Having a window air conditioner in your home can be a lifesaver, especially over the summer months. If you don’t use an air conditioner during the warm season, it’s very hard to sleep well.
But even though they’re a life saver when it comes to hot climates, there are some downsides as well; perhaps most importantly, some window air conditioners can be very noisy while operating.
This is why it’s best to find a quiet window air conditioner. The best air conditioner is one that can cool your room to a comfortable level without being loud.
However, finding a quiet window-mounted AC can be quite challenging, mainly because the noisy components (such as the compressor and fan) are located directly inside the packaged unit.
But you don’t have to worry! I’ve done countless hours of research to help you get acquainted with some of the best quiet air conditioners available on the market.
Below, we’ll also briefly explain everything you need to know about choosing a model that can keep you cool and help you sleep comfortably during the day and night.
The Best Quiet Window Air Conditioners
1. Haier Serenity Series 6,000 Window Air Conditioner – Editor’s Choice
When it comes to choosing the best quiet air conditioner, I recommend getting the Haier Serenity Series. It’s very difficult to find a better AC unit than this one.
The unit is a 6000-BTU, 115-volt unit and uses what is called cross-flow technology to decrease the fan’s noise level. It’s most suitable for a room of 250 to 300 square feet (between approximately 23 and 28 square meters), which isn’t bad at all. It has a lot of unique features, such as the on and off timer, auto cool, dehumidifier mode, sleep mode and an energy saver setting, as well as a remote control.
To make sure that the AC unit is quiet, the company wraps the compressor in a noise suppressant blanket for sound reduction, and it operates at just 43 decibels on a low setting. The compressor is what usually makes the most noise, and can be heard kicking on and off as it cycles.
I absolutely love this quiet AC unit, as it’s well made and also ultra-quiet in comparison to other window AC units on the market. Even though the cost may be a bit pricey for some people, it’s surely worth every penny.
Pros:
- Ultra-quiet operation
- Automated features
- Easy installation
- Cools the whole room
- Best value for the money
Cons:
- Slow cooling
2. SPT 12000 BTU Window Air Conditioner – Runner Up
If you’re looking for a powerful yet quiet AC unit, then I highly recommend checking out this product. The SPT window air conditioner is a great model for those who are looking for a unit that’s capable of cooling down a large room. Despite its large size, this model runs silently, so you’ll have the ability to sleep in peace.
This is one of the quietest air conditioning units on the market, running at just 51.2 dB on the lowest fan setting. The SPT is a 115V/12,000 BTU unit and works best in spaces ranging from 600 to 800 square feet (between approximately 55 and 75 square meters).
This AC unit also has a number of interesting operating modes that you can choose from, like the dry mode that makes it work as a dehumidifier and the energy saver mode that will control the temperature and fan settings so that the unit uses a minimum amount of power.
One of the things we really appreciate about this model is that it comes with an easy–to–follow instruction manual. The manual will provide you with all the information you’ll need to install the AC by yourself without having any serious problems. However, we think it would be a great idea to ask someone else for help, because the unit is quite heavy.
Pros:
- Extremely quiet
- Compact with features
- Easy to maintain
Cons:
- It’s quite heavy
- A bit expensive
3. Frigidaire FFRA0511R1 Window-Mounted Mini-Compact Air Conditioner – Budget Friendly
Another impressive window air conditioner on our list is the Frigidaire FFRA0511R1. If you’re on a low budget and your room size is about 150 square feet (or about 14 square meters), then I think this one is the right pick for you. Not only is it inexpensive, but it also offers some amazing features and performs quietly.
As the name suggests, this unit is pretty small, compared to other similar air conditioners out there. It also features an energy-saving option, which means you’ll be able to have a comfortably cool room without an enormous energy bill. This air conditioner offers 5,000 BTU of power.
With that being said, if you’re looking for an air conditioner to cool a larger room, you may want to consider getting a larger-sized unit.
This model even has a dehumidifier that’s capable of dehumidifying a room by up to 1.1 pints (about half a liter) of water per hour. Running at only 51.3 dB on the lowest fan speed, the Frigidaire FFRA0511R1 is so quiet and peaceful that you should be able to sleep very comfortably during the summertime.
The only thing I dislike about this unit is the fact that it has no automated features, nor does it come with a remote control. However, this model is still one of the best window air conditioners for the price.
Pros:
- Easy to install
- Extremely quiet
- Affordable price
- Very reliable
Cons:
- Doesn’t have any automated features
- Not the best option for a large room
4. LG LW1216ER Window-Mounted Air Conditioner – Best Value
When it comes to a window air conditioner, the LG LW1216ER is one of the most popular models on the market, and I bet you can clearly see why. This AC unit incorporates a lot of useful features, and it also comes at a reasonable price.
I was pretty amused with the features this model offers. This unit comes with a 24-hour on/off timer that’s very easy to program, and it also has an energy-saving option that will lower its level of energy consumption. With its Auto Restart function, the unit will automatically turn back on after a power outage. This air conditioner is a 115V/12,000 BTU unit and works best in a room of 550 square feet (about 51 square meters).
At 52 dB, this window air conditioner is considered to be slightly louder than the Frigidaire FFRA0511R, but the estimated annual energy cost for this AC unit is lower. This unit has three cooling and fan speeds that will give you the ability to control the temperature of your room.
Even though the slide-out chassis makes it a lot easier to install, you may need some help from a friend, since it might be too heavy for you to lift on your own. When it comes to price, considering its features and the fact that it’s well-built, we consider this AC unit to be one of the best you can find for a reasonable price.
Pros:
- Very easy to use
- Cools quickly and efficiently
- Easy to maintain and clean
Cons:
- Very heavy
- Installation is pretty difficult if you’re considering doing it alone
5. Koldfront WAC25001W Heat/Cool Window Air Conditioner – Extremely Versatile
Last on our list is the Koldfront WAC25001W Heat/Cool Window Air Conditioner. This is a great option for people who are looking for a unit that can cool a large surface. This model works for rooms up to 1,500 square feet (about 139 square meters) and it comes with a heat pump that will make the AC usable in cold climates as well.
This model can produce up to 25,000 BTU of cold air, which is enough to cool down a room in a short period of time. The Koldfront WAC25001W is probably one of the largest AC units out there, which makes mounting and installing it a two-person job.
The thing we find interesting about this model is that it’s very effective. It has the ability to cool down your home even when it’s extremely hot outside. I absolutely love the features that come with the unit; it has four operation modes, a 24-hour timer and four-way air directional louvers.
It even comes with a remote control that you can use to control the temperature settings and fan speed from anywhere in the room.
Some users stated that this unit wasn’t as quiet as they would have liked it to be, but it’s still quieter than most similar air conditioners in the same price range.
Pros:
- Reliable and versatile
- Easy to clean
- Comes with remote control
- 2-year warranty
Cons:
- Poor heating capacity
Quiet Window Air Conditioner Buyer’s Guide
There are various factors to consider when searching for a high-quality quiet air conditioner.
Noise Level
This is one of the most important factors to consider when it comes to choosing an air conditioner. A noisy AC unit has the ability to ruin a room’s ambiance completely.
Before buying a unit, you must carefully check the manufacturer’s description, which includes the actual noise level of the AC. This is usually given in decibels (Db) and it stands for the amount of noise the AC unit produces at its lowest fan setting. So the first thing you should pay close attention to is an AC with a low decibel rating. The lower the decibel rating, the quieter the unit will be.
The quietest air conditioning unit on the market produces up to 50 to 60 dB. But how will you know if an AC is quiet enough for you?
Here’s a list of common sounds, in decibels, to give you an idea:
A normal whisper – 20 dB
Quiet conversation – 50 dB
The noise level in a busy office – 70 dB
A working garbage disposal – 80 dB
A bass drum – 90 dB
A railway platform – 100 dB
A jet engine speeding on the runway – 120
A gunshot – 140
Room Size
One of the worst things you can do is invest in a quiet air conditioner, only to find out that it’s not powerful enough to cool down your room. But on the other hand, investing in an air conditioner that’s too powerful wouldn’t be a good idea either.
If the unit is too powerful, then it’ll make the room too hot or too cold, and it’ll eventually start to turn on and off, which will affect its efficiency and lead to more power consumption (and a high power bill!) Here is a guide that will help you choose the right BTU for your room:
- If the BTU is higher than required, then this can be a bad thing. The room will be cooled unevenly, and you won’t find it comfortable.
- If the BTU is lower than required, then the AC unit will find it hard to achieve and maintain the desired temperature, which will eventually cause it to make lots of noise and also get damaged.
2,000 sq. ft. room – 29,000 BTUs
1,500 sq. ft. room – 24,000 BTUs
1,000 sq. ft. room – 18,000 BTUs
550 sq. ft. room – 12,000 BTUs
400 sq. ft. room – 9,000 BTUs
300 sq. ft. room – 7,000 BTUs
150 sq. ft. room – 5,000 BTUs
Automation
This is very important as well, when it comes to choosing the perfect AC unit. Modern-day units have great features like auto on/off timers, power saving mode, auto fan speed control and much more.
You may be wondering what this has to do with choosing a quiet window air conditioner.
Well, when an AC is running on its lowest fan speed setting, it tends to be pretty silent. So with the auto on/off timer and auto fan control, what you can do is set the unit to start cooling your room for a few minutes before you reach home.
Therefore, as soon as you enter the room, the AC will have already finished all the hard work for you, and will be operating at its lowest setting to maintain the room’s temperature.
Features like these are pretty helpful, as they’ll not only reduce the amount of noise you experience, but also lower your unit’s running cost.
Conclusion
In the guide above, we’ve listed the best quiet window air conditioners on the market. Following the guide will direct you to choose the right one for you! Besides being silent, these models are very effective. They’re able to cool down a room rapidly, and the thing I like most about these is the fact that with some yearly maintenance, they’ll be able to last you a very long time.
If you’re interested in learning more, check out my other articles on this site. If you have any questions, you can let us know by leaving a comment down below and I will get back to you as soon as I can.
Here is another article you might like: How to Soundproof an Above Door Air Vent – 3 Simple Steps.
image: Your Best Digs