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