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In recent years, there has been a lot of debate about the performance and efficiency of mini-split AC systems. Features of a ductless mini-split are often discussed as part of a spirited debate between ductless ac and conventional ac advocates. These conversations often entail popular questions like why is a mini-split is better? What is the difference between a mini-split and a centralized HVAC? Why window ac units are not preferred anymore?
If someone has read a few of those articles, it may be clear that currently a mini-split and a centralized HVAC are in competition and the window air conditioner still has its place but is a distant 3rd. The truth is mini-split systems and traditional AC systems have their own strengths and are the better choice for certain situations. But, in this article lets look at noise levels of ductless mini-split systems.
Are ductless mini-split air conditioners loud? Generally, a mini-split system is very quiet. If installed correctly and placed in an optimal location, it should run without causing a disturbance.
Considering all the features of both a mini-split and a centralized HVAC it is pretty tough to make up our mind about the selection of an air conditioner. Let’s dig deeper into mini-split air conditioners and see how they offer comfort by working so quietly.
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What makes a mini-split quiet?
To understand why mini-split works so quietly, we will have to understand the process behind its cooling method. The cooling process involves the following steps:
Conditioning of hot air
The indoor unit of the mini-split takes in the air from the atmosphere where it is planted. The air is then sent back to the compressor (outdoor unit) through a series of coils and tubes.
Transfer of energy to coils
The outdoor unit has a coolant liquid in it. When the hot air is received by the compressor it absorbs the heat present in the air and the coolant liquid is turned to the cool gas. This cool gas then travels through the coils and reaches the condenser which is also inside the outdoor unit. If anyone belongs to a science background, he will understand the function of the condenser by the name only. It converts the gas into a liquid by an electric process which is then again traveled through the series of tubes.
Transfer of cool air
The cool air is then transferred through the indoor air handler and thrown to the room and again the whole process is repeated until all the air which is hotter than the set temperature is converted to the cool gas.
Running in low power mode
Once the temperature is equal to the set value, the air conditioner starts running in low power mode. According to the new inverter technology it runs in low power mode by switching itself on and off. In this way, the temperature is maintained by using minimum energy.
These steps clearly show that there is no such process that creates a lot of noise. Even a light sound is produced which can be heard if listened carefully and when a mini-split begins cooling the room that vanishes as soon as the air conditioner starts its low power mode.
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Why a mini-split may start making noise?
There are several reasons due to which an air conditioner starts making noise. If you are using it for a while and it was working fine before and one day it started making noise. Then it may be due to one of these reasons:
Dirt in the air filter
If you have not changed the filter neither did you cleaned the filter in a few months, then there is a possibility of dirt in the air filter. Due to this dirt, airflow is stopped or hindered, and noise is started. It can affect the performance of the mini-split.
Dirt in the compressor
The outdoor unit is exposed to a lot of dirt present in the air that is why there is a high probability that your compressor is not working properly due to the dirt or debris stuck in it. Even sometimes, birds’ nest, leaves, or wrappers came flying with wind are found stuck in the outdoor unit. The performance of the compressor is reduced and noise is produced as it has to use high energy to work normally with all that dust in the system.
But if the new mini-split is installed at your home and you observed that it is making a lot of noise or you started observing it when professionals left after doing any kind of maintenance then the problem may be different. It may be too loud because the distance between the outdoor unit and indoor unit is very less. Or maybe after the maintenance, professionals were in a hurry and they did something improper or missed something. In any case, you can always call the professionals to look for the problem.
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How to reduce noise of a loud mini-split?
If you have been observing loud noise in the your ductless mini-split air conditioning system then it should be taken care of as it can be a serious problem and it can damage your AC. You can reduce the noise by following few steps that may be causing the noise. Follow the below steps to reduce noise:
Cleaning the filter
If your filter is having dirt in it then your air conditioner is going to make noise. For this you need to take out the filter and clean it properly. But if you have not changed your air filter in a year then consider replacing it as it will be a better option.
Cleaning the compressor
Compressor performs most of the job in cooling down the air that is why it has to be clean. If you are observing the lack in performance and your air conditioner is continuously running without cooling down the room then the problem is with the compressor. Due to dirt, compressor is using most of the energy which results in noise and may damage the air conditioner in long run.
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Do silent and loud mini-splits differ in cooling?
The noise produced by the air conditioners depends upon the fan speed. Greater the fan of the air conditioner more will be the noise. So, it is somehow true that silent and louder mini-splits differ in cooling. But the difference is so small that it can be felt by paying special attention to it. And if we compare the noise of a mini-split having a full-size fan with the centralized HVAC system, we can say that the mini-split is almost quiet. A mini-split with a bigger fan is considered noisy only when it is compared with the mini-split having a smaller fan.
Which air conditioner is better for a quiet office place?
We have three types of air conditioners a window unit, a centralized HVAC and a ductless mini-split. Now if we are considering to install an air conditioner in an office where we need maximum silence to avoid any kind of noise and distraction than we must go for a ductless mini-split air conditioner as it not only gives us cooling by working quietly but is also energy-saving and works perfectly for an office. This might be the best option for an office to adopt considering all of the advantages it offers. Whereas the window unit is too noisy and consumes a lot of energy. It will always be disturbing the calm environment of the office with its noise. That is why nowadays they are disappearing from the market due to their decreasing demand. Their downfall was started when centralized HVAC systems become more and more efficient. And now with the increasing demand of ductless mini-split air conditioners, centralized HVAC are facing the same issues that window units faced.
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Sources
- https://www.sylvane.com/mini-split-vs-central-ac.html
- https://www.homeclimates.com/blog/mini-split-systems-guide#:~:text=If%20the%20mini%2Dsplit%20is,they%20think%20about%20older%20units.&text=The%20noise%20is%20similar%20to%20what%20a%20ceiling%20fan%20makes.
- https://hvac-talk.com/vbb/showthread.php?89919-How-quiet-are-mini-splits
- https://www.delcohvac.com/which-type-of-air-conditioner-is-the-quietest/
