How to lower noise pollution in your home

Sound advice about air purifiers

When you think about noise pollution, you might just think about all the noise that happens outside your home--whether it’s from traffic, construction, your neighbor’s weed whacker or the high heels of the woman who lives on the floor above you.

But what about the noise pollution generated inside your home? Your blaring TV, your kid’s video game, your refrigerator’s loud compressor or your older AC that constantly cycles on and off?

At what level does it elevate from just noise to noise pollution that can actually impact you and your family?

If you don’t own your home, you may wonder what an acceptable noise level for apartment living might be. Both tenants and landlords alike have to heed noise level standards, set by local, state or federal authorities.

Noise matters

While you want the germ, allergen, chemical and odor reduction benefits an air purifier can provide, you may worry about adding another device or appliance to the cacophony of competing noises you already have at home.

That’s why, when people are thinking about a new HVAC system or air purifier, they not only ask, “Is it good?” They ask: “Is it noisy?”

How to measure noise levels

When it comes to air purifiers, manufacturers answer the “How noisy is it?” question by providing sound level information, measured in decibels (dBA).

However, those numbers can be meaningless to you unless you have something to compare them to. Take a look at some common outdoor and indoor sound measurement levels to gain a better understanding of what those sound decibels can translate into for your home.¹

¹ Common Outdoor and Indoor Noises, US Department of Transportation. March, 2021.

What noise level is harmful?

Indoor sound check

According to a University of Michigan health study, noises more than 85 decibels can be harmful to hearing, depending on the length of exposure time and frequency.²

² Harmful Noise Levels, University of Michigan. December, 2020.

If you look at the indoor decibel chart above, a vacuum cleaner comes in fine at 70 dBA. However, your food blender crosses into the harmful threshold at 90 dBA, only 20 dBA less than an indoor rock band!

Given you may only use your blender for a minute or so to make your favorite fruit shake or margarita, it’s less likely to be problematic, but it does prove a point: The choices you make when you bring a new appliance into your home can make an impact.

How noise affects sleep

Lack of sleep has many impacts. So, it’s important to check the noise levels of any new appliance or system that comes into your house, especially those that may be within earshot of where you sleep. You’ll want to make sure they meet your noise level standards for acceptable noise levels in the bedroom.

Here’s where the low sound levels of a Daikin air purifier can come into play to reduce noise, not only in the bedroom, but your whole house. See the Sound Measurement chart below to learn how.

How to reduce noise pollution in your home

Take a look at the typical “bedroom at night” entry on the previous Decibel Chart. It comes in at 30. Then, look at the Sound Measurement chart below, which shows a whisper at the same low level of 30. Now, see how Daikin air purifiers come in even quieter at 21-23 decibels of sound. You can barely hear them running in quiet mode, one of four speed options.

More silent than a soft whisper

³ What Noises Cause Hearing Loss, CDC. 2019.

Lower noise levels, improved comfort

This focus on quiet operation can be seen in other Daikin products, too. For example, Daikin HVAC systems feature technology that varies the speed of the motor (compressor), adjusting to your home’s temperature demands in real-time, rather than constantly cycling on and off like other brands. This inverter technology means less noise for you both inside and outside the house.

So, you may not be able to silent the barking dogs, screaming children, ringing phones or noisy kitchen tools that are the causes of noise pollution in your home. But, you can make more informed, sound choices about the air purifier you choose to improve the quality and cleanliness of the air around you.

Find out more about Daikin room air purifiers.