How to Make a Generator Quiet?

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Are you trying to learn how to make a generator quiet? Learn the excellent tips in this post that will lessen the decibel level of a noisy generator.

Generators could be a vital part of camping out of your RV or travel trailer. Whether you’re using your generator for smaller things like changing your phone or something bigger such as powering appliances, they could come in handy while you’re enjoying the great outdoors.

You might also be interested in: How Long Can a Generator Run

The only disadvantage of using a generator is that this equipment creates a huge amount of noise. Before I share with you the practical tips on how to make your generator quiet, let’s find out what it is that makes a generator loud in the first place.

What makes your generator loud?

You will find many things that factor in when you are trying to identify why your generator is making loud noises. The first and most apparent reason is that it’s built that way.

When we talk about the generator’s build, its different features are all connected. A powerful engine with more wattage will create more noise. Nonetheless, a stronger engine needs a bigger body. Less powerful and smaller generators are a lot quieter.

It’s essential to keep in mind the type of generator you have as well. Most models are inverter generators that are quieter and smaller than standard ones. They are more efficient with fuel as well. Still, even if you are searching for a standard generator, the manufacturer could have provided some soundproofing measures.

For instance, generators have a layer of rubber surrounding the engine. But many do not. The brand could also use some proprietary technology to keep its generators running quietly and smoothly. As for the fuel, the type of generator utilized could make it more or less prone to becoming noisy.

Diesel generators are often the loudest. Meanwhile, gas generators are quieter, as are solar-powered and propane ones. Nonetheless, solar batteries and propane generators are ideal for the environment, but they are also some of the most expensive products available on the market.

How to make a generator quiet – Nine practical tips

Invest in a quiet generator

The last thing you can do to accomplish a quieter generator is to get one that is not noisy at all. As I have mentioned, there are different ways to determine which generators produce less noise. You would like to go for smaller and less powerful models up to 4,000 watts.

If you are looking for a new, quiet generator, I suggest you have a look at this solar-powered DELTA Max 2000 generator from ECOFLOW, or perhaps the Dual Fuel generator from Champion, both available on Amazon.

Have the exhaust pipes pointing away from or up from you

Another practical tip you can do to lessen the noise of the generator is to distinguish which are the noisy parts and direct them away from your location. The loudest parts of the machine are the engine itself and the exhaust system.

Thus, as far as positioning goes, turn the exhaust pipe to face it away from you. You can also place your generator in a standing position, so the exhaust pipe is pointed up. Either of those changes will direct the sound of the exhaust elsewhere.

But please keep in mind that doing that will not make your generator completely noise-free.

Move your generator farther away

Every time I go camping with my generator, I always ensure to leave it at least twenty feet away from my campsite. If you have ever had the chance to look for quiet generators in the past, you will have noticed that many, if not most, manufacturers ensure to mark the decibel measurement of the volume of noise their machine produces.

Well, close to those decibels, you will see a “7m”. That means the sound was measured from seven meters or at least twenty-three feet away.

Thus, even if the manufacturer says a specific generator produces fifty or sixty decibels of noise, that may not be the case at all. Please remember that products marked as “quiet generators” are less noisy than the ones that are not.

However, suppose you are fishing during the day and would prefer some mood music. You could turn on your trusty generator a bit further away and plug in an extension cord to reach you. You can then plug in your radio or whatever entertainment you have brought with you and enjoy yourself.

Create a soundproof generator box

A soundproof box will stop the generator noise within a locked container, and you won’t hear any of it. How amazing is that?

That’s one of the most efficient ways of soundproofing a generator. Nonetheless, with all the pros, it has one big drawback. Your generator becomes too bulky and challenging to handle. Thus, you can’t simply move it around anywhere with you. If you want to soundproof your generator for camping purposes, I suggest considering other options.

What about soundproofing a generator which is placed permanently in a fixed position? Then this is the ideal alternative for you.

Use water as your generator muffler

Did you know that water is a good sound absorber? Therefore, if you are after a temporary fix to lessen the noise of your generator, this tip might be worth trying.

To do this, you can connect one end of the section of the hosepipe to the exhaust of the generator and put the other end in the bucket of water. The water then dampens the noise while letting the exhaust gases escape.

How can you stop the water from traveling back up the pipe into your generator? Make sure your generator exhaust is higher than your bucket of water. What’s more, you can poke a tiny hole in the hosepipe, so any backflow leaks out.

Just a reminder, always be extra careful when using water around generators, as mistakes can be damaging.

Make an acoustic barrier

One of the ideal ways to contain any noise is to make an acoustic blockade between yourself and the sound’s source. That’s the tip I am more likely to give any time somebody asks for my advice. With a sound deflector, you will be able to point the sound from a generator away from you.

Ensure you utilize a fire-resistant material like drywall for the generator’s side that houses the exhaust. You’ll also need to leave enough room for air circulation. This is an easy and portable solution, but it is not suitable in every situation.

When it is windy, the panels are more likely to blow over. Further, you don’t want a big piece of plywood hurtling toward your windows during a stormy day. It’s a decent emergency option to help lessen generator noise. However, if you want to keep your generator at home, a soundproof box would be a safer and more long-term option.

Change the muffler

Just like with cars, you might need to get a new muffler. The last part of the exhaust on your generator. You will have a whole assortment of mufflers accessible online if you’re searching for a car or a motorcycle. However, I doubt that you would be able to find many choices for your generator.

After all, you will find many different generators out there, all in different sizes and shapes. Thus, companies cannot provide universal mufflers very well, can they? If you want to find a new muffler, I suggest talking to a specialized repairman or mechanic first. They will at least be able to tell you where you can find a new muffler for your generator model.

Set the generator on a rubber platform or rubber feet

The next tip you can do to lessen the noise of your generator is to lessen the vibration it produces. Whether you are using it in your home or when you’re camping, you do not want to put it on a wooden board or concrete. It is best to prevent hard surfaces altogether.

As an alternative, keep your generator on the ground, so the vibrations get absorbed by the ground. You can also put an anti-vibration math under it. Also, you can use plenty of other materials similarly, as long as they can take some heat.

Does your generator overheat immediately? In that case, you’ll prefer to stick to rubber mats or foams. Still, if it doesn’t, and you need to improvise, an old piece of clothing or blanket will do in a pinch.

Wrap it in a fireproof insulation

Another way you can do to dampen the sounds coming from your generator is to make the same box from fireproof insulation. Mineral wool, fiberglass, and Rockwool insulation might help, but airflow remains a big problem.

If you plan to do that, I suggest making a cover. Make it with walls that can be flipped up or rolled up. It’s essential to have a removable solution. Make sure to test out your invention first before chilling.

Keep the cover on for five minutes the first time you try it. Extend that time until you are positive that the materials you have used are okay.

Summary

Having a loud and noisy generator can be annoying, it may even lead to headaches and complaints from neighbors. Fortunately for you, there are plenty of options to make a generator quiet. Our top 9 picks for how to make a generator quiet are:

• Invest in a quiet generator.
• Have the exhaust pipes pointing away from or up from you.
• Move your generator farther away.
• Create a soundproof generator box.
• Use water as your generator muffler.
• Make an acoustic barrier.
• Change the muffler.
• Set the generator on a rubber platform or rubber feet.
• Wrap it in a fireproof insulation.

We hope that this article has been helpful and that you found one or more ideas that worked for you. No matter what generator you have, it’s always a good idea to take well care of it. Make sure you have a look at our article: covers for generators while running.