Today’s consumers want HVAC systems to provide comfort and reliability while maintaining energy efficiency. What they don’t want is to hear about it. According to a Consumer Reports survey, “how quietly [an HVAC system] runs is first on the list” in terms of “what our members consider when they say they are extremely likely to recommend their central AC systems to friends and family.” So, whether a system is designed for commercial or residential use, HVAC manufacturers need to find ways to make systems quieter to meet consumer demands. To that end, flexible adhesive tapes and custom gaskets can be a useful way to mitigate vibration and stop unwanted noise. Let’s explore how adhesives can help HVAC manufacturers reduce noise and vibration in HVAC systems.

More durable panel and component bonding

HVAC manufacturers use a range of approaches to bond panels and other components within HVAC systems. But despite their best efforts, these components can loosen over the life of the system due to normal operations and predictable wear and tear. When this happens, they can vibrate or hit against one another and cause noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) issues that create unwanted noise and negatively impact the user experience. But adhesives like VHB tape and adhesive transfer tape can eliminate NVH challenges (often referred to as buzz, squeak, and rattle (BSR) issues) by providing effective and economical permanent bonding solutions.

The bond strength of VHB tape actually increases over time, so panels stay securely in place for the life of the system. Adhesive tapes are also useful for bonding components with dissimilar substrates or materials that have low surface energy. Saunders can die-cut a wide range of adhesive materials to our customers’ exact specifications to speed up assembly time and eliminate the noise caused by component vibration.

For more insights on how adhesives and converting solutions add value to HVAC manufacturing operations, download our free eBook: The Benefits of Adhesive Tapes in HVAC Manufacturing. [[ADD LINK WHEN EBOOK IS LIVE]]

Eliminate rivets and mechanical fasteners

Many HVAC manufacturers use screws, rivets, bolts, or other mechanical fasteners to secure panels and other components in place. But these solutions are problematic on a number of fronts. For starters, it can take a significant amount of time to manually install perhaps dozens of screws on a single panel, slowing production time and delaying delivery of HVAC projects. Also, metal fasteners can rust or otherwise loosen over time, jeopardizing performance and leading to unwanted noise.

Flexible adhesives, on the other hand, provide durable bonding that won’t come loose or erode over time. Saunders offers many adhesives that can withstand extreme heat and cold, as well as fluctuating temperatures without losing bond strength. Also, adhesive tapes are faster to apply in the manufacturing environment, speeding up project delivery while also lowering the total weight of HVAC systems.

Custom gasketing solutions for HVAC applications

Custom gaskets can be another effective way to reduce noise and vibration in HVAC systems. Whether they are used to dampen vibration between mating components or improve ingress protection to prolong the life of the system, custom gaskets can be a cost-effective way to eliminate the issues that contribute to unwanted noise in HVAC systems.

Saunders can produce custom gaskets to exact specifications with tight tolerances using a wide variety of gasketing materials, including silicone, EPDM, polyurethane, urethane, natural rubber, and more. We can also add adhesives to custom gaskets to create ready-to-assemble solutions that help accelerate the production cycle for HVAC manufacturers.

Why HVAC manufacturers choose Saunders

Saunders engineers are well-versed in the particular challenges facing HVAC manufacturers and have helped many of our partners in the industry create effective NVH/BSR solutions. We use our expansive converting capabilities and partnerships with major materials suppliers to quickly source and convert adhesive materials to help make HVAC systems quieter and more energy efficient.

Ready to launch your next HVAC project? Request a quote or contact Saunders to learn more about our tape-converting services and how we can add value to your HVAC manufacturing operation.