Although the Government has targeted the installation of 600,000 heat pumps a year by 2028 as it strives to hit the Net Zero pathway, the noise generated by heat pumps makes them unsuitable for many homes and contravene the Government’s own guidelines on noise pollution.

A study reported in The Telegraph notes that most heat pumps are simply too loud for built-up areas, such as terraced houses and flats and would break noise limits for installation without planning permission and with a Government grant.

Air source heat pumps can produce a low constant hum of up to 60 decibels, and worse can create irregular noise as the startup and shut down at intervals. Heat pumps should not generate more than 42 decibels within one metre of a neighbour’s door or window.

The report, presented to the Institute of Acoustics at a conference, found that of the main heat pumps from the five main manufacturers, not one device would meet standards on noise unless the unit was at least 4m away.

In order to solve the issue, current incentives might need to be overhauled in order to encourage heat pump makers to create quieter models or regulations changed to allow greater acoustic baffling.

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