{9 Hacks} To Make a Generator Quieter
There was a time when having a generator was important. However, nowadays, having a quiet generator is more important that that.
Noisy generators are not only annoying but can also be dangerous as they affect your sleep patterns or ability to concentrate on work tasks.
And if you’re here, chances are you’re dealing with a noisy one.
But don’t worry, today I am going to give you 9 easy and effective ways to make a generator as quiet as a cricket. Keep reading…
9 Ways to make a generator quiet as a cricket
1: Move your generator 20 feet away from you
The easiest way to quiet a noisy generator is to move it as far as possible from where you are sleeping, camping, bowfishing or spending time.
Moving it 20 feet away from your location is based on the principle that sound intensity decreases with distance.
As you increase the distance between you and the generator, the noise it produces will become less audible and bothersome.
So give it a try and make your generator quiet instantly. Depending on the new location, you may need a longer power cord to connect the generator to your home or appliances.
2: Mount the generator on anti-vibration mat or pads
You probably already know that a generator vibrates a lot while running. If you have mounted it on a wooden board or concrete then you are inviting vibrations, more noise, and more problems.
One of the best ways to deal with this is to use anti-vibration rubber pads or mats. These pads work by dampening the vibrations from the generator, making the sound much softer and quieter.
3: Build a generator enclosure
(Source: i.pinimg)
Building an enclosure is one of the best ways to make a generator quieter. It is a specially designed box that surrounds the generator to contain and dampen the sound waves, preventing them from spreading into the surrounding environment.
It typically consists of walls, a roof, and a floor, all constructed using high-density materials that have excellent sound absorbing and dampening properties such as mass-loaded vinyl.
I have a friend who is a big fan of traveling and camping, he recently bought a portable generator but it was very noisy. He asked me, how can I make my generator quieter?
And I suggested he spend in a generator enclosure. As he found out, he went to a hardware store to buy the products needed to build the enclosure. After all, he got an excellent result and thanked me for giving him this amazing idea.
I would recommend you read this article for a more in-depth guide: How to Build a Soundproof Generator Box
4: Use Sound Deflectors and reduce 10 dB (Decibels)
(Source: SixtyFiveFord, YouTube)
Deflecting the sound of the generator with sound deflectors is an easy way to lower the noise it makes. Sound deflectors are the same as an enclosure but there is a lot of difference between them.
A sound deflector is a barrier that holds sound waves in and separates them from an object, it is also known as a noise barrier and it’s actually quite easy to do.
Just get some drywall sheets that are about 4 feet wide and 3 feet long. You’ll need five sheets of this size and cover your generator with it.
5: Use generator muffler silencer kit
This kit is like an add-on accessory that you can attach to its exhaust system. It’s designed to either replace your existing muffler or enhance it. I have used it with my camping generator.
It is engineered to reduce noise emissions by employing sound-dampening and absorbing materials and by innovative design features.
The best part is that you don’t need to be a mechanical whiz to set one up. In other words, it is super easy to set up.
A generator muffler silencer kit can set you back anywhere from $15 to around $50, reasonable, is it not?
6: Use a Cherry bomb or a Car muffler
Using a car muffler is really a HACK to make a generator quieter. The muffler will control how much air passes through the opening for an even and steady flow, ensuring a steady and even flow, which may result in a decreased sound level.
Adding a muffler is inexpensive and is not rocket science at all. So it’s worth trying!
But the question that may come to your mind is: Does a car muffler even work on a generator?
Here is the truth:
A YouTuber whose channel name is “BCtruck, BC Blades” did a great experiment with their Powermate portable generator and he removed the original muffler and replaced it with a cherry bomb muffler, he noticed a surprising difference of 10 decibels.
Well I know a cherry bomb muffler is quite loud but here’s what I’ve seen, you can watch the video to see and understand the live results: https://youtu.be/886vFc-KqcU
Another guy, James Condon did a similar thing as BCtruck, BC Blades. James tested and compared the noise level before and after, but here James used a car muffler and saw a difference of 6 decibels (dB).
After watching YouTube videos, I spoke to David Sunil, a generator expert and a friend of my father. I asked him about using a car muffler on a generator, and here’s what he had to say:
The muffler is already in the generator for this job, so any other muffler won’t make a big difference, but a car muffler is generally designed to deal with the noise of large automobile engines, so there will be little difference when using a car muffler in the generator. It may reduce noise levels from 4 to 10 dB. But it might not work perfectly in every case, especially if it’s not installed properly or if the muffler is damaged.
So, in simple terms, using a car muffler or cherry bomb muffler can make a difference in your generator noise, but don’t expect a miracle.
So what I would recommend is combining this technique with other techniques to get a really good result and make your generator less noisy.
7: Point the exhaust pipe away from your tent or home
Redirecting the exhaust pipe of your generator is an easy yet effective way to reduce the noise it makes. Here’s the deal: the direction your generator’s exhaust pipe is pointing can affect how much noise you hear.
This simple change along with the way your generator’s exhaust is placed in a vertical position redirects the noise-carrying sound wave upwards into the atmosphere.
For an even better noise reduction, try to point the exhaust pipe at least 10 feet away from your generator, in the opposite direction of where you are.
However, this method may not make any difference if you have a high-power generator, it can reduce a maximum of 3 to 5 dB, but pointing the exhaust pipe away or outside the room is safe for health.
According to ResearchGate, Harmful exhaust emissions can cause a number of debilitating diseases, including headaches, respiratory tract infections, blood clots, a reduced immune system, cancer, and more.
8: Use a Zombiebox
(Source: ZombieBox)
Well if you want to make your generator quieter as a cricket then you should use a Zombie-Box. Using Zombie Box is an excellent and the most effective way to keep a generator noise low.
However, Zombie-Box are super expensive. These are not budget-friendly options, but they do the job exceptionally well.
Installing zombie-box the noise level has been reduced by 20 dB. And according to sandiegocounty.gov, ZombieBox reduces the noise intensity and volume of the generator by up to 4X!
You can check Zombie-Box by clicking here
9: Buy a new quieter generator
Well, if you have an old generator chances are it might not incorporate noise-reduction technologies, which is why it might be making so much noise.
If that’s the case then buying a new one that runs more quietly is the perfect solution for you.
Newer generator models often incorporate noise-reduction technologies and designs, resulting in quieter operation compared to older models, like this Generac IQ3500 generator, which operates at just a noise of 51 dB which is really low and if you use any of the techniques mentioned in this post then you can make it even quieter.
However, quieter generators are expensive, they might even cost you more than $1000. So, if you have the budget for it, it’s a fantastic investment, especially if you want it to be super quiet.
In my opinion, quiet generators typically have noise levels in the range of 50-70 decibels (dB) at a typical operating load, so keep it in mind when buying one.
Conclusion
So that’s all for it: How to make the generator quiet? I hope you have successfully done it. Placing your generator in your home or tent is the most easiest way to soundproof it.
You can reduce its noise level by at least 10 decibels by placing it 20 feet away from your home or campsite. You can also reduce 10 dB by using sound deflectors. You’ll get better noise reduction if you apply both tactics together.
By the way, now I want to hear from you: What method are you going to use to deal with the noise of your generator?
Are you going to use an enclosure? or are you going to move it away? Either way, let me know by leaving a comment below.
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