Quiet down the AC/HP

[MRA]

We don't camp at a pedestal very often - but when we do, we notice that the AC/HP is not the quietest appliance in the universe. It is not making weird or nasty noises, it's just louder than I would prefer. What have you all done to put a bit of muffle on that?

[jeffmc306]

I agree, even though Airstream has the ducted vents on newer units the AC \ Heat Pump isn’t quiet.

One trick we’ve learned is to run the unit farthest from where we’re at in the trailer. If we’re spending time in the galley / lounge, we’ll run the bedroom unit (FB model). While sleeping, we’ll run the main 15K unit in the galley. Of course this only works if you have dual AC’s.

Another trick that works while sleeping on our FB model is to open the bathroom door so it blocks the galley. That really quiets things down. This would work on a single AC unit model.

Other than that, it is what it is!

[kb0zke]

I guess noise is in the ear of the listener. I was about to write that I discounted the statements that the ducted a/c was quite a bit quieter. We had a ducted system on our previous SOB and it was quite loud. Today it got up into the mid-80's and I had both a/c units running. It is quieter than our old Foretravel when it had the original a/c units on it. They weren't ducted, but they were built in 1993 and were very quiet. The newer units that replaced them were quite a bit louder. The ducted a/c units in the previous trailer were just as loud, so I expected this would be loud, too. When the compressor is running the noise is less than when just the fan was running in the Reflection. I'm impressed.


Lest anyone think that maybe the difference is due to age, this trailer is a 2021. That one was a 2022.

[jeffb831]

There are frequently complaints/concerns about the noises from the appliances in an AS. One thing I like to mention is to consider your proximity to the appliances when you sleep. How often do you sleep 6 feet from the AC, refrigerator, furnace, etc.. in your home?

That said, the AC units seem to be pretty loud. I have had neighbors comment on the sound when both are running. There are even occasional reports of neighbors complaining about the loudness

[Daquenzer]

Originally Posted by jeffmc306

I agree, even though Airstream has the ducted vents on newer units the AC \ Heat Pump isn’t quiet.

One trick we’ve learned is to run the unit farthest from where we’re at in the trailer. If we’re spending time in the galley / lounge, we’ll run the bedroom unit (FB model). While sleeping, we’ll run the main 15K unit in the galley. Of course this only works if you have dual AC’s.

Another trick that works while sleeping on our FB model is to open the bathroom door so it blocks the galley. That really quiets things down. This would work on a single AC unit model.

Other than that, it is what it
is!

We do the same. One advantage of having 2 units.

[GOUSC]

To Piggy back on Jeff, I’m pretty sure on ours the fan is set to “auto”. You do have the option of turning the fan on a lower setting once it cools down for less noise. When we have one on and the other off (as Jeff suggested) we have tuned the fan to “low” on the one that was “off”. They both share the same ductwork so some of the cool air from the “on” unit makes it the unit that was off. It’s not as loud as both running full blast. This is usually when we only have 30A and can’t run both A/C’s. 30A can handle 1 A/C and the fan.

We do the above with A/C, not the heat pump. I will caution that when you are done with this you have to put both fans on “auto” for the heat pump to work properly. I can’t remember why, I only know I had to do this once and it drove me crazy till I figured it out.

Regarding the heat pump, we don’t use it at night due to the noise. We use a small space heater. Works perfect for us.

[JJTX]

Originally Posted by MRA

We don't camp at a pedestal very often - but when we do, we notice that the AC/HP is not the quietest appliance in the universe. It is not making weird or nasty noises, it's just louder than I would prefer. What have you all done to put a bit of muffle on that?

Thats how they operate. You can't change it.

[G8trwood]

When walking around campgrounds, I often notice AS have the loudest AC. I wonder if it is low profile units.

[CBWELL]

Stop and think about it, Airstreams are metal inside and out! Sound resonates from metal a whole lot more than wood or fiberglass. bang on a metal pipe, then on a plastic pipe, and you will hear the difference! We live in an aluminum (metal) structure!

[ricjones]

We've had Airstreams from 1983, 2008, 2019 and 2022. The AC units in the older units were not ducted and they were really loud.

Our 2022 is ducted and is very quiet. We also have the MicroAir EZ Start which quiets the startup of the AC unit.

We also do what others mentioned and put the fan on all the time so it is not starting and stopping.

I think there is something to AS air conditioners being loud on the outside. We tend to camp in state parks where the sites are very big, which helps isolate sites from each other.

I find the furnace to be louder and more disruptive and I hate the vinyl smell from the ducts, but that is getting less and less each season.

But our 2016 unducted AC right in the middle of the small Airstream was really really loud.

[Seabrat1]

I have a 2021 23' Flying Cloud and the AC was quiet. Then in 2024 it started getting loud. It was a loose bolt holding the AC on the trailer. The dealer only charged us $80 to fix it!

[NutmegsCamper]

Originally Posted by ricjones

I hate the vinyl smell from the ducts, but that is getting less and less each season.

I thought it was just me! It actually makes me sneeze. The smell goes away after it runs for about an hour, but still...

We tend to use the heat pump if at all possible instead of the furnace. This year, we have decided to camp into December (typically, our last trip is end of October), so we may be using the furnace more.

Regarding noise, our 2023 Flying Cloud doesn't seem to be any noisier than our 2021 NuCamp Tab400. The furnace in the NuCamp was nearly silent (ALDE system), whereas the forced air furnace is a tad louder, but it's a little more quiet than the AC / heat pump.

[KK4YZ]

Some of the noise comes from airflow through the restrictive vents. Replace a few with the Airkrafters vents and you’ll get better airflow and a little less noise. They’re really spendy but high quality

[waninae39]

our '23 Fc 25fb had a MicroAir EZ Start built in
its MUCH MORE quiet than our last Sport 22FB

[Steamy1]

I sleep with PQ wax ear plugs to block out the ambient noise of the AC, highway, trains (think Columbia River gorge), neighbors, etc.