air conditioner. If you have central air, covering your ducts with closed-cell foam helps reduce noise levels.

If an outdoor air conditioner is making extra noise, a sound-blocking wall and insulating blankets between the unit and the nearest point of entry, such as a window, could solve the problem. These measures can reduce the sound level of air conditioners by as much as 10 decibels.