Efitherma Marketing Department
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Energy efficiency is a priority for many households, but what about acoustic comfort? Heat pumps are a sustainable and economical solution for heating and cooling homes, but not all of them are equally quiet.
In this article, we explain how much noise a heat pump makes, which are the loudest and quietest on the market, what the current regulations are, and why a quiet heat pump is a smart long-term investment.
When discussing the noise level of a heat pump, it is essential to distinguish between two concepts that are often confused but measure very different realities: sound power and sound pressure.
It is the total amount of acoustic energy emitted by a source in all directions. It is measured in decibels (dB) referenced to 1 picowatt (dB re 1pW).
Example: A heat pump with a sound power level of 65 dB(A) will always emit that sound energy, regardless of whether it is measured in a garden or on a rooftop.
It is the level of noise perceived at a specific point, at a certain distance from the source.
Example: If that same heat pump (with a sound power level of 65 dB(A)) is measured at a distance of 3 metres in a free field, the sound pressure may be around 48-52 dB(A), depending on the conditions.
An air-to-air or air-to-water heat pump typically generates between 40 and 60 decibels (dB(A)) when in operation.
This is equivalent to the noise of a quiet conversation or the sound of a washing machine. However, older or poorly installed models can reach 70 dB(A), which is a considerable nuisance, especially if the equipment is located near bedrooms or rest areas.
For every metre you move away from the equipment, the noise level decreases by approximately 6 dB(A).
Depending on the country and area where the heat pump is installed, there are legal limits on environmental noise to protect neighbourly coexistence:
According to the Technical Building Code (CTE) and Law 37/2003 on Noise, the limits are:
Residential exterior: up to 55 dB(A) during the day and 45 dB(A) at night.
Indoors: 35 dB(A) in living rooms or bedrooms during the day and 25–30 dB(A) at night.
Exceeding these levels may result in fines of up to €600 (minor offence) or more, depending on local regulations.
Regulates noise relative to the sound environment and by means of absolute limits. UNE 11367 standard:
During the day: additional noise must not exceed +3 dB(A) above the ambient background noise.
At peaks of up to 3 minutes: maximum +5 dB(A).
At night: maximum difference of +1 dB(A) from the background noise level.
In addition, penalties are considered for tonality: if the sound is tonal and perceptible, the permitted level is reduced by 0, 3 or 6 dB according to technical assessment.
In France, there is no fixed limit. The concept of ‘audible emergency’ applies:
During the day (7:00–22:00): extra noise must not exceed +5 dB(A) above the ambient background noise.
At night (from 10 p.m. onwards): maximum +3 dB(A).
The regulations require that, during the noisiest cycles, these differences are not exceeded.
Penalties are not always standardised, but non-compliance may result in technical requirements or even rejection of installation.
According to MCS 020 and BS 4142, heat pumps must not exceed 42 dB(A) measured from the neighbouring dwelling throughout the day and night.
This absolute limit facilitates its inclusion in Permitted Development (authorisation without additional permits) if only one unit is installed and its predicted level is ≤ 42 dB(A).
In acoustic impact assessments, the tone of the sound is also penalised: an increase of 2, 4 or 6 dB may be added depending on it’s presence.
Governed by the TA Lärm (Technical Guidelines for Noise Protection) issued by the Federal Ministry for the Environment
Pure residential areas: ≤ 50 dB(A) during the day and ≤ 35 dB(A) at night; in general areas (mixed residential): up to 55 dB(A) during the day and 40 dB(A) at night.
The relevant parameter for regulations (immission) is the sound pressure level in front of protected windows, and peaks must not exceed the guideline values by more than 30 dB(A) during the day and 20 dB(A) at night.
According to the Building Decree (as of April 2021):
During the day (7:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m.): maximum 45 dB(A) at the boundary of the neighbouring property.
Evening–night (7 p.m.–11 p.m.) / night (11 p.m.–7 a.m.): maximum 40 dB(A)
In flats, it is measured next to open windows or doors. Penalties may be applied for tonality (~+5 dB(A)).
Many older or lower-end models can reach between 65 and 72 dB(A), especially during start-ups or intense cycles. This occurs mainly in air-to-air heat pumps without inverter technology or fan speed control. Generic brands or those not specialising in acoustic comfort tend to fall into this category.
Some brands have developed models that stand out for their extremely low noise levels, such as:
Sleeping well, reading or watching a film without background noise is a luxury that many conventional heat pumps do not allow. With an ultra-quiet pump like Efitherma's, silence becomes part of the comfort of your home.
By complying with and significantly exceeding legal noise limits throughout Europe, neighbourhood complaints are reduced and coexistence is improved.
Equipment that operates at low continuous power, with variable speed fans and no noise peaks, is not only quieter but also suffers less mechanical wear and tear. This translates into less maintenance and a longer service life.
An efficient, quiet, and modern installation increases the value of your property. More and more buyers value acoustic comfort and energy efficiency as key criteria when choosing a home.
The Efitherma brand has gone one step further: manufacturing the quietest heat pumps on the market, with noise levels below 30 dB(A). This is equivalent to a whisper or the ambient noise in a library.
Less than 30 dB(A) is not only technically impressive, but also guarantees an imperceptible user experience: no night-time humming, no annoying vibrations, no interruptions to your rest.
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