Data Center Myths the Developers Push #3
Myth #3: Data Centers are Quiet
Data centers aren’t loud like construction—but they run 24/7, creating a constant 55-75 decibel low-frequency hum can travel up to three miles away and become very noticeable, especially in quiet rural areas.
Data centers generate continuous noise from cooling systems, fans, locomotive-sized power generators and power backup equipment. While each individual unit may not seem loud, the key issue is that the sound is constant—24 hours a day.
In quiet rural environments like ours, even moderate noise levels can travel long distances and become intrusive, especially at night. Low-frequency hum is particularly concerning because it penetrates homes more easily and can impact sleep and quality of life.
What Actually Makes Noise at a Data Center
What Actually Makes the Noise
1. Cooling systems produce constant noise.
- Large fans, chillers, cooling towers
- Data center cooling systems must run 24 hours a day, 7 days per week.
- Produce a steady “humming” sound
2. Generators
In the beginning, many data centers mainly use utility power service to operate. Over time though, data centers outgrow the utility power source and have to run dozens of locomotive-sized generators, all day, every day.
- When generators are on standby for emergencies they must be tested regularly (weekly/monthly)
- When generators are relied upon for constant operation, they must be run all day, every day.
- Can be very loud during operation
3. Electrical equipment
- Transformers and substations
- Create a low-frequency hum
What Developers Leave Out
- It’s constant. 24/7.
- No quiet hours. Night time is the most noticeable.
- Low frequency sounds travels farther.
- Harder to block with walls and berms.
- Can be felt as a vibration-like hum.
- Rural areas amplify the impact: less background noise and sound carries further across open land
- Multiple buildings = cumulative noise
- Campus effect increases total sound footprint
- It’s not about one loud event—it’s about nonstop noise.
- Low-frequency hum is the hardest to ignore.
- What’s acceptable in a city is very different in a rural setting.
- Silence is part of rural living—and this replaces it with a permanent industrial hum