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Window
Air Conditioners - Reducing The Noise
Perhaps
the most widely used air conditioners are the window air conditioners.
They are quite popular for heating and cooling in both domestic
and commercial premises. The basic advantage of a window air conditioner
is that unlike the central air conditioners and the split air
conditioners, it fits well in the window giving a good look and
it does not occupy any space of the room at all.
Moreover,
window air conditioners do not need to be shifted every now and
then from one place to the other. However, like any other air
conditioning equipment, it produces noise, the intensity of which
differs with the type and size of the window air conditioners.
Constant noise can indeed be very disturbing and distressing to
the home and surrounding residents.
It
is, therefore, advisable for the consumer to compare window air
conditioners by checking the sound power level labels on the unit
or in the literature specifications. The noise levels are often
given in decibel ratings and the higher the decibel level, the
louder the unit will be. The sound pressure increases by a factor
of ten for every 10-decibel increase. For example, 60 Decibels
is 10 times louder than 50 Decibels and 100 times louder than
40 Decibels.
The
compressor and the fan are combined in a single unit and mounted
in the window air conditioners and this is the source of all the
noise in the air conditioner. The other causes of noise could
be worn bearings, cabinet rattles, dirty or rusty fan blades,
worn rubber mountings and compressor wear. Regular maintenance
can reduce the noise to some extent but with the passing of time,
there is bound to be an increase in the level of the noise.
You
should check whether your window air conditioner is vibrating
or producing a rattling noise and if so, then it is not a normal
situation. The reason for this can be improper installation or
loose side panels. If, however, you hear a scraping noise, you
should either take the help of an authorized service provider
or you can also try to find out the cause and repair it yourself.
The
following steps can help you in tracking the fault and repairing
it:
You should tighten the screws holding the front panel onto the
unit. You should check carefully the window all round the unit.
You should then turn the window air conditioner on and press your
hand against the sash. If you find that as you press your hand
against the sash, the sound changes in pitch, then you should
put some wooden shims in the gap between the window air conditioners
frame and the sash. If, however, the pitch of the noise changes
when you press your hand on the glass, you should use some insulating
cellophane tape between the glass and the frame. You might have
to use putty if that does not reduce the noise.
If
you feel that the sound is originating from within the unit, you
should take the unit out of the window and check to see if the
fan blades are bent. If so, just bend them back so that they match
the others.
Just
a few thoughts as you are looking at appliances. There are many
more appliance articles in our appliance
section. There is more specific information in the links at
the beginning of this article. They can guide you where you need
to go.
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