How to make a generator quieter - 9 Ways That Work!

Wether you own a traditional portable generator or a quieter inverter generator, you might still have noise issues depending on where and when you're using the generator. This video will show you 9 ways to make your generator quieter for camping or home use.

You don't need to spend a lot of money making a portable generator quieter. Of course you could buy a generator quiet box which I cover in the video but there are easy and cheap ways to get good results.

Building a DIY quiet generator enclosure is one sure way to make your generator quieter. But you also don't even need to go that far, you can use just a couple of pieces of plywood and voila, ill show you how to do this in the video.

Here are the recommended products I talk in this video to make a portable generator quieter. The first items is what you will need to build your very own generator quiet enclosure.

Bear in mind that some of the links in this video are affiliate links, and if you go through them to make a purchase, I will earn a commission. Keep in mind that I link these companies and their products because of their quality and not because of the commission I receive from your purchases. The decision is yours, and whether or not you decide to buy something is completely up to you.

Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational,​ or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.

Thank You for watching.

[wetsu]

When I was in the military while in the field we used generators. To quiet them, you dig a small hole and surround it with filled sand bags, little higher than the generator
. Totally absorbed the sound!

[jtbrower]

Thank you for sharing this nice video. I apologize if someone else already mentioned what I am about to say because there are currently 397 comments to dig through. People need to be careful modifying the exhaust systems on an engine. All engines have an ideal amount of back pressure required to achieve the most power at the least amount of heat out of the engine while compromising a bit of power loss for noise reduction. There is usually a sweet spot that the engineers already hit for you. Maximize power, reduce heat and decrease noise. When you add another muffler you could be significantly increasing the backpressure on the exhaust port of the cylinder(s). This will reduce power and can also affect carburetor jetting efficiency.

The noise mat and sound suppression box are a great approach so long as the engine has proper ventilation. If you stick it in a box, the oxygen level in that box will drop and that will cause the engine to run richer in fuel. So assuring the air intake at the air filter is closest to or outside of the box would be best.

All of the better engine companies do extensive testing to maximize the output of their engines. When they run their tests they do so in varying environments such as high altitude, cold climate, hot climates. However they do not assume someone is going to put the engine inside of a box and this could have a detrimental impact on the engines lifespan / fuel consumption and performance. Ok, preaching over with now.

[bennyl]

Thank you so much. I just got a new generator, well to be honest a friend bought it for us. It's very noisy. I was looking for some ideas to build a box or shed to sound proof and to weather proof the generator. I'm new to the generator world didn't have a clue on what to expect.
You gave me some good info. Thank you!

[soundproofguide]

All the recommended soundproofing products I talk about in this video can be found in the description of this video. Don't forget to SHARE, LIKE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE. Doing this really helps small channels like mine to have a chance on YouTube. Thank you!

[Cammi_Rosalie]

I used to have one of those 2-stroke, 800 watt Harbor Freight generators. Chincy little thing, but it worked quite well for running some lights and fans during camping on hot summer nights.
I put the 'genny about 100 feet away, over a hill. Then a 10 foot long bit of electrical conduit large enough to slip over the little exhaust outlet with the spark-screen in it.
A small hook clamped about 5 feet down the pipe where a bungee with a metal hook was connected, then the other end connected to the frame of the 'genny to keep the pipe tight against the exhaust. Finally, a Y-shaped branch jammed firmly into the ground to support the far end of the pipe. By the time the exhaust had exited the pipe, it was barely warm. All that, and a few bits of wood stacked as mentioned. This was in a state park campsite. During the still hours of the night I could just barely hear the 'genny. I asked neighboring campers if they heard anything, and if so, if it was bothersome. Nobody, not even the park rangers could tell that it was a generator only 100 feet away. It sounded pretty much like a window air conditioner running across the street. With little load, one full tank lasted all night, and long enough into the morning to make coffee. I sold it to my brother 10 years ago. He still uses it on jobs.
Now I have an inverter 'genny. I still use the stacked wood method, but with 2 inch thick, rubberized-coated Styrofoam insulation boards rather than plywood. (Leaving openings for air and fully open on the exhaust end) Cant hear the thing at all.
ALWAYS.. ALWAYS! Secure your 'genny with a lock and chain around a tree at least 6 inches thick. Junkies & crackheads are everywhere trying to steal anything to sell for their next hit.
CHAIN IT UP!

[nickholman]

quick safety tip. I work on powerlines and during storm restoration we love to be able to hear a generator running. If a generator is incorrectly installed it can backfeed the high voltage and kill us. When we hear it, we know to be more wary. Great vid!

TLDR: keep it loud after a storm.

[Thepavlo]

very interesting information there! Thanks

[MagentaRV]

I always advise against #4 - car muffler. It doesn't make a significant difference AND more importantly it'll increase the back pressure on the engine causing premature failure.

[chadjones]

Battery powered fan to keep the generator cool. WTF ..its a generator it makes electricity... just plug fan into it

[wantseeall]

I've used the plywood method. It works great during the hunting season.

[davecollier]

Quieting things is really important to me! Thank you

[LandXplorer]

I just dug 4 feet below ground and covered with plywood it worked and cheap

[MuhammadAli-HD]

I was worried about my Gen noise....thnx for a productive video.

[PCJEFF]

Yes, point the exhaust toward your neighbor's house!

[JoeCubicle]

Nice video. Lots of good information. Thanks!

[PJ-eemc]

Thank you for your very nicely produced video and for all of your helpful tips.

[Retiredkiwi]

I tried an extra muffler i had lying around first, on my Chinese 5kw diesel, but made very little difference to noise outside(generator was in garage with exhaust going thru wall outside). So found a 2 meter long piece of old lead bath drain pipe i had lying around, and attached that instead, worked well, without a meter to test though, but seemed like about 50% reduction.

[aray]

Who in the hell would spend $1000 on a box for a 2200W portable generator that costs $500? Those Zombie Boxes are insanely priced.

[SpaceMonkey]

Umm I don't think you need a battery powered fan if you are running a generator. Just plug it into the generator (roughly a 100 watts depending on the size of the fan)

[dirtsailoroff-road]

I seen a test of a car muffler on a generator before and after and it took the sound from 68db to 62db. actually quite respectable