The Hidden Noise of Heat Pumps: A Call for Full Disclosure
How One Appliance Turned a Peaceful Neighborhood into a Constant Drone—and What Vendors Must Start Disclosing.
Background:
Recently, a neighbor excitedly shared with me that he had replaced his aging air-conditioning unit with a new, highly efficient heat pump.
He was told by the vendor that the heat pump would not only improve energy efficiency but would also be quieter than his old AC system.
Unfortunately, from the very day the heat pump was installed, our lives have not been the same.
Our place, once the quietest spot in the entire city, has turned into a buzzing, humming, rattling zone—dominated by the relentless operation of that one machine.
Every time I come home, I already know I will be greeted not birds chirping, but by a steady, mechanical drone that I cannot escape.
It travels through the air, through the walls, through the nights and weekends.
The once peaceful outdoor spaces—our gardens, decks, and yards—have become zones of subtle but inescapable noise pollution.
Noise Numbers You Were Not Told
Let’s put things into perspective:
A traditional AC usually operates only during the hottest periods of the year, mostly from mid-June to early September, and even then, only for a few hours per day.
A heat pump, however, is often running 346 days a year, providing both heating and cooling.
Its fan, compressor, and outdoor unit cycle almost non-stop, especially during spring, fall, and winter when the difference between outdoor and indoor temperatures requires constant balancing.
The key issue isn’t just how loud the heat pump gets at peak operation—it's the constant, low-grade mechanical hum that never fully stops.
It doesn’t have to be deafening to become disturbing; continuous exposure to noise at 55–65 dB is enough to cause stress, fatigue, sleep disturbance, and overall discomfort, especially when that sound is not naturally occurring.
How Loud Is Loud?
The Numbers: A Hidden Reality
Summary:
Heat pumps run almost all year, not just in hot weather.
5 dB increase = sounds about 1.7× louder to the human ear.
Exposure is not only louder — it’s longer: up to 10 times more days each year than A/C.
Thus, even a "slightly louder" unit becomes a massively greater cumulative noise over the year.
I Even Called the City …
I had never before called city authorities for any neighbor issue in my life.
But eventually, I decided to contact the City of Ottawa Noise Control Office.
An officer came to measure the noise. They tested right at the place where my pillow rests and at my office desk. (See Appendix for full details)
The reading was 36 db with windows closed, 39 db with windows open, This much higher than 30db of our internal furnace air heater when it is on and 26 db of shower in adjacent bathroom However, it is below the 50 dB legal threshold that would mandate action under Ottawa bylaws.
Because it didn’t technically exceed the limit, no corrective action could be enforced.
To recap: 39 dB is present right inside my home—at my ear when I sleep, and at my workspace when I need to concentrate.
Before, it was absolute quiet — now, it’s mechanical buzz.
My Neighbor’s Kindness—and the Limits of Good Intentions
To be fair, my neighbor is a very kind person.
He has been genuinely concerned about the distress the heat pump is causing me.
In good faith, he invested extra money installing a heavy rubber mat underneath the pump to reduce vibration transmission through the ground.
This helped reduce the shaking of the walls and floors — but unfortunately, the noise remains loud and continuous.
Now, every night when I wake up, I wonder:
Should I try to sell the home we loved and lived in for 15+ years?
Or should I push vendors to finally take responsibility for this massive hidden problem?
The Vendors' Duty to Disclose
Manufacturers and vendors heavily promote the environmental and economic benefits of heat pumps.
But they rarely disclose:
Actual operational noise levels in real-world residential settings.
The fact that heat pumps run nearly year-round, unlike seasonal A/C.
Cumulative noise exposure impact on homeowners.
Not disclosing material drawbacks — particularly when they interfere with health, sleep, and work — may constitute misrepresentation under consumer protection laws.
If noise is a significant, foreseeable effect of their products, vendors should disclose:
Certified decibel ratings (low-load and high-load).
Expected run-hours per year by climate zone.
Total noise exposure equivalence compared to traditional A/C systems.
What Vendors Rarely Disclose
Decibel ratings buried deep in spec sheets—if listed at all—and often measured under ideal lab conditions, not real backyards.
Duty-cycle data (how many hours per year the compressor actually spins) is almost never provided, yet it dictates total noise exposure.
Inverter models can be quiet at low load, but ramp to 65 dB+ on defrost or peak heating—even premium brands admit this in fine print. [https://www.electricdwelling.com/how-noisy-is-a-heat-pump/]
Our Campaign: Support No Noise Pollution Communities
Until that day comes, we homeowners must act.
That’s why I’ve launched a campaign to protect peaceful residential areas.
I have developed a series of "No Noise Pollution" posters,
now being distributed in my neighborhood and online, to raise awareness and promote regulations to:
Require vendors to disclose real-life noise impacts.
Protect residential peace by careful placement and better technologies.
You can get your own sign at: IVIM.ca/say-no-to-noise-pollution
Together, we can bring the sound of birds — and true quiet — back to our homes.
A Call to Action
Until regulations catch up and vendors are legally required to disclose full acoustic and operational data to prospective buyers, it falls on us, as residents and neighbors, to raise awareness.
To support this cause, I have created a series of public information posters warning about the hidden noise costs of heat pumps.
These posters are now being distributed throughout the neighborhood to spark a much-needed conversation about preserving quiet residential living.
Our mission: Protect our communities, promote responsible product disclosures, and maintain peaceful living environments.
Support No Noise Pollution: Keep Heat Pumps Away from Residential Areas.
Be Environment- and Neighbour- Friendly. Use Heat-Pumps and AC Responsibly
Support No Noise Pollution Communities: Use Heat-Pumps and AC Responsibly
References
Save Home Heat Co., “How Loud Is It? Sound Ratings of Heat Pumps and AC Systems,” blog post, 2022. Save Home Heat
Breeze AC, “Understanding Sound Ratings for Heat Pumps and Air Conditioners,” 2023. Breeze Air Conditioning
Today’s Homeowner, “Air Conditioner Noise Measurement,” 2024. Today's Homeowner
CoolToday, “How to Know Which Central Air Conditioner Is the Quietest,” 2024. CoolToday
The Guardian, “Will my heat pump be a noise nuisance to my neighbours?” July 9 2024. The Guardian
Appendix: City of Ottawa Noise Regulations
The City of Ottawa's Noise By-law (No. 2017-255) sets specific limits to ensure a peaceful environment in residential areas.City of Ottawa+1Reddit+1
General Noise Restrictions
Daytime (7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.): Noise levels must not exceed 50 decibels (dB) at the point of reception.
Nighttime (11:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.): Noise levels must not exceed 45 dB at the point of reception.Zolo
These limits apply to various sources, including mechanical equipment such as air conditioners and heat pumps. Ottawa Meetings
Specific Provisions for Mechanical Equipment
Mechanical equipment (e.g., air conditioners, heat pumps) must operate within the following noise limits:Ottawa Meetings
Maximum permissible sound level: 50 dB at the point of reception in a residential area.Ottawa Meetings+2Loopstra Nixon LLP+2Zolo+2
This measurement is typically taken at the property line or the location where the noise is received. Ottawa Meetings