We’re exposed to a variety of sounds each day. Some are enticing, like music to our ears. Others are like fingernails down the chalkboard. While at the AHR Expo in Orlando a few months ago, I ran into Art Miller from RSES (Refrigeration Service Engineers Society) and had a great chat about how sound is a forgotten aspect of comfort.
As we talked, we noted that one definition of comfort is when you don’t know the HVAC system is running. It maintains comfort, and you don’t hear any HVAC system noise. Unfortunately, many people know the second their system comes on, and it’s a major pain in their lives. If you’ve ever tried sleeping in a hotel room with a PTAC (packaged terminal air conditioner) that sounds like it will vibrate out of the wall, you know what I mean.