There are many misconceptions about the amount of sound heat pumps make and many different claims from manufacturers about what their units do. This document is provided to help users understand this data and make informed decisions about which heat pump they should get. Can I Directly Compare Sound?

 

Not really. While all heat pump manufacturers are required to test their units against a given standard for sound, the units are tested in different laboratories, and therefore there can be some variances between results. While the variances should be small, the only true way to compare units is to hear them running side by side in the same conditions.

No. As sound is related to the amount of air movement, a heat pump will produce more noise on a high fan speed than it will produce on a low fan speed.  High fan speed most often occurs straight after starting up, when the heat pump is trying to deliver maximum capacity to get your room to temperature as quickly as possible. As the room gets closer to temperature the fan should slow down, reducing the amount of sound produced. A correctly sized heat pump should have the room temperature under control and the fan starting to slow down within approximately 15 minutes of starting up. After that, a lower fan speed should be able to keep the room temperature constant. This is why it is very important to have a correctly sized heat pump, as an undersized unit will be louder for longer.

Yes it will. If you have a heat pump unit in a room with hard surfaces and few furnishings it will seem noisier than the same unit in a room with more furnishings, drapes, carpets, etc. The distance you are away from the heat pump also dramatically affects the amount of sound perceived, so the mounting position within the room can be very important.

 

Does a bigger capacity heat pump make more noise than a smaller one? Yes it will. In general terms, noise is directly related to the amount of air the heat pump is moving. To produce more heat, bigger capacity units need to move more air than smaller units, so generally a bigger unit will make more noise than a smaller one.

Some heat pump advertising creates confusion as they quote noise levels for the smallest capacity units operating on the lowest fan speed. Almost all situations will require a bigger capacity unit or a higher fan speed than this.

 

Sound levels for the correctly sized heat pump, operating in its normal condition, should be compared and referenced against the following table given for guidance:

10 dB(A) = Gentle breathing, 25 dB(A) = Approximate limit of human hearing,  30 dB(A) = Whisper, 40 dB(A) = Interior of a library,  50 dB(A) = Running stream, 60 dB(A) = Normal conversation.

 

Heat Pump Air Conditioners have become popular because they are an extremely energy efficient way to heat your property.

 

Because heat pumps don’t create heat, they simply move it from one space to another, heating costs are greatly reduced when compared with other forms of heating (electric heaters, gas, wood-burners, etc.)

Heat Pumps are currently the most cost-effective form of heating using electricity, and most good quality systems achieve average COP (Coefficient of Performance) figures of four or more. This means that to achieve four kilowatts of heating or cooling power, they use an average of less than one kilowatt of electricity. 

 

It is important that a heat pump is sized correctly for the volume of air it needs to heat and the climate in which it operates.  If the unit is too small it will not reach its inverter cycle and therefore achieve its stated energy efficiency (COP). 

A conventional heating system such as an electric fire or gas boiler has a COP of less than one. This means that it burns more than one kilowatt of power to produce a kilowatt of heating power. The higher the COP the cheaper a heating appliance is to run. In comparison to other forms of heating, Heat Pumps offer the most energy efficient heating with between 300% to 400% efficiency.

In dollar terms this means a Heat Pump is one of the cheapest methods to heat a home. By comparison: for every $1 you spend you get the following equivalent heat output: Gas 0.82c, Electric Bar Heater 0.98c, Wood Burners 0.45c, Heat Pump  $3 – $4.

 

Tests on newer heat pumps show that by choosing the correct size unit for your home, maintaining it correctly and running it efficiently, you can receive up to $3 heat for every $1 spent on heating. 

 

Copper tubing running through a small 3 to 4-inch opening in the wall or ceiling easily connects the indoor and outdoor units. Refrigerant is cycled through the lines from the outdoor condensing unit to the indoor unit, where the air is quietly distributed to the interior space.

Because each room has its own handler, you can create up to four zones with a timer and optional wired remote that puts you in temperature control and allows you to meet the varying comfort needs of different spaces.

 

Mini splits ductless air conditioner units can run up to four units at a time. Since they can be installed on the wall or ceiling they can be place just about anywhere in a room. There are also floor mounted units that can easily be moved or taken with you on a job site. Another advantage this unit has over window units is safety, since the unit is small and does not have to be window mounted it reduces the number of entry points to a building.