Noisy Air Pump

[dylanf]

Hi.

I've just stolen my sisters unused air pump, however its proving to be very noise. Ive searched this forum for DIY air pump silencers, but the problem is not silencing the air pump, is the noice travelling through the air tube and making a noise in the tank.

Ive managed to open the air pump up and shuv some elastic band in it to slow the small hammer from going backwards and forwards. However, does anyone know a better way?

Cheers

 

[Tolak]

Ideally, a gang valve is used to slow down the flow. Cheap way is to tie a loose knot in the tubing, adjust the tightness of the knot to adjust the air flow. If that much noise is being created by the pump, try a longer length of tubing, similar to a longer exhaust on a car, vs a shorter one. Short, open headers on a car are loud as hell, a longer exhaust system reaching to the back is much quieter.

Tolak

 

[Rooster]

I guess a lot of folk restrict the airflow by using a valve (or in days of old, a clamp) to RESTRICT the air to an airstone, filter or whatever.... this leads to an increase of pressure at the pump.

Far better to use a bleed valve (valve or clamp fitted to a "T" piece with one end open to the air) this way you are venting the unwanted air, not holding it back !

Cheap air pumps work by means of a small rubber (read plastic !) bellows attached to a magnet, which oscillates against the AC mains in a nearby coil... when the pump is straining, the magnet knocks against the casing... increasing the noise.

 

[rdd1952]

There's not much you can do to quieten one. I have found that it is better to spend a little extra money (I know you said you got this one from your sister) and get a better quality one. I went through that before I got my first Rena air pump. Since then, that's all I have bought. Now own 5 of them. They are dead silent.

 

[Wit]

Not sure if your on about the pump vibrating to much but try a foam pad under the pump and check to see if your tube is resting on something and causing the noise. Remember sound travels and you could be looking/listening in the wrong place.