You Never Hear a Quiet Air Conditioner
A quiet air conditioner is something that was considered a luxury in the past. This is not so much the case anymore, as manufacturers from all over, including Cooper, Payne, Sanyo, Frigidaire, Haier, Friedrich, American Standard, Fedders, Carrier, LG, and Coleman have begun to make this a top priority. Because all these companies are striving to do this, you can bet that they are the best out there and all making high quality machines. So while you may see individual ratings and reviews, just know that they are there to guide you only.
Also note that to find out which air conditioner doesn’t make any noise you might need to talk to people. It’s common to not mention the sound an air conditioner makes unless it is really noticeable. So if you want one that you won’t be able to notice, talk to people. One exception, though, is the Friedrich M36CF Wall Mount Mini model. It has been noted to be one of the most silent units on the market.
There are other models out there, but you have to take into account what they are made for. There are split units, which are designed to allow for power to be distributed evenly from one common outdoor unit (very handy when limited space is an issue). There are also small portable units that can fit directly in your window, which is also an excellent solution to minimal space concerns. Just be warned, though, that personal units always have less power than central home systems. They do, however, hum along very silently throughout the day.
Of course, you can always buy whatever air conditioner is on sale at the time, regardless of what type it is. This is not recommended, because you’re dealing with more complicated parts than you are with other cooling devices like a fan. In a fan’s case, it is quite possible to just by whatever model you first come across that is the most affordable, but consider how air conditioners need to be installed. You can’t just plug them in. There are ducts to take into account (unless of course you get a ductless model), as well as maintenance and installation. It’s much easier to talk to someone that knows what they’re doing. And even better, they might be able to tell you which model is the most quiet.