Why Choose a Quiet Air Compressor?
In this comprehensive guide, we delve into the advantages of silent air compressors, which are often overlooked in favor of traditional, louder models. From improved productivity to enhanced workplace safety, silent air compressors bring numerous benefits across various industries.
Read on to discover the mechanics, benefits, considerations, and types of quiet air compressors, and find the perfect fit for your business needs.
The Importance of Air Compressors in Various Settings
When you think about an air compressor, you will probably think about how they are used to provide pressurised air in the automotive industry for inflating tyres and keeping them roadworthy. However, there are many other industries that make use of them, including HVAC, cleaning, industrial, medical and more.
In industries like electronics and food processing, where precision and clean air are critical, quieter air compressors offer significant advantages by reducing environmental noise and ensuring high operational standards.
The reality is that compressed air units are hugely important for a wide range of needs, but the noise produced by them can be problematic for the health, safety and effective running of a business unless you choose to reduce the noise produced by picking silent air compressors instead.
What is a Quiet Air Compressor?
A quiet air compressor, sometimes called an oil-free silent air compressor, is designed for quiet operation and produces significantly lower noise levels than traditional models – typically below 75 dB. These compressors achieve this through soundproofing materials, vibration-dampening components, and reduced compressor speed.
Unlike conventional units that make a characteristic loud hammering sound, quiet compressors minimise general industrial disruption and improve workplace safety. They are typically used in garages, workshops, and industries requiring contaminant-free air, such as food processing and medical settings.
Choosing the right model depends on air supply requirements, tank size, and the appropriate noise level for your environment. Whether you plan to use a portable air compressor or a horizontal air receiver, investing in a ‘silent’ or ‘ultra-quiet’ model can enhance productivity while complying with noise regulations.
Advantages of Quiet Air Compressors
When it comes to the best quiet air compressors, there are a number of advantages that you can enjoy. Some of the key advantages include:
A Happier Work Environment
As a quiet compressor produces less noise, the noise pollution issue is instantly resolved, helping your team to enjoy a more comfortable work environment that yields greater levels of production than a workplace with noisy compressors.
A Healthier Work Environment
The number of people that suffer from tinnitus due to loud work environments is growing, and loud air compressor noise is one of the pieces of machinery that is causing the problem. Installing silent air compressors takes away this risk to employees’ hearing loss and makes the workplace healthier than before. Using silent air compressors helps mitigate these risks, aligning with workplace health and safety standards.
A Safer Work Environment
Keeping everyone and everything safe is important in the work environment. Silent compressors not only make the environment better to be in, but they also help to keep lines of communication open and help you to lower the real risk of accidents from occurring.
A Better Environmental Solution
Noise reducing methods are important when you are looking to reduce the impact of noise pollution, and a silent air compressor offers just that. By removing the high noise levels, you can also reduce other levels of noise, such as announcements, music and more and make the entire workplace more environmentally friendly.
A Better Level of Output
While a quiet air compressor is attractive because it produces less noise, it is also great because it uses some of the latest technology. By investing in the best quiet air compressors, you will be able to enjoy some of the most advanced design features for the best output.
Quiet compressors incorporate advanced technologies like variable speed drive (VSD), which improves energy efficiency and operational precision.
Things to Consider When Choosing an Air Compressor
If you are interested to get the quietest air compressors for your workplace, there are a number of key considerations that you must first think about:
Noise Level
From quiet air compressors to silent compressors, there is a real difference in the total noise output between models. You will need to consider what noise level you are aiming for and then find the model that best provides for that need. Look for compressors with noise levels below 70 dB, which are ideal for maintaining a quieter work environment.
Power Source
You will also need to consider your capacity needs for the new quiet compressors and whether you have the power infrastructure to get them up and running. Think about your PSI needs, the air tank flow requirements and the size of the tank that you are looking for to ensure that you can power the quieter compressed air compressor.
Type of Quieter Compressors
Whether you are looking for oil free air compressors, reciprocating compressors or oil lubricated air compressors, there is a wide range of choices in the quiet air compressor market. Take your time to check everything that is available and decide which factors are most important for your business needs.
Oil lubricated machines can send particles into the air compressor, contaminating the air flow, whereas oil free air compressors offer a clean air solution.
Size Requirements
In addition to the types of quiet compressor, you will also need to think about the size of the machinery you need. Too small and your quiet compressor won’t produce the results you need, and too big will take up too much of your budget.
Get to grips with the level of output you currently enjoy, and then ensure that you find a silent compressor that offers that.
Cost
Cost is often the most important consideration for many people when buying a compressor as profit margins need to be carefully tackled. However, buying the lowest-priced compressor can mean greater maintenance and repairs, so take the time to find the very best solution for what you can afford.
Total Noise Considerations
Finally, it is important to remember that an air compressor with quiet operation does not mean a silent workplace. You will need to think about the total noise that goes into your work environment and consider if a silent air compressor will help to drive down the noise levels or if you have louder machinery that needs to stay put.
Top Tips for Reducing Noise From Air Compressors
If you would like to get the best from your quiet air compressor, we have shared a number of helpful tips that you can use:
Think About Placement
It may sound simple, but the best way to get a quieter outcome is to think about where you put the compressor within your workspace. By keeping it away from the most used workspaces, you are able to avoid more noise and help to reduce the risk of permanent hearing loss.
Consider Using Enclosures
Another efficient way to reduce noise is to install enclosures around the compressor units, helping to close in the sound and stop sound transfer to those people working in close proximity. These enclosures are often good value and are one of the most efficient ways to improve your employee’s health and reduce the risk to their ears. Atlas Copco’s sound-insulated compressor housings are particularly effective.
Install Sound Dampening Pads
Isolation pads are possibly the best solution for dealing with noise from your compressor. You place them on the unit, and they work to absorb some of the noise that is produced, lowering the overall noise output.
Types of Quiet Air Compressors
Before you invest in a quiet compressor, it is important to understand all the different types of compressor units you can choose from. Take a look below to get a good idea of the compressors on offer:
Oil Free Compressors
Oil free compressors or oil free piston compressors are often popular because they do not need efficient lubrication to work and are typically very quiet because they are oil free. This makes an oil free compressor great in locations where an air tank and air tools are needed but are not the sole focus of the business and where the need for a quiet compressor means a better business outcome. They are ideal for applications where air purity is critical, such as food processing and electronics.
Oil Lubricated Air Compressors
This type of oil lubricated compressor requires more maintenance and oil changes in order to work well. However, it offers a smoother solution and is great in manufacturing businesses. It also offers a low rpm solution, ensuring that the oil works hard to ensure that the machine works in the best way for the right outcomes.
Rotary Screw Compressor
A rotary screw compressor is often more popular in larger operations such as industrial or engineering businesses. They use a rotary screw mechanism to work, which means the machine compresses air between the screws, keeping the machine sound to a minimum. Rotary screw compressors, such as Atlas Copco’s GA series, provide low-noise, energy-efficient solutions for continuous industrial operations.
Why You Need a Quiet Air Compressor
A quiet air compressor is not just about reducing noise in the workplace – it also improves efficiency, safety, and productivity. Traditional air compressors make noise levels exceeding 100 dB, leading to hearing damage, stress, and workplace disruption.
In contrast, a noiseless or ultra-quiet model ensures a safer, more focused environment, making them suitable for industrial and commercial settings, including workshops, garages, and smaller factories.
Many low-noise air compressors feature onboard refrigeration dryers, variable speed drives (VSDs), and low-RPM motors, reducing operating costs while maintaining higher air pressure and optimal airflow.
Whether you are looking for one with a smaller tank size for portability or a horizontal air receiver to store more air, investing in a completely silent compressor helps to reduce efficiency losses and improve performance in noise-sensitive environments.
If you’d like to know more or you are ready to invest in your new quiet compressors, then we’d love to hear from you. Get in touch with our team to have your questions answered today!
FAQ
How do ultra-quiet air compressors reduce noise in the workplace?
Ultra-quiet and noiseless air compressors minimise noise using advanced soundproofing materials, low-RPM motors, and vibration-dampening components. Unlike traditional models, which can be very loud, these compressors are designed to operate at a lower dB rating, reducing workplace disruption and improving communication in smaller factories, workshops, and garages.
Are oil-lubricated compressors quieter than oil-free models?
Oil-lubricated compressors are typically quieter because the compressor’s moving parts are cushioned by oil, reducing friction and noise. However, oil-lubricated also means regular maintenance to prevent contamination, whereas oil-free models require less upkeep and are often preferred for industries needing a clean air supply.
What should I consider when choosing a quiet air compressor?
When selecting a quiet air compressor, consider the amount of airflow, the base or tank size, and whether the machine is fitted with a belt. If you use the machine in an environment where noise matters, an extremely quiet model will help maintain productivity without causing a sense of isolation from excessive noise.