All heating systems create noise as they are a system of machines with moving parts; parts, pipework, pumps, valves and switches.
Currently sound is measured in the linear logarithmic decibel system. Measurements are taken from the products sound source to determine the sound pressure level, the difference in pressure between a sound wave and the ambient air pressure. This system is complex because every three decibel increase equates to a doubling of sound intensity or acoustic power therefore the level of declared decibels is often not easily interpreted as to how loud something will be actually be experienced, even harder to measure is the contect as the same sound may be perceived differently, by different people.
With the above in mine, a Ground Source Heat Pump is usually well insulated and make very little noise, comparable to the antiquated gas boiler, quite often the equipment is tucked away in a plant room and will never be noticed.
Air Source Heat Pumps will depend on make, model and installation details however they tend to make around 52 dBA, which is typically measured from about 1m from the unit itself, the further you go the less you will hear but that number doesn’t seem very tangible, below we have highlighted some common sounds that you can hopefully reference in the case you cannot see one in operation for yourself.
20dBA – Mosquito or rustling leaves
40dBA – A bubbling stream, or a refrigerator
46dBA – Background Bird Song
50dBA – Normal conversation
52dBA – Heat Pump Sound Level
60dBA – Laughter
Levels can be lower depending on the type of heat pump
75dBA – Vacuum cleaner or hair dryer
80dBA – City traffic or a garbage disposal
90dBA – Motorcycle or lawnmower
