Reduce Inside AC Noise

rayhagedorn

rayhagedorn

Member
Joined
Apr 18, 2017
Messages
14
Location
Ft Mitchell, Ky
Like many, it seems when the AC kicks on you have to shout, and if the TV is on, you have to increase the volume. I've read about a product, the RV AC silencer roughly $185, that states it will dramatically reduce AC noise level. Would appreciate any feedback on this product, or any methods you have used to reduce AC noise inside the camper.
Thanks!
 
rayhagedorn said:
Like many, it seems when the AC kicks on you have to shout, and if the TV is on, you have to increase the volume. I've read about a product, the RV AC silencer roughly $185, that states it will dramatically reduce AC noise level. Would appreciate any feedback on this product, or any methods you have used to reduce AC noise inside the camper.
Thanks!
Click to expand...

Well, our "method" was to install a second AC in the bedroom. That way, we can turn on just the one in the bedroom when we're in the living room and watching TV. Or, vice versa, the one in the living room when we're trying to sleep in the bedroom.
 
sande005 said:
This will be my project next week. Two videos, depending on what brand AC you have. Looks to be about $30, and a couple of hours, at most.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Vhv_b-1zAk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cct1QfLiT6s&t=1s
Click to expand...
[MENTION=8359]rayhagedorn[/MENTION] I've done this mod. Two air conditioners, about $25, under three hours. Very noticeably reduced noise and increased airflow from the ceiling vents. I did the mod in the fall so the ACs have not been used since I did it and tested for a few minutes, but so far I'm betting it will be well worth the effort and low cost.

If you need a further nudge, I saw a post recently saying that GD has begun installing something like this at the factory. I haven't verified that.

Good luck.
 
Just got done doing the second youtube method I posted above - have a Dometic AC pretty much like the one in the video.
It takes longer than one would think. Not hard, just putzy - checking foil tape length needed, fighting to getting the paper backing off, etc.

The original tape job on my Imagine was actually pretty decent. But I took it off and redid it anyway. The sticky foam barrier used was not really sealing things at all. Replacing as shown in the video was a big improvement.

The hardest part was getting the long mounting bolts back in - with one side closed off, it can be a problem seeing/feeling how to get them back into the holes they go in to. Tip: do the two on the outlet (sealed) side first and just barely started, until you get the other two in.
Mine had no plastic tabs that needed to be broken off like shown in the video, so all good there.

It was 36 and snowing outside, so not good weather for testing the AC before and after. I was going to do sound readings, but decided it wasn't really valid. Did get the fan running a bit just to see.

Overall, I think it is a bit quieter. Not a dramatic difference, but perhaps enough to make the project worth doing. Total materials cost was about $19.

Best part using the foil bubble wrap - if I later decide that I miss having the main air dump, it will be super easy to trim the Reflectix away from the dump opening, making it useable again.
 
Dometic Brisk-Airs are loud-period. The Wacko product does work and help, and the owner is a good and helpful guy. However, realize it is half the price of an air conditioner! If our prior camper didn't have a circumstance where the Brisk-Air was being replaced under warranty every other season, I'd have installed a Coleman Quiet Series Mach, but the Wacko silencer worked insofar as bringing it down 6-8 dB.
 
rayhagedorn said:
Like many, it seems when the AC kicks on you have to shout, and if the TV is on, you have to increase the volume. I've read about a product, the RV AC silencer roughly $185, that states it will dramatically reduce AC noise level. Would appreciate any feedback on this product, or any methods you have used to reduce AC noise inside the camper.
Thanks!
Click to expand...

Ray - I just did these on both my Coleman AC units - Pretty easy install - use this link for 15% off. Noticeable difference in noise level & airflow out if the vents!

http://portal.referralcandy.com/DHB...e_id=756944260&type=referral_link_email_click

If this does not work, PM me with your email.
 
I did something similar - blocking off the "dump" section and installing some foam to direct the air into the roof ducting more directly. I also reoriented my ceiling cover 90 degrees so more air flowed directly up and into the intake plenum.

I do think I increased the air flow. So much so that I keep one of my rear-most duct closed off. I think reorienting the cover had a lot to so with airflow as the intake vents are now larger.

I can't say that it quieted the noise a lot. I took some db measurements and before and after and it did not make too much of a difference; maybe just a few db but not enough to be noticeable with my hearing.

I have Coleman Mach 8 ACs.

I think a lot of the noise is simply from the unit itself being on the roof and the "rumbling" when it runs. I had a Class A with full ducting (in and out) and honestly they were still loud enough when running it disturbed the TV hearing.

Now, when I think the ACs are going to have to run a lot, I just run them on AC LO rather than AC LO or HIGH AUTO. At least the noise level is constant and soon become just another white noise background noise.
 
So I have a 2018 303 with a Coleman AC. its the full size on. Does anybody know what model GD uses?
 
Last edited:
traveldawg said:
I did something similar - blocking off the "dump" section and installing some foam to direct the air into the roof ducting more directly. I also reoriented my ceiling cover 90 degrees so more air flowed directly up and into the intake plenum.

I do think I increased the air flow. So much so that I keep one of my rear-most duct closed off. I think reorienting the cover had a lot to so with airflow as the intake vents are now larger.
Click to expand...

I always wondered about that and I almost did this a few times, but always talked myself out of it. Glad to see you did this and noticed some airflow gains. Not sure why the manufacturer would orient the openings 90 deg out of sync with the plenum.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Redapple63 said:
I always wondered about that and I almost did this a few times, but always talked myself out of it. Glad to see you did this and noticed some airflow gains. Not sure why the manufacturer would orient the openings 90 deg out of sync with the plenum.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

As best as I can recall, to rotate the cover would require removing the baffle that redirects the airflow downward and then closing off the exhaust area as explained in the video. Otherwise the whole airflow operation gets kind of messed up.
 
We installed the Wacko RV Silencer on our Dometic AC last spring. It was an easy installation, all of the needed parts were included and it appears to be a quality product. There was a significant noise reduction with the RV Silencer. With one summer under our belt, we have not experienced any negative consequences in the AC performance. There is no option any longer to open the vent on the AC unit for rapid cool down but we don't view that as a negative. Would purchase again.
 
I bought the one on line for $199. Well worth the money! Took maybe 10 minutes to install and it's much quieter. I did a second one for the bedroom and we can sleep with the AC now if we need it.
 
geotex1 said:
Dometic Brisk-Airs are loud-period. The Wacko product does work and help, and the owner is a good and helpful guy. However, realize it is half the price of an air conditioner! If our prior camper didn't have a circumstance where the Brisk-Air was being replaced under warranty every other season, I'd have installed a Coleman Quiet Series Mach, but the Wacko silencer worked insofar as bringing it down 6-8 dB.
Click to expand...

Sure would like to know about this store that sells RV air conditioners for $400.
 
I have the Wacko product and it does help, but there is another product coming out this summer from RV Airflow systems that is supposed to be better than Wacko, call them
 
New Tamper said:
I have the Wacko product and it does help, but there is another product coming out this summer from RV Airflow systems that is supposed to be better than Wacko, call them
Click to expand...

oorrr..... maybe you can let us know what they are up to? It might be better than tons of phone calls to RV Airflow.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads - MGRV

CA
Dometic AC pulling 53 amps on start, fan runs, AC cycles
triplethreat
triplethreat
PNW Bound
New 2024 GD 23LDE Furrion AC condenser fan wobbling. Anyone else had this issue?
PNW Bound
PNW Bound
Dive Bar Casanova
Headscratcher: 2024 398M Main AC cure:
2 3
SGT ROC
SGT ROC
AZ
Need AC help STAT! Melting in AZ
lineman1234
lineman1234
ExtremeDuty
New 2024 311BHS AC Noise?
RandomTask
RA

New posts - MGRV

Back
Top Bottom