Sound Insulation for Compressor Closet

[z28snksknr]

Here's some new info on the air intake for y'all to chew on.

I fetched a 3' piece of 1" pipe and a nice big $5 mower muffler from Lowes. Topped that muffler with a cutsey little 9" air cleaner from O'Reilly's to keep the dirt out. Stuck the pipe/filter combo up in the attic above the ceiling/insulation, connected the lower end of the pipe to the compressor inlet with 3/4" hose to isolate any vibration. Pic to follow in a bit.

Ran a sound test with a dB iPhone app, before with the stock little can filter and with the new remote air intake.

Stock:
10' - 15' - 20'
81dB - 77dB - 75dB

Remote:
10' - 15' - 20'
81dB - 77dB - 75dB

That's right - zero difference. Sticking a piece of thin paneling in front of the compressor making sure it didn't lean against it cut sound by 2dB at 15'.

I was hoping someone with a sound level meter would chime in with actual numbers. I'll be focusing MY attention on physical barriers between the listening space and the compressor.

 

[mpire]

While I am no where near as handy as lots of the people on this thread, I took a completely different route.

I got one of those workout mats that the gyms use in the weight room. Its 3/4 inch rubber. Soaks up some vibration.

Then I made a box out of 2x4s with an X in the middle of 2x4s. Then I filled that with sand so the top of the box rests on sand, and not on wood.

Then I used some stainless hardware with rubber gaskets in between.

End result is that its rather quiet as far as compressors go. Its about half as loud as it was before. It can kick on at night (when I forget to turn it off) and I don't even get woken up like I used to.

I still need to trim the mat back flush with the base and one of these days I might paint the base.

I was going to rope the compressor to the wall to keep it from walking away, but it hasn't moved even a quarter of an inch in the last 2 years.

 

[69supercj]

I know that just by putting carpet down in a concrete room will make a huge difference in noise and wall hangings will help as well. You might consider hanging some pieces of carpet from the ceiling inisde your compressor room and see how that works. I'd make sure they come down to at least waist level or knee level.

 

[turbodgumby]

good info guys! is one of my next jobs on the honey-do-list

 

[luvmyhondas]

i would have stuck the dynamat to the tank of the compressor. add the mass to the giant 'bell' and it may have quieted the 'ringing' of the tank. Ever notice when the compressor shuts off the tank kinda 'rings' for a few seconds? I think I'll stick some Dynamat on mine and see if it makes a difference on the Iphone DB meter. I'll post up what I find.

 

[Torque1st]

i would have stuck the dynamat to the tank of the compressor. add the mass to the giant 'bell' and it may have quieted the 'ringing' of the tank. Ever notice when the compressor shuts off the tank kinda 'rings' for a few seconds? I think I'll stick some Dynamat on mine and see if it makes a difference on the Iphone DB meter. I'll post up what I find.

That would be a No-No. A few small pieces would be OK but you need to have the tank exposed to the air and not insulated in any way in order to cool the air.

BTW- The air intake muffler filter works well if done properly.

 

[Falcon67]

BTW- The air intake muffler filter works well if done properly.

Be interested in your version of "done properly".

 

[Torque1st]

Be interested in your version of "done properly".

You obviously did something wrong because the process has worked for many people. But then you were not trying very hard to get it "done properly"...

 

[rlwhitetr3b]

Before you two come to blows,...
Is it possible different compressors react differently to the same “fix”.

 

[Torque1st]

Some expensive compressors come with the "fix" from the factory. Most homeowner or even small industrial compressors will not have the "fix". It costs a few $ in parts and assy time so when the manufacturers are cutting pennies it does not get done.

 

[thelandfamily]

hey scott is seen your 129 dragon sign on the wall. I live less than 8 miles from the tail of the dragon. It sure is a great road to drive.
Chris