Are heat pumps noisy?

Are heat pumps noisy?



You might be surprised to learn that the heat pumps in air conditioners and hot water systems are often quieter than a gas boiler.
 
In this article, we’ll explore the noise levels generated by heat pumps in more detail, including answering the question of exactly how noisy a typical heat pump is in comparison to other household appliances.

How Noisy Is A Heat Pump?   

If you’re thinking about having a heat pump installed to heat your hot water or heat and cool your home, you might be wondering exactly how noisy it will be. Noise isn’t just a concern for your own property, but you also need to be sure that it won’t impact your neighbours or damage your relationship with others living nearby.
 
To help to put the volume of a heat pump into perspective, we’ve compared it to that of other household sounds and appliances in the table below.
Noise
Volume (decibels)
Breathing
10
Quiet room
30
Laptop
40
Typical heat pump
42
Refrigerator
42
Normal conversation
60
Dishwasher
65
Vacuum cleaner
85
Hairdryer
90
 This table is a synthesis from a variety of sources1 2.

As you can see, heat pumps are often equivalent in volume to a refrigerator or laptop, and quieter than a conversation, a dishwasher or a vacuum cleaner.
It's worth noting that noise levels will vary depending on the make and model of the appliance or heat pump. It’s a good idea to check the manufacturer's stated noise level when considering a particular product.
The table above, however, is not the whole story.

The volume of different noises are measured in controlled settings, but our homes are not in those settings. As such, the noise levels as experienced by a person relate to:
  1. sensitivity of the listener;
  2. distance from the heat pump;
  3. location of the heat pump;
  4. number of heat pumps in close proximity;
  5. materials around the heat pump3 4.
Yet, this does not mean that heat pumps are loud.

They may appear quieter than expected, particularly after a couple of weeks when individuals have adjusted to the sound. For example, how often do you notice your refrigerator?
 
This means the perceived noise of a heat pump is context-specific.
If you are particularly concerned about the noise, join an Energy Freedom Homes Masterclass to gain expert installation advice, and meet trustworthy tradespeople. Check your Masterclass readiness now!

Are Heat Pumps Noisy For Neighbours?   

Based on the comparison table above, consider whether you can hear your refrigerator when you stand outside your house. This is how your neighbour will hear your heat pump when they are inside their home.
 
They may hear it if they are standing next to the fence, but it shouldn't be a problem. For a comparison sit next to your refrigerator and see how much of a disturbance it is. 

Is It OK For A Heat Pump To Run All Night?   

Heat pumps have been designed to run for long periods of time, so there should be no issues with leaving your heat pump running all night long.
 
In fact, it’s actually encouraged!
 
In the case of hot water heating, many manufacturers recommend that you never turn your heat pump off, as it takes a lot more energy to bring the water up to temperature than to keep it at a steady level. This is similar to air conditioning, as it is more efficient for the air conditioner to keep the room at 22 degrees than bring the temperature down from 30 degrees.
 
The amazing efficiency of heat pumps is best when operating at a low level over long periods of time, so we’d recommend:
  1. Never turning your hot water heat pump off;
  2. Running your air conditioning at a very low power level for long time periods.
The bonus from this approach is that you'll achieve much the same power usage and cost savings as if you tried to keep the units switched off as often as possible, but without the time spent managing them and the anxiety that you'll end up with a cold shower or an uninhabitable room.

How Do I Make My Heat Pump Quieter?   

Before installation, choosing the right location can help make the perceived sound quieter. As this is context-specific, it is worth having a chat with your installer first and if they brush off your questions, get in touch with us as we can help you out.

If you find that once your heat pump is installed that it is generating more noise than you'd like, we’d always suggest following up with your installer to identify the problem.

Whilst heat pumps do generate a small amount of noise during operation, this noise shouldn’t be excessive and any significant running noise should be treated as a problem.
If you've selected the right product and a trustworthy installer, your warranty period should provide you with free support to find and fix any problems for a few years after you've purchased your heat pump system.
If your heat pump noise is deemed normal by your installer, one way to reduce the noise that your heat pump makes is to install dampeners. These can either be placed under the feet of your heat pump unit or onto the bolts that hold the compressor in place. These dampeners will reduce vibration, helping to lower the volume of your heat pump. Your installer should be able to help you out with this.
The range of heat pumps available on the market also cover units with extremely quiet operating conditions. These units will most likely cost more, but you can have confidence that noise will definitely not be an issue.

Are Heat Pumps Louder In Very Cold Or Hot Weather?   

During particularly cold or hot days, your heat pump will produce more noise. This is because heating (or cooling if we're talking about a split system air conditioner) from the air is not as readily available and the heat pump will need to work harder to extract and amplify enough energy to heat (or cool) your home and your hot water.
It’s completely normal for your heat pump to make a bit more noise during more extreme weather days and it still shouldn't exceed the maximum stated noise level for the product.

Are New Heat Pumps Quieter?   

If you hear people complaining about the volume of heat pumps, it’s likely they’re talking about an older unit, which may be 10-15 years old. These older heat pumps were often noisier, as a result of the new and developing technology.
 
However, heat pumps are now a well-established, proven and contain refined technology. As technology has advanced, manufacturers have found new ways to minimise the noise generated.
 
Hopefully, now you're more aware of the typical noise generated by a modern heat pump compared to other everyday sounds and the impact on your and your neighbours.

Next steps 

If you'd like to get support choosing the right heat pump for your requirements and getting it installed by a trusted tradie, join an Energy Freedom Homes Masterclass and learn to identify your needs, gain expert installation advice, and meet trustworthy tradespeople. Check your Masterclass readiness now!
 
Ready to explore the process of removing your gas hot water heater? Read our article, 'How can I replace my gas hot water heater?'
 
Want to focus on heating and cooling? Head to our article, 'How can I replace my gas heating system?'
 
Unsure what to do next? Click here to read through our planning article.

References

1 Whyte, C. (2022). How noisy are heat pumps?. Heat pump grants. Retrieved  2023, from https://heat-pumps.org.uk/how-noisy-are-heat-pumps/
2 CleanBC: Better homes. (n.d.). Are heat pumps noisy?. Retrieved  2023, from  https://www.betterhomesbc.ca/products/are-heat-pumps-loud/
3 Flimel, M. (2018). Potential optimisation of heat pump placement in terms of environmental noise levels. Chapter 5 pp. 153-174. In, Tea Espenson. (ed.). Heat Pumps: Performance and Applications. Nova.
4 Hundy, G.H. (2016). Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heat Pumps. Fifth edition. Butterworth-Heinemann.