See also: Noise Enforcement, Noise Variances Seattle’s Noise Ordinance contains rules to minimize Seattle resident's exposure to excessive noise. Under the ordinance, we screen commercial projects during plan or permit review for potential permanent mechanical and recurrent noise issues associated with using and maintaining your facility. We require mitigation measures for major noise generators for such projects. Some construction projects may also have land use permit or State Environmental Protection Act (SEPA) noise restrictions. If you have a concern about construction noise, noise from mechanical equipment, or a commercial facility in the Seattle city limits, you may file a complaint with us or discuss it with one of our noise control specialists. In general, you can do construction work: If your construction and maintenance activities are within multifamily and neighborhood commercial zones (Lowrise, Midrise, Highrise, Residential Commercial and Neighborhood Commercial) you can work:

Your impact construction work (pile driving, jackhammers, etc.) is limited to: *Legal holidays are New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Day after Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day. We do not enforce the Seattle Municipal Code sections that cover loud noises from horns or sirens, motor vehicles, musical instruments, human voices, car stereos, watercraft, or official special events. Contact the Seattle Police Department, (206) 625-5011, for these types of noise problems. For barking dogs and other animal noise, call the Seattle Animal Shelter at (206) 386-7387.What should you be looking for before throwing your hard-earned money at a particular air conditioner rather than the model next to it on the shelf? It’s in your interest to find out before you start shopping – especially if you are not dealing with a specialized retailer. Three characteristics to considerWhichever type of air conditioner you choose, you’ll want to consider three technical aspects above all others: power, energy consumption and operating noise level.

PowerRule number one: a smaller unit that runs for a longer period of time is more efficient than a more powerful air conditioner that stops and starts often. Longer operating cycles mean lower humidity levels in the house – a key factor in comfort and air quality. With the right size of air conditioner, relative humidity can be maintained at between 30% and 50%. Energy efficiencyThe next important criterion is the unit’s energy performance. The EnerGuide label on every air conditioner provides information about its efficiency, and the unit’s SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) rating measures performance. The higher the rating, the less energy the device will consume. This number is extremely useful for deciding between two products with similar features. A product bearing the ENERGY STAR symbol, meanwhile, is guaranteed to meet the most stringent energy-efficiency standards. Currently, products that are ENERGY STAR–approved must have a SEER of at least 14, but there are air conditioners on the market with a SEER of 21!

Noise levelThe final rule of thumb is to make sure the type of unit and the noise level it produces respect municipal bylaws – or, if applicable, your building regulations. ac unit running but no fanA good benchmark: your peace and quiet (and that of your neighbours!) will be threatened if the unit’s noise level is higher than 80 decibels. air conditioning unit automotiveEvery air conditioner’s specifications sheet lists its noise rating.what causes an ac unit to ice upThe air conditioner you need depends on the space that needs to be cooled. A room air conditioner is generally enough to cool one or two average-sized rooms (100 to 550 ft2, 5,000 to 12,000 Btu/h). To cool an entire house, though, you’ll need a central air conditioner, which is much more expensive.

Room air conditionersFor smaller areas, a window-mounted air conditioner is a money-saving, practical solution, especially if you rent an apartment. However, these units tend to be noisy, will block part of a window, and must be stored each winter and reinstalled in the spring. Prices start at $300. A wall-mounted air conditioner normally costs more, but is quieter. It must be installed in a metal sleeve in an outside wall of the home. A mobile or portable air conditioner with a similar power rating costs more and won’t be as efficient. These units are wheeled. You’ll need to install a hose to carry warm air (created by the unit) to the outside, and regularly drain the water tank that collects condensate. Central air conditionersSome units are designed to cool large homes that are not equipped with a duct system (forced-air heating). - A split-system air conditioner includes a compressor and condenser   installed outside the house and one or more indoor heat exchangers (coils)   centrally located near the ceilings of the rooms to be cooled.

The cooling   power can range from 9,000 to more than 35,000 Btu/h.   Prices start around $2,500.- Cassette ceiling-mounted air conditioning units are installed in the attic   space and distribute cooled air through flexible ducting to ceiling-mounted   grilles in several rooms. The system’s location makes it hard to get to and   therefore complicates maintenance. Other negative aspects include the risk  of air leakage through the ceiling and of condensation in the ducts.   Other central systems are designed to connect to ductwork. Their cooling capacity can be as high as five tonnes, or 60,000 Btu/h!- A central heat pump’s main distinguishing feature is that it does double   duty, cooling air in the summer, and heating it during the winter months.   These systems are costly, can be fairly noisy, and feature a bulky unit that   sits outside the house. Beware of dealers promising substantial savings   with such systems. Prices start at around $4,000.- Just as powerful and efficient is a central air conditioner system, with a   condenser located outside the house and an evaporator unit inside,   connected to the central heating system so that cool air can be distributed   to all rooms through the ventilation ducts.

Renting cool airAnother option is to rent a vertical or horizontal window-mounted air conditioner, or a portable model, for the summer season. Depending on the exact model, the typical cost for a horizontal window-mounted unit rated at 10,000 Btu/h, rented for five to six months, is around $250 to $350. The warranty is a good indicatorThe best products on the market generally come with excellent warranties. What to look for: - Window- or wall-mounted: Five years, parts and labour.- Split system: Five years, parts and labour; ten years for the condenser.- Other central systems: Ten years, parts and labour. Avoid very-low-cost units with a one-year warranty; if something goes wrong after two or three years, the replacement parts often can no longer be found on the market. Smart shopping techniques:- Shop in the off-season. - Contacting the Régie du bâtiment du Québec to check whether a particular  installer is properly qualified.- Consult the Office de la protection du consommateur website to find out the  number and nature of complaints, if any, that have been lodged against a  particular company.- Do business with a CAA-Quebec Approved Supplier.