AC blower loud and little variability between low and high fan speed

[Dad of 8]

2019 175BHS with very loud AC blower. Blower fan noise not motor or hardware. It is a Dometic brand, 15k btu, I believe. The fan speeds have very little variability - high and low are practically the same. I've seen some silencer kits talked about and wondered how effective they are and what alternatives there are short of replacing with a higher end unit that is quieter. Recommendations on brands for replacement would be appreciated. Thanks.

[sourdough]

I have never used a silencer kit but I've read about them. What I've read said they don't do much. Without hearing it it's hard to know what "loud" is or if you have anything to reference that noise to.

I will say from years of listening to the droning that a 15k AC in that size trailer is going to be "loud". If you can hear each other talking (speaking loud) a few feet from each other....that's normal.

[NH_Bulldog]

A 175 BH is pretty small for a 15k AC unit. My 240 BH has a 13.5k AC unit.

I agree that there is a barely perceptible difference between low and high fan speed. Noise is an issue but I think it is a function of the ducting more than anything else. It would be nice if there was an even lower fan speed, but short of a new unit I don’t think it’s possible. We run ours on “low” and it is tolerable after you get used to it.

[flybouy]

The 15k unit we have has a "cold air dump" feature. Inside the unit has 3 slide openings that you can open and let all the air "dump out into the living room. We typically open those when we first set up. It's loader but could down the area quicker. Once it's cooled it down we close those vents and the air blows thru the ceiling ducting and outlets.

The "silencer kit" eliminates the "dump" option so I personally wouldn't use it. As for the "loudness" I'd suggest asking a fellow camper or a dealer if you can hear theirs run. Most campers will happily "show off" their campers if you start talking to them and ask about the layout and compliment them on how nice it looks.

The air volume/noise level between the 2 fan speeds are not huge. Hope that helps.

[wiredgeorge]

Originally Posted by sourdough

I have never used a silencer kit but I've read about them. What I've read said they don't do much. Without hearing it it's hard to know what "loud" is or if you have anything to reference that noise to.

I will say from years of listening to the droning that a 15k AC in that size trailer is going to be "loud". If you can hear each other talking (speaking loud) a few feet from each other....that's normal.

Silencer kit is a piece of material that blocks the exhaust part of the Dometic lower bit so instead of just shutting the output part you put this thing in place and there is no output part anymore. They also give you a new filter. Can't imagine this thing would quiet a non-ducted system as there would be no air out of your Dometic upper assembly.



These things are sold by WackO:
https://www.rvupgradestore.com/WackO...it-p/da100.htm

[JRTJH]

The fan speeds are 'barely different"... Think High = 1500 RPM and LOW = 1250 RPM... Older RV air conditioners typically had 3 speed fans. They almost always suffered from "coil freeze-up" on low, so manufacturers, more or less, migrated away from the 3 speed to the 2 speed, eliminated LOW and called the old "MEDIUM" the "NEW LOW"... Problem solved (for them) with no more or fewer coil icing problems... New problem for owners: Fan noise is now a constant issue.....

[wiredgeorge]

Originally Posted by Dad of 8

2019 175BHS with very loud AC blower. Blower fan noise not motor or hardware. It is a Dometic brand, 15k btu, I believe. The fan speeds have very little variability - high and low are practically the same. I've seen some silencer kits talked about and wondered how effective they are and what alternatives there are short of replacing with a higher end unit that is quieter. Recommendations on brands for replacement would be appreciated. Thanks.

If you need to hear your TV, buy a soundbar. The televisions in most campers don't produce enough volume to be audible over the A/C. Saw a similar Passport on a youtube video and it didn't have ducted A/C so the silencer kit would effectively just block your A/C outlet.

[wiredgeorge]

Originally Posted by JRTJH

The fan speeds are 'barely different"... Think High = 1500 RPM and LOW = 1250 RPM... Older RV air conditioners typically had 3 speed fans. They almost always suffered from "coil freeze-up" on low, so manufacturers, more or less, migrated away from the 3 speed to the 2 speed, eliminated LOW and called the old "MEDIUM" the "NEW LOW"... Problem solved (for them) with no more or fewer coil icing problems... New problem for owners: Fan noise is now a constant issue.....

Had an older Forest River Wildwood toy hauler with non-ducted A/C and 3 speed fan. They most certainly froze up on low speed. Left the A/C on overnight first time out and fan on low speed and nothing coming out in the AM. The good news is the block of ice thaws quickly in the Texas heat and never used low speed again. In fact found that leaving the fan in high speed and not auto eased start up as both the fan and compressor didn't compete.

[Dad of 8]

Thanks for the reply. I learn to live with it for now till we graduate to a bigger trailer.

Safe Travels!