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How to reduce the noise from a pool pump?


A sound pressure of more than 90 decibels (dB) is just about average for the noise level emitted by a pool pump and quite common. And that while swimming pools are the very symbol of relaxation and should by no means be a source of unnecessary noise. But no pool without a pump! So what can you do to make the pool pump quieter?

soniflex has put a lot of thought into this issue and developed an easy-to-implement solution: A do-it-yourself design for a noise-reducing enclosure that you can build around the pool pump to make it quieter. Can such a DIY construction really effectively reduce the poolside noise level? Of course, and we'll show you how to do it - step by step!

Our most popular products for this use case

Cut of a soni RESIST sound insulation panel Cut of a soni RESIST sound insulation panel
soni RESIST
Color: black | Rear face: not self-adhesive (nk) | Thickness: 25 mm
Ordering acoustic panels from soniflex Our soni RESIST noise protection panel consists of closed-cell polyethylene foam with both sound-insulating and sound-absorbing properties. Its closed-cell structure makes soni RESIST especially suitable for applications where it may come into contact with moisture or humidity. The extremely robust and impact-resistant sound-insulation material does not constitute a medium for microorganism growth and can be wet-cleaned if necessary. soni RESIST is flame-retardant according to DIN 4102, as proven under B1 test conditions. Therefore the product is an excellent noise-control solution wherever you need to reduce the sound level with materials that meet strict fire safety regulations. Furthermore, soni RESIST ceiling and wall elements meet the ball impact resistance requirements of DIN 18032-3, making them ideal for noise reduction in sports halls and sports halls. The use of soni RESIST The optional self-adhesive rear face facilitates the installation of the panels. When mounted overhead or on uneven surfaces, (additional) mechanical fixation is required.

Content: 0.5 m² (€35.80* / 1 m²)

€17.90*
3 sound insulation panels in size A4 in different colors 3 sound insulation panels in size A4 in different colors
soni COMPOSITE
soni COMPOSITE sound insulation mat – effective sound insulation and sound absorption in one product The soni COMPOSITE sound insulation mat from soniflex is a highly effective combination of sound insulation and sound absorption. This acoustic product consists of a heavy plastic film (soni EVA) and high-quality acoustic foam with a decorative felt surface. This intelligent combination of materials reduces both airborne and structure-borne noise, resulting in a noticeable reduction in noise levels – ideal for use in living spaces, offices, workshops or technical facilities. Double effect – sound absorption & sound insulation While the soni EVA heavy-duty film reliably reduces sound penetration, the open-pored acoustic foam layer absorbs the sound within the room. This dampens the noise at its source and prevents it from spreading – a real advantage over single-layer materials. Typical areas of application: ✔ Partition walls & neighbouring walls in flats and offices ✔ Machine cladding & engine rooms ✔ Workshops & technical rooms ✔ Suspended ceilings & drywall constructions ✔ Music rooms & recording studios Use of soni COMPOSITE – versatile & effective The soni COMPOSITE sound insulation mat is particularly suitable for soundproofing walls and ceilings. Installed, for example, on the wall separating you from your neighbours or behind a facing shell, the material significantly reduces disturbing noises and ensures pleasant room acoustics. Thanks to its decorative felt surface, soni COMPOSITE is available in a range of colours – ideal when function and design are equally important. Easy processing & secure installation Processing soni COMPOSITE is straightforward and does not require any special tools: ✔ The mat can be cut to size precisely using a craft knife or scissors. ✔ The self-adhesive backing serves as an installation aid – however, mechanical fastening (e.g. screws, press studs or strips) is recommended for permanent attachment,     especially on vertical surfaces or for ceiling installation. ✔ Ensure that the substrate is dry, dust-free and smooth to ensure optimum adhesion. If necessary, you can cut soni COMPOSITE to the desired size with a craft knife. The self-adhesive backing serves as an installation aid. Tip: To create a clean finish at the joints, you can cover them with a wooden strip (8–10 cm wide) – this ensures a neat appearance and provides additional support. Safety & quality – tested for professional use soni COMPOSITE materials are age-resistant, moisture-resistant and free of fibres that are harmful to health. This makes this sound insulation mat a durable and safe solution for effective noise protection in both private and commercial areas.

Content: 0.5 m² (€59.80* / 1 m²)

Variants from €32.90*
€29.90*
Details
Tip
Section of a PUR foam panel with nub shape Section of a PUR foam panel with nub shape
soni WAVE
soni WAVE – High-quality convoluted foam for optimum sound absorption Order convoluted foam from soniflex Our soni WAVE convoluted foam is a highly effective noise protection product made from moulded PUR foam. Sound waves are effectively absorbed by the air-permeable sealed surface (patented process). At the same time, the foam is oil, water and fuel repellent, making it robust, durable and versatile. Areas of application for soni WAVE convex foam Thanks to its wavy, visually appealing structure, excellent absorption values are achieved in all frequency ranges. soni WAVE is a special type of acoustic convex foam and is used particularly in the following areas: ✔ Technology and industry: Enclosures for machines, equipment housings and control cabinets ✔ Recording studios and music rehearsal rooms: Reduction of reverberation and background noise for better sound quality ✔ Room acoustics in general: Improved speech intelligibility and noise reduction in production halls, offices or workshops The wavy surface not only ensures excellent sound absorption, but also gives rooms a professional, modern appearance. Easy installation and processing soni WAVE can be easily cut to the desired size with a craft knife. Its low weight and optional self-adhesive backing enable quick and clean installation. To attach the non-self-adhesive version of the acoustic panel, we recommend our soni SPECIAL ADHESIVE. Advantages of soni WAVE at a glance ✔ High-quality acoustic dimpled foam made of PUR ✔ Effective sound absorption in all frequency ranges ✔ Oil, water and fuel repellent ✔ Robust, durable surface ✔ Easy installation with a craft knife or self-adhesive backing ✔ Ideal for machine cladding, recording studios and technical applications

Content: 0.5 m² (€19.80* / 1 m²)

Variants from €11.90*
€9.90*
Details
Puzzle-Teil einer soni RESIST Box Puzzle-Teil einer soni RESIST Box
soni RESIST Box UV - Single Element
Color: black | Size: 944 x 500 mm
Easy assembly – modular use soni RESIST Box are sheets for a customizable noise-control box that assembles in just a few minutes. The interlocking acoustic elements are made of a closed-cell polyethylene foam. They are available in two different sizes and can be joined quickly and easily. The excellent sound-insulating and sound-absorbing properties of the material make the soni RESIST Box perfect for use as a versatile compressor enclosure. Please note: What we offer here is not a complete box, but individual noise-protection elements with which you can assemble a sound-insulation box. Please order the required number of elements (at least 5). Uses for the soni RESIST box UV For pool pumps and heat pumps that are exposed to the weather, the special version soni RESIST Box UV is a practical and effective noise-control solution thanks to the UV stability of its acoustic elements.Please note: For permanent outdoor use, wind loads and severe weather conditions must be taken into account. Additional securing, e.g. with a wooden box, might be necessary.

Variants from €17.90*
€33.90*

Do you need help choosing
the right products?


Holzbox als Schalldämmeinhausung
Mann baut Schalldämmhaube aus Holz
Schalldämmhaube aus Holz mit Schalldämmplatten ausgekleidet
Messgerät für akustische Messungen

Installation

On request, nearly all our products can be delivered with self-adhesive rear faces, enabling easy, clean and time-saving installation – perfect for retrofit applications in rooms that are already in use.

Noise control

Thanks to their open-cell structure, our noise protection materials absorb sound waves and effectively attenuate bothering noise. A satisfactory result can already be achieved by lining 30 to 50 % of the ceiling and wall surfaces.

Fire protection

Many of our noise-control products are classified as flame-retardant according to DIN 4102 or DIN EN 13501. Please contact your local authorities in advance for information about the required fire protection class.

Holzbox als Schalldämmeinhausung

Step 1: Adapt the enclosure design to your needs

We have designed a model enclosure, tested its functionality and came up with a great result: Without our enclosure, the motor of our pool pump generates a sound pressure of 95.4 dB, with our enclosure only 78.5 dB - almost 17 dB lower!

So that you too can benefit from our design idea, we will show you how to implement it yourself in just a few steps. You can copy the design almost 1:1, you only have to adapt it to the dimensions of your pool pump or other noisy device. Very important for planning your project: Remember to decouple the generator acoustically from the ground. To do this, place the generator on an elastic base material, otherwise the sound will be transmitted to the construction in the form structure-borne noise.


Click here for our YouTube video on building a DIY enclosure for a pool pump, compressor, etc.


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Step 2: Choose suitable building materials

The soundproofing enclosure for a compressor or a pump should have a distance of approx. 30 cm to the device - to allow, among other things, for the heat usually developed by such devices. A 1.5-mm thick steel sheet will provide better insulation values than wood. However, since most users will find it easier to work with wood, we recommend chipboard (thickness: 19 mm or more), which has (almost) the same insulation effect.

Expert advice: The construction must be closed all around, as even small direct openings will considerably weaken the sound insulation effect. Any necessary openings should be designed as sound attenuation channels, i.e. be equipped with an extra element that is lined with acoustic material and redirects the sound waves at least once.

Step 3: Choosing the right material for lining the enclosure

For silencing your pool pump or compressor, the lining of the enclosure plays a particularly important role. You have the choice among several soniflex products, each with its specific advantages, tailored to your needs. For such projects, we recommend our products soni COMPOSITE, soni RESIST and soni WAVE.

soni COMPOSITE consists of a synthetic heavy layer (3kg/m²) and a polyurethane acoustic foam layer, laminated with a non-woven. The heavy layer serves to increase the structure’s mass (higher mass means enhanced sound insulation). The foam serves as sound attenuation layer, i.e. absorbs sound waves. To facilitate the installation of
soni COMPOSITE, we have equipped it with a self-adhesive backing. So the panels can first be glued to the smooth surfaces before being fastened mechanically in addition, to allow for their high weight.

As an especially cost-effective alternative for lining an enclosure we offer soni WAVE, which consists of a PUR foam. The wave-shaped surface achieves excellent sound absorption values in all frequency ranges. Unlike soni COMPOSITE, soni WAVE does not include a heavy layer for an additional sound insulation effect.

If fire safety or resistance to moisture / humidity are to be considered, soni RESIST is an attractive option. soni RESIST consists of a closed-cell polyethylene foam with both sound-insulating and sound-absorbing properties. The material meets the requirements of DIN 4102 and the B1 test, which means that it is classified as flame-retardant. Its closed cell structure makes soni RESIST especially suitable for applications where the material may come into contact with moisture or humidity.

Schalldämmplatten als Zuschnitte
Schalldämmhaube aus Holz mit Schalldämmplatten ausgekleidet

Step 4: Start building

Have you chosen and bought all materials needed? Then you can start building the structure that will make your pool pump quieter. For successful completion of the project you need the following elements: 1x base, 1x top lid, 2x side walls, 4x “halves” for front and rear walls, 2x offset elements to place before the openings.

After cutting the elements to size, drill pilot holes in the side walls and the base to facilitate fastening the other components with screws, as shown in the picture.

Once this frame is completed, take exact measurements to determine the dimensions for the insulation material and cut it to size. As our products soni COMPOSITE, soni WAVE and soni RESIST are self-adhesive, you can simply glue the cut-to-size elements to the inside of the enclosure.

After lining the enclosure with the acoustically effective layer, you can install the two offset walls and fit them too with the soundproofing material. We recommend fixing the offset walls to the front and rear wall halves with the help of spacer screws to keep them securely in place.

Practical tip: If you do not have the tools or the time to build a wooden enclosure, we suggest our soni RESIST Box UV as a convenient and easy-to-install alternative. The soni RESIST Box is a modular set of acoustic elements from which to assemble a custom-tailored sound insulation box in just a few minutes. The acoustic elements are made of closed-cell polyethylene foam and are available in two different sizes. You can simply plug them together like puzzle pieces to create the soundproofing box.

Thanks to its excellent sound-insulating and sound-absorbing effect, the soni RESIST Box is often used as an enclosure for compressors. But it is also perfect for making a pool pump quieter, even in cases where it is exposed to the weather.

Please note: The extent (as measured in dB) to which the sound level will be reduced in your use case depends on the initial situation (specific application, initial sound level, frequency range of the noise, etc.). Hence it is not possible to predict an exact value.