Novelties of climatic equipment amaze with silent work. This indicator is one of the main marketing moves of manufacturers in the fight against competitors. To reduce the noise level of the air conditioner, the shape of the impeller changes, the motors, the air flow pattern, the design of the grilles and heat exchangers are being finalized. The result of all the innovations is the production of air conditioners with low noise - only 19 decibels in sleep mode. For this, a silencer was installed at the outlet of the evaporator. The cost of equipment has grown significantly. But does this innovation make sense?
What is a low noise air conditioner?
At a distance of 3 meters, the human ear can hear continuous noise while the air conditioner is operating if its level is 22 decibels or higher. Thus, lowering the level below 20 decibels does not make practical sense. So, at 30 decibels a healthy person can sleep normally. This is the volume of the ticking alarm. 35 decibels - the loudness of the conversation in an undertone, can already quite wake a sensitive person.
The average noise during operation of an air conditioner of the middle class is 21 - 26 decibels (sleep) and 26 - 31 decibels (intensive). If we compare the noise level of various sounds, then 26 - 29 decibels is the noise of the office on a working day.
To purchase air conditioning with low noise makes sense only in an apartment or residential cottage.
The quietest are inverter models. The more expensive the equipment, the quieter it works. The advantage of inverters is that the temperature in the system does not change stepwise. Therefore, there can be no gurgling, hissing and clicking in a serviceable inverter.
Air conditioner noise measurement
When buying an air conditioner, the consumer is guided by the numbers indicated in the leaflets. But they are not entirely objective, since performance indicators are written at the smallest impeller speeds. Then, as usual, the rotation speed is medium or highest. And the noise level, respectively, is higher. For more information, see the air conditioning catalog.
The noise level indicated by the manufacturer is measured in an anechoic room. Here the walls do not reflect sounds. In the living room, reflected from the walls, the noise level of the air conditioner will increase by 2 - 4 decibels.
The noise of the air conditioning unit
Speaking of air conditioners with low noise, they often mean the operation of the indoor unit. No less important for the consumer and the quiet operation of the outdoor unit. So, it should be between 44 - 55 decibels.
Cheap low-quality air conditioners make a lot of noise, and this applies more to the outdoor unit than to the indoor unit.
