Quiet mode makes an air conditioner run more softly by slowing the indoor fan, and on some units the compressor or outdoor fan too. The cost is less cooling, which Daikin, Fujitsu, MrCool and Midea all warn about. Use it when the room is already close to your set temperature, and switch back to normal cooling when it is hot.
Quiet mode makes an air conditioner run more softly by slowing the indoor fan, and on some units by slowing the compressor or the outdoor fan too. The trade-off is less cooling, and several manuals say so in plain words. Use it once the room is already close to the temperature you want, at night or on a call, and switch back to normal cooling when the room is hot.
How quiet mode works
Makers use different names and do different things under them. The manuals we opened split into three kinds of quiet setting.
Indoor quiet: a lower fan speed
The simplest version is an extra-low fan step on the indoor unit. Fujitsu's ASU9RL and ASU12RL manual calls it SUPER QUIET: you pick QUIET with the Fan button, and the indoor unit's airflow is reduced for quieter operation. Fujitsu adds that heating and cooling performance "will be reduced somewhat" and that Super Quiet cannot be used in Dry mode.
Daikin does the same on its FTX30 and FTX36NVJU wall units. "Indoor unit quiet" is one step in the airflow setting, it sets the airflow to a weak level, and the manual notes that at smaller airflow rates the cooling effect is also smaller.
Panasonic's CS-XZ operating instructions say its QUIET button "reduces airflow noise." The same manual warns that capacity may drop at the lowest fan speed and tells you to raise the fan speed to get it back.
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Silence: the compressor slows down
Some mini splits go further and turn the compressor down. MrCool's mini split remote manual says holding the Fan button for more than 2 seconds turns on Silence, and that because the compressor runs at a low frequency, it may result in insufficient cooling or heating. Midea's US split owner's manual and Senville's LETO manual list the same thing as a troubleshooting point: Silence can lower performance by reducing operating frequency, so turn it off if the room is not cooling.
Outdoor unit quiet and night modes
The third kind targets the outdoor unit, which matters if it sits under a bedroom window or near a neighbor. Daikin's OUTDOOR UNIT QUIET operation lowers the outdoor unit's noise "by changing the frequency and fan speed of the outdoor unit," and Daikin suggests it for night-time. The manual also says it may not provide a sufficient cooling effect, and it does nothing if the unit is already running at reduced levels.
Mitsubishi Electric's Australian MSZ-AP product page describes a Night Mode that dims the LED, turns off alert beeps and softens the outdoor unit's noise by up to 3 dB. That page covers the Australian range; check your own manual before assuming a US model has the same feature.
The trade-off in cooling output
Daikin, Fujitsu, MrCool, Midea and Senville all warn that their quiet settings can cost cooling, and Panasonic says the same about its lowest fan speed. Less airflow moves less heat out of the room, and a slower compressor removes less heat in total. No maker we checked publishes how much cooling you lose, so we do not give a figure.
That is why quiet mode works best for holding a temperature, not reaching one. If you turn it on in a hot room, expect the room to cool more slowly. Fujitsu's advice is simple: if the room does not cool down, raise the fan speed.
A low fan is not bad for humidity. ENERGY STAR's room air conditioner tips recommend a low fan speed on humid days, because slower air movement removes more moisture.
Which brands offer it and how to turn it on
| Brand | Button or setting | What it changes |
|---|---|---|
| Daikin (FTX30, FTX36NVJU) | "Indoor unit quiet" in the fan speed steps; ECONO/QUIET button for outdoor unit quiet | Indoor airflow; outdoor compressor frequency and fan speed |
| Fujitsu (ASU9RL, ASU12RL) | Fan button, select QUIET (Super Quiet) | Indoor airflow |
| Panasonic (CS-XZ) | QUIET button | Airflow noise |
| MrCool | Hold the Fan button for more than 2 seconds (Silence, some units) | Compressor frequency |
| Midea and Senville | Silence (optional feature) | Operating frequency |
| Mitsubishi Electric (MSZ-AP, Australia) | Quiet Mode and Night Mode | Night Mode: LED, beeps, outdoor noise |
A few rules from the manuals. On MrCool remotes, pressing On/Off, Mode, Turbo or Clean cancels Silence. On Panasonic, Powerful, fan speed and Quiet cannot be selected at the same time. On Daikin, the outdoor quiet icon stays on the remote even after you stop the unit. For the other buttons on your remote, see our AC modes guide.
When to use quiet mode and when not to
Quiet mode makes sense when the room is close to comfortable and noise is the problem: falling asleep, a work call, a film. It pairs well with sleep mode on units that let you run both.
Skip it when the room is hot and you want it cool soon. Use normal Cool, or turbo mode where your unit has it, then switch to quiet once the room settles.
Quiet mode is also not a repair. If your unit has become louder than it used to be, a softer fan only hides the sound. Our guide to noises your AC is making covers what different sounds point to.
Does quiet mode save energy
None of the manuals we opened claim it does, and we found no ENERGY STAR or DOE figure for quiet modes. A slower fan draws less power, but the unit may run longer to hold the room, so we make no claim either way.
If noise is a constant problem, the unit matters more than the mode. ENERGY STAR says the variable output of a variable speed compressor lets a room air conditioner quietly cool the room while using less energy. Our picks for the quietest window air conditioners and quietest portable air conditioners start from that.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my AC cool slower in quiet mode?
Because quiet mode works by doing less. A lower fan speed moves less air through the coil, and on units with a Silence setting the compressor runs at a lower frequency. Fujitsu says cooling performance is reduced somewhat in Super Quiet, and MrCool says Silence may result in insufficient cooling. Switch back to a normal fan speed if the room is not cooling.
Is quiet mode the same as silent mode or silence mode?
They are close but not always the same. On Fujitsu, Daikin and Panasonic units, quiet is mainly a lower indoor fan speed. On MrCool, Midea and Senville mini splits, Silence turns the compressor down as well. Daikin also has a separate Outdoor Unit Quiet setting for the outdoor unit. Your manual tells you which one your unit has.
Can quiet mode make the outdoor unit quieter?
Only if your unit has a setting for it. Daikin's Outdoor Unit Quiet operation lowers outdoor noise by changing the outdoor unit's compressor frequency and fan speed. Mitsubishi Electric's Australian MSZ-AP Night Mode softens outdoor noise by up to 3 dB. Indoor-only quiet settings, like Fujitsu's Super Quiet, reduce the indoor unit's airflow instead.
Can I use quiet mode with dry mode?
Not on every unit. Fujitsu's ASU9RL and ASU12RL manual says Super Quiet operation cannot be used during Dry mode, and Daikin's FTX manual says the airflow setting cannot be changed in Dry operation, which rules out its indoor quiet step there. Other brands differ, so check the quiet section of your own manual.
Founder of Home Caprice. Ben started the site to simplify HVAC after dealing with the heating and cooling in his first apartment.