How to reduce noise from apartment AC units in front of window

A heavy lined drape will help a little. Your best bet would be insulated windows...but you can't do this in an apartment.

If it is only 1 window, place a large tall piece of furniture in front of it.

Consider asking management to replace this window with a triple glass window. Listening to one unit cycle on and off is bad enough, but to have at least FOUR outside your window is insane.... especially if this is your bedroom window. Also, this probably is not 'just a summer problem'... the units probably provide both air and heat.

I agree. Will ask them on both issues. Thanks.

When your lease is up, move to another apartment! LOL Putting all of those right under 1 window is cruelty!!!

Yes moving for sure and should have signed a six month lease for $50 extra. Going out to buy an inside lined curtain for that window. my portable fan helps and moved my chest to totally cover the bottom half of that window so I think noise will be reduced. I’m in a studio apartment and sleep in living room. I saw those AC units in front of that window but never thought much about it till my first night. What a mistake. I need to be on first floor cause I’m handicapped. Should have never sold my house in Vegas. This AC noise problem along with the heavy footer upstairs are killers- never again. Thanks.

Thanks Jeanette. the black panel noise reducer curtain helps. I got a set for the patio glass doors too. I will save on heat and air conditioning coats. I actually slept pretty well last night. I did visit the leasing office and complained about it but they don’t seem to want to do anything other than a check for a whining noise coming from one of them. it sounded like an animal in my apartment. it would be costly for them to change the windows. These apartments aren’t updated either. So sad, a nice area too. I won’t be renewing my lease!

Simple things to make them more efficient and run less such as keeping the weeds and other plants away from them. Spray with 409 and rinse the coils so they perform better. I see a fence partially around them to hide them, which is not uncommon, but if it blocks to much air flow, it will make the units run longer and more often to achieve the same cooling. The fence should have gaps to allow airflow, which will save cooling costs.

The other thing to do is create a sound baffle. The curtain helps with this. But will only do so much. You can use foam board, insulation board, 2x4 acoustic ceiling panels, egg crate sleeping pads, wall insulation or even corrugated cardboard to create the sound baffle. I would take the Blinds down and fill the window with 2 too three inches of sound baffle material and keep the curtain to make it more attractive.

Heavy curtains. Had you thought to ask the AC company what they could suggest, your call won't be the first time they have been asked, I'm sure!