Measure your pool pump's noise with your phone
Updated : · Piscines VP
Install a sound meter (decibel) app, always measure the same way (phone not hand-held, same distance, same pump speed), record the 30-second average, then compare before and after each fix. Also measure where the noise bothers you: deck, bedroom, property line.
To know whether a fix really worked, you need to measure. Your phone is enough.
What you need
- A free sound meter app (search “decibel meter” in your app store).
- A pen, or your phone’s notes.
The method
- Pump at its usual speed, running for at least 5 minutes.
- Phone still, set on something stable (not in your hand), mic toward the pump.
- Always the same distance: 1 metre (3 ft) from the pump, for example. Mark the spot.
- Measure for 30 seconds and record the average (often “AVG” or “Leq”).
- Turn the pump off and measure 30 more seconds: that’s the background noise.
- Repeat where it bothers you: on the deck, at the bedroom window, at the property line.
Compare before and after
After each change (pump levelled, pipe freed, isolating base, different speed), repeat exactly the same measurements:
| Spot | Pump off | Before | After |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 m from pump | |||
| Deck | |||
| Bedroom window |
Reading the numbers
- 3 dB less: barely noticeable.
- 5 dB less: clearly audible.
- 10 dB less: sounds about half as loud.
Decibels don’t capture everything: a low vibration that rattles a window can bother you even if the number barely moves. Trust your ears too, and the hand test.
At SOURDINE, no number without a measurement. We test on real pumps, with instruments, before publishing anything. Get notified →
Frequently asked questions
Are decibel apps accurate?
Not as accurate as a real sound meter, but good enough to compare before and after on the same phone, in the same spot. What matters is the difference, not the exact number.
How many decibels is too much?
It depends on the time of day, the distance and your local bylaw. For reference, normal conversation is around 60 dB. A 3 dB drop is barely noticeable; a 10 dB drop sounds about half as loud.
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