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If you have a water pump, you know how it can be annoying. However, you can easily soundproof it. You don’t need to live with irritating vibrations or loud noises. In fact, the soundproofing water pump is very easy. You can eliminate over 70% of the sound produced by your water pump.
We have tried the following soundproofing techniques in our home. They have all worked well in soundproofing our water pump.
Types of Noises Produced by A Water Pump
Before thinking of reducing the water pump noise, it’s essential first to understand the nature of the sound you are dealing with. You cannot deal with any problem if you don’t understand it well. Therefore, understand the kind of noise produced by your water pump.
Water pump produces two types of noises.
- Airborne noise
- Vibration noise
Understand which noise is affecting you and soundproof it.
Water Pump Airborne Noise
Airborne noise is produced as a result of the pump mechanism. The noise travels easily through the air. Hence the reason name airborne noise.
To determine whether your water pump is producing airborne noise, just listen. Listen to the noise frequency. Listen whether it’s high-frequency or mid noise. The noise is only traveling through the air. If you hear any of these signs, know it’s an airborne noise.
Airborne noise does not cause vibrations over dry surfaces. It also produces sound echoes when it hits on dry surfaces. Therefore, you can easily insulate by using sound absorption or blocking materials.
Vibration Noise
Vibration noise is also known as structure-borne or impact noise. It is the kind of noise produced by the vibrations of the water pump. The noise comes from vibration through ceiling, walls, floors and any other solid structure where the pump is installed. It’s extremely annoying noise that travels through the solid structure. However, the sound is easy to soundproof as compared to any other sound nature.
To determine if your pump is producing vibration noise, listen as you have listened to airborne noise. You will note the difference. The vibration noise does not come directly from the water pump. It comes from the structures on which the water pump is installed.
If you notice vibration noise from your water pump, inspect it. Check the alignment and unbalance. The unbalance is most likely to malfunction in water pumps. Therefore, check it first. After that, check the alignment. It’s another reason why your pump will vibrate against solid surfaces. Misalignment causes radical force that put pressure on the pump bearings.
Deal the Noise Coming from Your Water Pump
After identifying the nature of the noise produced by your pump soundproof it. However, before soundproofing ensure it’s not a sign of a problem with your water pump. This is the reason it’s crucial to inspect the sound before soundproofing.
If there is a problem with your water pump, fix it. Find a professional who will help you in fixing the issue. If there is no problem, go ahead and soundproof the noise.
1. Construct a Soundproofing Pump Box
It’s simple to build your soundproofing box. You need ply boards, and nails or screws or glue. Start by measuring the dimensions of your water pump. After measuring the dimension, cut plywoods of respective sizes and join them. Make a box that is open from the bottom but closed on all sides.
Ply boards absorb up to 50% of the total noise produced by your water pump.
After joining together the box, install sound-absorbing materials on the inside of the box. Buy sound deadening foams from amazon and fix them. The following are the best materials that you should buy and install them.
[asa2 tpl=”Flat_box_horizontal”]B00020CB2S[/asa2]- 80 mil 36 sqft
- car Sound deadening mat,
- Audio Noise Insulation and dampening
- Butyl Automotive Sound Deadener.
- 12″ x 36″ x 0.067″ Thick
- Self-Adhesive
- Sound Deadener with Xtreme Door Kit
- Single Sheet, 2 Sq FT, 24″ x 12″
- Black Aluminum with Self Adhesive (peel off) Butyl Rubber Backing
- Wholesale product, Bulk Packed
- Folded 2 times (into 3rds)
- Includes installation instruction sheet
- 36 sqft car Sound deadening mat,
- Butyl Automotive Sound Deadener,
- Audio Noise Insulation and dampening
- 36 sqft
- Сar Waterproof Sound Insulation,
- Heat and Cool Liner,
- Self-Adhesive Closed Cell PE Foam Deadening Material
- 1/6” Thick Sound Deadener
We recommend you to buy Dynamat for effectiveness. It’s odorless. It also cuts more noise as compared to the other soundproofing mats. And above all, it works perfectly with different temperatures. It doesn’t melt when exposed to high temperatures.
However, if you are on a budget, you can buy Naico or Fatmat. They will also soundproof your water pump noise although they won’t work perfectly like Dynamat.
For more information about absorption, mats check our two articles on Fatmat vs Dynamat and Noico comparison with Dynamat.
After installing soundproofing mats in the box, it will be ready to use.
2. Install Rubber Feet on Your Water Pump
This is the best way to reduce vibration noise from your water pump. If the vibration effect is reduced, the overall noise will reduce also. So, don’t place the water pump directly to a wooden board or concrete. Avoid surfaces completely. They magnify vibration strength. Instead, place the pump on the ground. The earth will absorb vibration.[asa2_img img=”2″ size=”MediumImage” width=”350″ height=”350″ align=”right” show_title=”no” show_button=”no”]B01LYMZYOO[/asa2_img]
The best way is to put a rubber mat or anti-vibration pads under the water pump. The anti-vibration pads used on washing machines work perfectly on the pump. Water pump feet are similar to washing machine stands.
The anti-vibration pads absorb all vibration wave from the pump. As a result, your pump will not make noise through the solid structures in your home.
Check the following pads on Amazon.
Washer Dryer Shock Absorbing Pads
[asa2 tpl=”Flat_box_horizontal”]B01LYMZYOO[/asa2]- Pack of 4 Universal Anti-Walk Pads
- Excellent Shock Absorber
- Non-Skid Design
- sturdy and durable
- Made of recycled tire rubber
- Effective Anti-Vibration platform
- A pack of four
- Perfect for generators
- Absorbs vibrations
3. Fit Engine Silencers on Petrol or Diesel Water Pump
Silencers work the same with combustion engine mufflers in automotive engines. The silencers reduce the noise produced during combustion by the water pump engine.
Engine silencers are mainly into three categories. Every category determines the level of noise reduction applied to your water pump.
Reactive silencers: They should be connected by a tube to the engine exhaust. The muffler has three internal chambers. Exhaust noise bounces between the chambers and reduces the noise produced by the water pump. Reactive silencer should be used to reduce low to mid-level noise.
[asa2_img img=”1″ size=”MediumImage” width=”350″ height=”100″ align=”right” show_title=”no” show_button=”no”]B009ZSKNEG[/asa2_img]Absorptive Silencer: This is a silencer with E glass or fiberglass insulation in its internal construction. When connected to the water pump exhaust, it dampens the vibration and sound produced by the engine. Absorptive silencers are perfect for reducing the high-frequency noise level generators.
Combination silencer: As the name suggests, it combines the technology of absorptive and reactive silencers. It’s fixed like all the other silencers. Combination silencer reduces all levels of sound frequency from the water pumps.
Before, fixing any silencer on your water pump, consult your technician. We recommend the following silencers. They are all available on Amazon.
[asa2 tpl=”Flat_box_horizontal”]B009ZSKNEG[/asa2]- 18 Inches long
- Extension
- Coupler for Gen-Turi Generator Exhaust System
- Aluminized steel construction for corrosion resistance and durability
- Tube-and-partition style interior design
- Spot welded bushings provide stability and system support
- Provides installers
- Universal mufflers
4. Choose a Perfect Location for Your Water Pump
The location of your water pump is essential. It will determine the level of noise heard in your premises.
For the water pump should be placed away from living rooms or anywhere near people. If the pump has to be inside the house, put it in a separate room with thick walls.
Alternatively, place the water pumps behind huge barriers. The barriers will block all airborne noise and prevent it from causing disturbances to people.
Consider installing the water pump on a concrete base or paving slaps. They easily absorb vibration noises. The vibrations are not easily passed to the nearby rooms.
The bottom line is that your water pump should be placed in an area where it’s noise will cause less disturbance to people.
5. Continuously Maintain Your Water Pump
Some of the water pump noises are as a result of poor maintenance. Therefore, maintain your water pump regularly. However, this is not a soundproofing technique. It’s a prevention method. It will prevent the pump from making unwanted noises.
Periodically open the water pump. Lubricate the parts. Lubrication will eliminate jerk noise, which is a major cause of vibration noises from water pumps. Lubricate the rusted parts also.
Remember to tighten loose parts and bolts. This will reduce all crackling sounds.
6. Buy A Quieter Water Pump
There are two major types of water pumps. Electric and fuel water pumps. Electric pumps use electric energy to function. On the other hand, electric pumps have a combustion engine that uses gas to produce energy. The energy is then used by the generator to pump water.
Electric water pumps are generally quiet. Therefore, if you can, buy an electric water pump instead of a gas water pump.
However, there are also quieter gas pumps. Buy a water pump with inverter engine technology. Pumps with inverter technology produce less noise as compared to conventional generators.
Inverter engines produce approximately 300 dine waves on every engine rotation. This is less compared to conventional engines. If that sounds Greek to you, don’t worry. You don’t need to know the technical details. All you need to know is whether your pump engine has inverter technology or not. Inverter pump technologies have smaller engines. As a result, they feature a compact design, which is quieter.
7. Soundproof Your Premises
After you have done everything else to reduce the noise from your water pump, go ahead and soundproof your premises. If the generator is causing disturbances in your house, soundproof the house.
Block any air space where water pump noise might be passing through your house. Consider doing either of the following techniques in soundproofing your premises.
Soundproof your doors and windows: Hang soundproofing curtains or blankets on the door. Cover every gap that will allow the water pump noise into your premises. For more tips, check this article on soundproofing your doors. This technique will reduce all airborne noises from causing disturbances in your home.
Soundproof your wall: Vibration noise will easily enter into your premises through the wall. Thicken the wall or install sound-deadening materials. This technique will reduce the structural noise from your water pump.
Precautions When Soundproofing Your Water Pump
Soundproofing and reducing water pump noise is an excellent project. However, you need to be extra careful. Beware of the following caution measures. Stay safe when reducing water pump noise.
- Don’t use highly flammable material to cover or dampen water pump.
- Ensure there is enough air circulation to your water pump.
- Don’t block your fuel water pump exhaust pipe.
Parting Shot
Always inspect your water pump. Determine the nature of sound it produces before trying to soundproof it. Most important, maintain your water pump well. Lubricate all moving and rusty parts. This prevents the noise from your water pump. But if your water pump is noisy, go ahead and soundproof it. Apply the techniques recommended in this article.
Remember to buy quality materials for soundproofing on Amazon.
