Lennox's XC17 AC condenser is advertised as the quietest in the residential market as low as 62 db.

One more example of government nonsense and overreach.

IMO

Here is a link that might be useful: Lennox XC17 AC Condenser

This post was edited by tigerdunes on Sat, May 18, 13 at 9:11

Is the city inspector going to measure the sound after the condensers are installed or you going to show him the manufacturer's data sheet? A 66 DBA sound level is really low. Be aware the sound level increase as the size of the unit increases.

Do you have room to put a wood lattice or possibly shrubs around the unit? It would make more sense to try to block the noise then try to find a condenser that meets this low noise specification.

Have your insulation contractor make sure the house is tight like a new house is supposed to be. You would only need ONE 3 ton system if the insulator does his job right. 500-600sqft per ton is a rule that came out in the 60's and if your insulation can't do a better job than they did in the 60's time to find a new insulation contractor. There's no excuse for your NEW house to not be at least twice as well insulated at one built in the 60's.

http://acrightsize.com/files/10_reasons_why_oversizing_persists.pdf

One of the quieter A/C units would be the Carrier Infinity 24ANB series (up to 21-SEER) at 65db. The Carrier Infinity Greenspeed HP (Up to 20-SEER & 13HSPF) is as low as 58db in A/C mode for a 3-ton unit. Probably any variable speed or 2-speed condenser will be quiet enough.

It should be noted that noise level does not necessarily increase with size; in fact the larger capacity unit may also be the quieter one. A case in point would be where either one of 2-size unites could be installed, such as with Carrier Infinity Greenspeed which is available in only1-ton increments. The larger size may be quieter, as itâÂÂs inverter controlled and fully variable between 40-100% output. The larger unit will run slower, may also be quieter, with less wear due to the slower rotation of the compressor.

SR

I've seen outdoor units for mini splits rated below 50 dB. Do central units have to be so much louder?

Thanks everyone.
Looks like the Lennox XC17 is going to work for our needs. Thanks tigerdunes! To Servicetech, I definitely hear your point about not oversizing the system. Our contractor was originally suggesting a 3 ton system, which wouldn't have met the decibel requirement. I told him we'd be fine with a 2.5 ton system, and now our problem is solved. We're building a pretty tight home with spray foam insulation and a cool roof, so I think we should be ok.

Super tight homes such as yours often get 1000sqft per ton which is 1/2 what the 500 daft per ton used on homes built in the 60s. If you don't believe that foam and cool roof technology can reduce your load to 1/2 that of a house built in the 60s why pay top dollar for them?

I know installing a single 3 to or 2 one ton units is "scary" because its so much smaller than normal, but your insulation is at least twice as good as normal. I've seen a single 2 ton unit do the job on a house the same size as yours.

Two things bother me about this situation. First, it does not seem like anyone has done load calculations. Second, why has the contractor not dealt with this sound level situation before? Even if it is a brand new building code requirement, my understanding it that local governments send notice to contractors and have meetings to update then on pending changes.

"I've seen a single 2 ton unit do the job on a house the same size as yours."

I would be interested in seeing the Manual J calculation showing a 3100 sq. foot house with a sensible and latent heat load of less than 24,000 BTU. Can you post any details?

We don't know the full story on who is determining the size of the AC units. The buyers may be requesting the units be over sized.

I think the buyers want the units placed on the sides of the house rather than the back. I assume the lot is narrow and the houses are close to each other. This is probably the reason for the sound limitation.

Look and see what the neighbors are using.

Make sure an accurate load calculation is performed..

http://acrightsize.com/files/elephant_in_the_room.pdf

3200sqft on a 2 ton system.

'http://acrightsize.com/files/elephant_in_the_room.pdf
3200sqft on a 2 ton system."

I read the article, but I don't see where it states a 3200 sq. ft. house can be cooled with a 2 ton AC system. Can you point to the page number and paragraph?

"I read the article, but I don't see where it states a 3200 sq. ft. house can be cooled with a 2 ton AC system. Can you point to the page number and paragraph?"

Page 7, "Outdated Training" second paragraph.

SR

I found it, thanks for pointing it out.

The article states the author lives in Arizona. It is possible to achieve the cooling load stated, but it is not your typical house construction. I agree with the article in that every installation should start with a proper load calculation.

The invention of the QUIET FENCE™ with exclusive Hushhh BloX® was
developed using the latest design and material technology to
dampen the noisy air conditioner and pool equipment. Placing Quiet Fence in front or around your unit will reduce the noise levels significantly. We recommend you follow our guidelines for placement to allow for proper air flow. Many homeowner have found Quiet Fence not only blocks the noise but stops landscape grass clipping from clogging the unit allowing for longevity. https://quietfence.com