If you live in a country where power outrage is one of the common issues, then you probably have a generator at your home.
As electricity is an important element in our lives. However, the thing with generators is that they are quite noisy and we have to deal with it.
But what if you simply do not want to hear the noise without turning off the generator. What can you do? Well in this article we will talk about How to Quiet a Generator?
So you can get rid of the noise without turning off the generator at all. Anyway, now let’s just head into the topic without wasting much of the time:
Contents
Things you need to know before making a Generator Quiet
Before you jump into the mission of turning off the sound of your generator. You will need to figure out what is making the generator noisy.
There are quite a lot of reasons why your generator is acting noisy. And once you have figured out the problem, you can start thinking about the solutions.
1. Try Soundproofing the Generator
The first thing that you can do to make your generator quite is to make it soundproof. Also, making the generator soundproof is not as hard as it seems.
Like you can try out using a soundproof generator box. Or you can try out some other things as well.
Also, a soundproofing box helps you a lot. Like you can easily put your generator in a box and take it to a trip along with you. You can also use some non-slippery furniture pads to stop the furniture from slipping.
Or you can cover your generator (with generator cover like this or soundproof curtains) when you are not at home. And most importantly it is capable of reducing the noise a lot.
In short, the better soundproofing methods that you will apply on your generator the less sound you will get.
2. Change the generator’s location
Next thing that you will need to consider is where your generator is located. If you are staying close to the generator. Then, of course, you will find yourself dealing with the noise.
But if you place it somewhere far from then, the sound will be much lesser.
However, it is not a real solution to make the generator quite. But the good part is that it works. You can put the generator at your backyard. So it will not disturb you any longer.
But the sound can be disturbing to your neighbors, and they might get angry on you. And that is something you do not want. Hence it is better to look for long term solution.
You can also put the generator in an outside room and soundproof its windows and doors.
Also, you will need to pay special attention to the surface as well. If you place it on a metal bench. Then it will vibrate a lot as well as it will make more noise. Instead, put it on a surface which works like an amplifier.
Also, make sure you are avoiding shaky surfaces. As the vibration could make the generator fall from the surface and then you will have to deal with another issue.
3. What’s The Energy Level Of Your Generator
The next thing that you will need to consider is the energy level of the generator. You have to decide what power your generator will have.
If a noise-free environment is your top priority, then you will have to go for the weaker power.
On the other hand, if we talk about power generators, well they are usually stronger than others. As the main job is to produce high power.
Even with high power they also produce high noise compared to the weaker one.
4. Which Technology Is your Generator Using?
Look for the technology that is being used in the production of the generator.
If the generator is made with newer technologies. Then it will have lesser sound compared to the older generators. However, it will only happen if the generator manufacturer thought about the noise.
Even, there are quite a lot of inverters are out there which are smaller in size. Plus, they produce less noise too.
Also, as a new technology, these inverters have other advanced options too which can reduce the noise of the generators.
Even you get to see some Eco modes which use less energy and overall helps in making the generator as noise free as possible.
How to Quiet a Generator?
Now that you are done learning the first aid methods and figured out what are the things that are making your generator noisy.
It’s time to talk about how to quite a generator, so you can get a noise free environment.
So here we go:
1. Try Installing Sound Deflectors
The first thing that you can try out is installing sound deflectors. But you might have this question in your head that what is sound deflector?
In simple words, you can say that a sound deflector is a device which we usually use to turn the path of the noise. It helps you to diver the noise from your location to some other location.
Although, a sound detector will not help you in any way to make the generator quite. But it will surely help you to make the environment noise free where you have kept your generator.
As a result, you will be able to spend your time in peace and with no noise at all.
However, it is still not the right solution. As we are not making any changes into the generator to reduce the noise. But as long as it works, it’s fine.
Also, the good thing about this option is that it is a fast and simple method that you can try out. Plus, you will get enough time to think of some other option.
2. Build an Enclosure For Your Generator
The next thing that you can try out is to build an enclosure for your generator. This is quite similar to making a soundproofing box.
Also, it will be a perfect solution for you if you want to keep the place to a certain place.
But before you put your mind into it, do not forget to take some measurements of the base. So you can easily put your generator above the concrete.
Also, for the walls, you can use wood or bricks. Plus, you will also need to build a roof for the ventilation, you can use this air vent for this purpose.
Even apart from bricks and woods, you can try out using some fireproof insulator to make the box. The advantage of this will be that it will be lighter as well as it will absorb the heat and sound in a better way.
In short, your main goal will be to keep the generator with proper ventilation. Plus, make sure that there is no heat building up inside the box. Else it will damage the generator.
3. Try Moving The Exhaust Pipes In A Vertical Position
By turning the generator’s pipes, you will be able to make a huge difference.
When you turn the exhaust pipes horizontally. They will start blowing the air outside. Even it will not blow the air outside, but it will also blow the noise horizontally.
Also, you can try turning the pipes to the up direction. As a result, the noise and air both will go up, and it will make less noise.
4. Replacing The Muffler
You can also think of replacing the muffler on the generator. As you are already aware of the fact that exhaust pipes and the motor. These two parts make a hell lot of noise.
And with the motor, there is nothing that you can do. If you have to make the motor noise less then you have to go with a new generator which makes less noise.
But if we talk about the exhaust pipes well there are a few things that you can do to make the generator quite.
The first thing that can do is change the direction of the pipes as I have just mentioned. Or you can get a bigger muffler. A muffler will help you to muffle the sound.
Hence the bigger muffler you get, the less sound your generator will make.
5. Think About A Baffle Box
A baffle box is also a great option to quite the generator. Baffle box works like an enclosure of your generator which captures the noise inside of the box. And mask it so you will get disturbed by the sound at all.
However, with a baffle box too, you will need to pay attention to the venting system. Else it will damage your generator.
Also, the good part is that it is not too hard to make a baffle box. Nor it will be too expensive for you. Even there are quite a lot of YouTube videos are available out there which will help you to get started with.
If you decide to make a Soundproof box for Generator then read this article on How you can build your own Soundproof Box for Generator in an easy DIY method.
6. Keep It Away From Your Camping Site
Planning to take the generator along with you for camping? Then do not forget to keep the generator next to your camping spot. As you will be able to access the generator pretty easily. But the question is what to do with the sound?
For this, you can always put the generator a bit far from you. And then you can try out different things like a soundproof box or sound deflector. Or you can simply put it far away from where you will not hear the buzz anymore.
7. Try Using Water
In case if you do not have a budget for a soundproof box or a baffle box. Then you can try putting water next to the generator. It might not sound like a great idea in the first place. But believe me, it works.
You can use the water to muffle the sound, and it works. All you will need is a buck filled with water and a hose.
Then you have to connect the hose to the exhaust pipe and then put the other end of the hose into the bucket filled with water.
After the water will pick the sound and muffle it and you will get a peaceful environment. However, just to be sure that the water does not go into the generator you can simply make a small hole in the entrance of the exhaust pipe area.
It will prevent the water from going inside the generator. Also, make sure the whole is not too big. Else, it will leak the sound only.
8. Alternatives To Quiet Generator
There are quite a lot of generators are available in the market. Some of them are designed to produce more power and less noise.
Even there are options which produce a lot of energy along with noise. However, the big generators are only made for those areas where noise is not a problem.
But if you want a generator which you will take with yourself for camping. Then you have to get a generator which produces less power. So there will not be any issues with the noise.
But on the other hand, the generators that we use at our home needs to produce more power. Plus they produce more noise.
But you can prevent the noise by using different things. And the noise will not be a huge problem for you.
But if your usages are low and you do not need much power. Then you better go with a new generator which produces less noise and less power.
Along with that, it will be a compact sized one. So you can easily take it with yourself when you are going for camping.
Top 5 Quietest Portable Generators (Under 65dB)
So if you decide to purchase a new quietest portable generators, then I’ve researched and picked the top 5 quietest portable generator.
Final Words
So that was a quick answer to your How to Quiet a Generator question. Now it is your call to go ahead and try the methods and see how they are working for you.
Although, these methods will not make your generator noiseless. But it will surely help you to reduce it.
Anyway, if you have any more questions. Then do not forget to comment below and we will surely help you out with your query.
