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Aprilaire 865 experience with fan noise and air temp exhausting from fan?

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acustode
acustode Member Posts: 8
in Radiant Heating

Considering installing the Aprilaire 865 in my ranch style 2300sf home with radiant floor heat. I am sound sensitive. Specs say the fanpack is 49dB. Does anyone have first hand experience with:

  1. How loud/noticeable is the fan in your opinion? A computer fan? A bath exhaust fan? A box fan?
  2. Is the exhaust air coming from the fanpack warm to the touch, neutral to the touch, or cold?

I currently have the Aprilaire 300 evaporative whole house humidifier installed in my crawlspace and I feel like I'm airconditioning my home at the same time I'm trying to heat it which seems like a bad combo. I'm hoping the steam humidifier will be a better fit, IF the fanpack is quiet and IF the air coming out isn't cold.

Thanks for any experience out there!

Comments

  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 26,789

    for decibel levels, this chart:

    Noise Comparisons

    offers some idea as to what it might be like. Sound levels, though, are extremely subjective! It's not only the actual sound level — but how constant it is, and the pitch (if pitched), other noises…

    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
    acustodeBig Ed_4
  • EdTheHeaterMan
    EdTheHeaterMan Member Posts: 11,543
    edited December 16

    You will hear it when you first get it but it will blend in as not noticeable background noise eventually.

    I like to use a residential refrigerator for comparison

    A residential refrigerator compressor is generally fairly quiet, especially in modern units.

    Typical Noise Levels

    • ~35–45 dBA → common for newer, well-insulated refrigerators
    • ~45–50 dBA → older models or during brief start-up cycles
    • Above 50 dBA → usually indicates an issue (wear, vibration, poor leveling, or a failing compressor)

    And you don't even notice that the compressor turns on and off regularly, in most cases.

    As far as the temperature, it will be higher than the older Aprilaire 300 you are replacing. Steam is 212° F and when mixed with the ambient air will exit the fan warmer than the entering air. The 300 depends on evaporation. Evaporation usually has a cooling effect on the entering air.

    Hope this helps

    Edward Young Retired

    After you make that expensive repair and you still have the same problem, What will you check next?

    acustode
  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 15,444

    side note, older fridges usually are loud not because they were designed that way but because the bushings have rotted away and the compressor is now sitting directly on the frame.

    acustode

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