While some parts of running a company involve risk, even more of it involves careful planning and consideration. Making any change to your place of business, such as installing an air curtain, certainly merits a closer look at the pros and cons. When you choose to use an air curtain to maintain a pleasant atmosphere inside a restaurant, for example, the noise it generates may be of great concern to you. It’s naturally important to preserve the ambiance of the space and avoid interruptions every time someone enters the building.
Even in other applications, such as an air curtain over a walk-in freezer door, the noise level can be important. In a small space, for example, sounds become much louder; you wouldn’t want to expose your employees to such high noise levels. So, what do you need to know about air curtains in this regard?
Most installations offer pleasant, quiet operation
The good news is that this technology is not known for being very noisy, and the development of “whisper quiet” systems continues even now. A typical air curtain might output a sound level of around 50 decibels, which is roughly equivalent to a quiet day in a residential neighborhood or a normal level of indoor conversation. There are factors that can influence this, though. Covering larger spaces, for example, or choosing a model that can operate for longer periods of time can both yield a slightly louder experience.
However, in most cases, your guests or employees will barely notice as the device activates to create an invisible barrier with a gentle stream of air. Consider the fact as well that, especially for entrances, the air curtain will only operate for a few seconds while the door is open. Since it ceases operation immediately upon sensing the closing of the door, there is no unnecessary or extraneous noise. Overall, it is easy to forget they are even there.
Regular cleaning is a key to quiet operation
All this isn’t to say it’s impossible for an air curtain to be noisy; of course, some conditions can cause an elevated level of sound. Over time, as dust accumulates within the machine, the motor may need to work harder to push through the appropriate volume of air at the correct pressure. This extra work would correspond to an increase in its sound level, but the fix is simple — a quick cleaning and your unit will be back to its quiet, even operation.
Most manufacturers disclose the estimated operational sound levels of their products as part of the official specifications. However, generally one can expect that no air curtain will be excessively loud. If it is, it’s typically a sign of another problem at play. For that reason, they make an excellent and unobtrusive addition to your business. If you’d like to find out more about the sound levels produced by a particular model, or if you want to inquire further about this technology, please contact Air Distributors Today at 866-402-1642 or fill out our online contact form.
