How To Soundproof A Dehumidifier (in 4 Easy Steps)

Dehumidifiers are great at removing moisture from the air. Unfortunately, they are also great at making noise which is why you would want to soundproof your dehumidifier.

Using soundproofing materials to upgrade your dehumidifier aids in lowering noise levels generated during use. Additionally, materials such as blankets, pillows, or other sound-deadening things can also aid in reducing dehumidifier noise levels.

Check out the soundproofing materials I recommend.

So what exactly generates all that noise? How can we reduce them?

How To Soundproof A Dehumidifier

There are many ways to soundproof a dehumidifier. But honestly, why can’t that thing be quiet anyways? Aren’t there any more silent options?

Many people have tried to find or even create quiet dehumidifiers but to no avail. The dehumidifier needs a lot of air movement to reduce humidity. This mechanism means it is impossible to find a quiet dehumidifier.

The inner workings of the dehumidifier would mean that skipping soundproofing altogether is just not an option. This inevitable noise is why we have curated a list of methods to possibly have your dehumidifier not be as noisy as it used to.

1. Check the DehumidifierFor Damage.

This step is pretty much self-explanatory. First, check for possible damages within the dehumidifier to mitigate potential problems that create noise. Most of the time, a noisy fan causes the issue, which means that checking if the fan is appropriately working is priority number one.

The next step is to listen to the noise the dehumidifier makes. Placing the dehumidifier on an uneven surface creates a clicking, rattling sound. To alleviate this, make sure that the surface of the dehumidifier is standing on a flat surface.

Screws that are out-of-place are also massive trouble for the dehumidifier as the vibrations coming from these screws can create a very noisy system.

To soundproof a dehumidifier, first, tighten all the loose vibrating parts.

Another possible source of sound is dirt inside the dehumidifier. Vacuum or clean your dehumidifier once in a while for optimal performance.

One integral component to check is if there is airflow. Whenever air flow is lacking or is not available, try first to check the air filters before calling a professional.

These air filters are cheap, and it is not worth calling a professional to replace these.

The noise caused by air filters is due to the dehumidifier working harder to suck in air. When this happens, the dehumidifier may operate in conditions where it needs more electricity and creates a lot of heat.

Therefore, checking and replacing your air filters once in a while will be crucial for ensuring more optimal functioning from your dehumidifier while saving you money from possible repair calls.

Another thing you can consider checking is to consider checking for leaks. Leaks can lead to noisy operations by the dehumidifier. When this happens, the one thing you can do is make it run out of refrigerant.

After you run out of refrigerant, contact a professional for them to add more refrigerant for you.

Another thing you can do to solve noise caused by leaks is to replace the specific part that causes noise. For example, when a condenser is leaking, consider replacing it with a brand new one.

2. Check For Parts Due For Replacing.

Unlike the air filters, wherein you can clean them off, some parts of the dehumidifier may be causing a lot of noise without having the “cleaning” leverage air filters have.

One of the parts you may need to consider replacing is the fan blade. To know if a fan blade is malfunctioning, you can try to turn the fan blade by hand.

If ever the fan blade is rubbing against the fan housing, meaning it does not turn smoothly, then you may need to replace the blades to soundproof a dehumidifier.

You can also try to tighten the screw within the fans, but replacing is what you should do if this does not work. However, if the fan blade is turning in smoothly, but the fan does not turn, maybe the fan motor is the issue here.

To know if your fan motor is defective, a humming noise or a fan blade not running even with power is just one of the indications that a fan motor is defective.

One of the critical components of a humidifier is the compressor. The compressor will be excruciatingly loud, even under normal operations. However, if it is even louder than usual, then it may be taking a toll already.

A good reminder is that most of the time, replacing the compressor isn’t worth your money. Please consider buying a new compressor altogether.

3. Be Creative! Use A Carpet.

Carpets are notorious for their sound absorption abilities. By putting your dehumidifier on a carpet, not only are you minimizing the vibrations your dehumidifier may generate, but you are also reducing the overall airborne noise in your house.

The best carpets for soundproofing are those made with wool. Carpets made with wool absorb up to 80% of all airborne noise within the room. It ensures that any sound bouncing off the carpet may be eliminated.

Also, carpets reduce sounds coming from physical contact or friction. A good example is when your shoes hit the floor, or something falls on the floor. Carpets eliminate the sound from these sources, dampening them altogether.

4. Consider Soundproofing Your Entire Household.

Now, this may seem pretty extravagant. After all, all you want is to soundproof a dehumidifier.

However, hear me out, as soundproofing your household (or even just your bedroom) has so much more benefits than one can imagine.

Privacy

First of all, soundproofing creates room for privacy within your home. Privacy is vital as we stay more at home; we may see our hobbies and jobs clash.

For example, the younger brother in the other room might be a musician, but the older sister studying medicine next door surely doesn’t appreciate her brother’s guitar solos.

Parents can also benefit a lot from increased privacy. There may be certain matters that parents want to talk about that don’t necessarily appreciate external ears.

Additionally, the improved soundproofing can now ensure that one enjoys their hobbies without them having disturbances or being a disturbance!

Improves Productivity

We all know that work from home experience. Since the coronavirus lockdown, everyone has stayed at home, which means the offices, schools, and even the gym are now home. Not a very focused and optimal place for work, isn’t it?

This work situation is where soundproofing can make a difference. For those working from home who are easily disturbed by outside noise or in need of intense concentration, soundproofing the house may be an excellent investment.

The Health Factor

Now, if there’s one thing people underestimate, that is the effects of noise pollution. We always hear about water pollution, land pollution, and air pollution, but people often forget the ever-present type of pollution: noise pollution.

Reports show that noise pollution plays a significant role in mental health. Noise, known to be destructive mentally, can increase anxiety and stress levels.

These effects can also result in falling asleep or having difficulty acquiring high-quality sleep and waking up a person too early.

Not only does noise pollution affect us mentally, but reports show that health pollution can impact us physically as well.

For example, hearing impairment can be a result of loud sounds and other sources. So, soundproof a dehumidifier and don’t cause hearing damage.

Additionally, sound pollution can also cause abnormal loudness perception, distorted hearing or paracusis, and the most common of all, tinnitus, or the high pitched ringing in the ears. Nevertheless, any of these adverse effects brings light to the possible benefits of soundproofing.

Commonly Asked Questions About Buzzing Dehumidifiers

What are the quietest dehumidifiers on the market?

As of May 2021, an experiment conducted by Learn Metrics has found out that the quietest dehumidifiers in the market are those who produce sound softer than 60 dB.
This number h is the standard of regular dehumidifiers. They have found that the quietest is the GE APER50LZ at 47-51 dB and the TOSOT GDN50BA-A3EBA2E at 51 dB.
So, if you don’t want to soundproof a dehumidifier, buy a new one instead.

Are air conditioners dehumidifiers?

Although air conditioners remove humidity and are technically dehumidifiers, dedicated dehumidifiers remove humidity without pushing extra energy into creating cool air.
Dehumidifiers are also more efficient, which is essential, especially if conserving electricity is vital for you. Therefore, installing a separate dehumidifier is worth it if you expect a dehumidified household.

How does a dehumidifier work?

Dehumidifiers work by sucking air through the use of a fan. Afterward, the humid air passes through cold pipes, which sucks out or condensates the water, which is then disposed of; meanwhile, the air continues through the pipes and is then released later by the dehumidifier.