Is the noise emanating from the ASHP itself - or is it transmitted vibration into the wall from the rising pipes? There doesn’t appear to be a window upstairs to the left side so I wonder if it may be the pipes are transmitting the vibrations. Vibrations that would be transmitted by the pipes can be much reduced with a section of flexible hose fitted to the pump output and return pipes before they connect into the rising insulated pipes. Is there any flexible pipe in place to isolate the vibration to the pipes? Regards, Toodles.

Hi, 

Thank you for your advice. There is a flexible section before it is connected to the rising section. It comes out of the heat pump as copper pipe, then goes to the flexible section, then to the rising section.

We are not sure where the noise is coming from, but we don’t think it’s from the unit itself, as you can hear the unit in the lounge, but it’s not intrusive, and that room is the room with French doors next to the heat pump.

It sounds like it’s from the loft, but we went up today and it was only a noise coming from the airing cupboard. But pipes do have insulation on top. It is difficult to determine the source of the noise.

It sounds like a pumping or water tank filling up, humming sort of whirring sound. Very annoying, not a fan noise like the actual unit.

Last night was awful, As it was colder, it was doing an anti-freeze cycle every 15 minutes, so even if we turned off the heat pump, we had no rest as it still kept going. We moved to a bedroom on the other side of the house but could still hear it. Not as bad, but I could still hear it.

@clairelp If you can hear a ‘pumping sound’ then if you are sure it is not a pump in the airing cupboard (is there one in there?) perhaps there is air in the system that needs purging. Regards, Toodles.

thank you for taking time to message. 

No pump in the cupboard. Noise was bad when frost protection was on and we turned off the heat pump, and it still was making the noise so it must be coming from some pipework. I think, as it’s loudest in the bedroom, I think it must be coming from the flow and return somewhere. I think maybe airing cupboard different noise or it’s just echoing in there through the pipe.

maybe it’s coming down through ceiling from under pipes.  

they purged it when plumber came to fix radiator and it didn’t help the noise. They are supposed to be coming on Friday to look at noise. I really hope they find it as at the moment it has be turned off at night. 🙏

@clairelp Bit of a bummer that, 24/7 is best I think, so shame this keeps you awake. Does sound like a plumbing issue rather than an ASHP issue anyway. Are there any ‘devices’ up in the loft that are part of the plumbing for the heating / hot water that might run ‘automomously’? Regards, Toodles.

@clairelp did your pipes (the long black ones pictured) always run up to your bedroom area and is that where your old boiler used to be sited?

@clairelp I’ve just read you can’t establish where the noise is coming from. Can you describe the noise? Is it a reverberation? A hum? Droning? 

Judging by the photo, it looks like the heat pump is set away from the house and touching. Is that correct? 

Yes we struggling to locate the noise source as it sounds like it’s coming from the loft but when we go up there we can’t hear it. But we pretty sure it’s not the actually heat pump as we can hear that and that’s a different noise. It’s also worse on heating water or frost protection. If I go into the lounge I can hear ashp fan but it’s not same intrusive noise. 

I would say it’s a humming droning sound, like a water pump circulating sort of noise.

The noise is worst in bedroom with pipes attached to wall. The bedroom next to it (with window) you can hear it but not so bad. 

We didn’t think noise would an issue in bedroom as no window on that wall. 

Yes, it’s about 300mm from the house maybe a bit more.

I just had to turn ashp off at the mains as it’s sound like constantly circulating water, even thought it’s all turned off via the app. It’s keeping us from sleeping. It’s 6 degrees and I didn’t think the frost protection came on at that high temperature.

The other night it must have been on anti frost as it was coming on every 15 minutes for 3 minutes and was loud. We were up at 3am trying to turn it off. Sleep is important to me with a 2,7 and 9 year old, it’s gold dust 😂 so we were pretty stressed. 

it’s straight forward install no separate pumps etc. There is a volumiser in the loft on the gable end, but can not hear any noise from it.

@editor no they used to run from the old oil boiler in the utility room (other side of house ) to the upstairs airing cupboard in the floor void.

@clairelp while plumbing is far from being a subject of expertise for me, it seems plausible that a distribution pump could be at the heart of the noise issue. In our home, the utility room, which houses our distribution pump, is located directly beneath our bedroom. This pump, which was installed to enhance water distribution through the heating circuit, has three operational settings. When it’s set to its maximum, we’ve noticed the noise becomes audible in our bedroom above. It’s not loud enough to disturb our sleep, but it’s definitely noticeable. However, when we adjust the pump to its middle setting, the noise disappears completely.

Considering your situation, the increased noise during the defrost cycle might be related, as this process involves reversing the circulation, potentially altering how sound travels or is generated. This could align with your observation that the noise becomes worse during specific operations, like heating water or frost protection. It’s worth investigating if the distribution system in your setup exhibits similar behaviour, especially in how it interacts with the structure of your home and the specific conditions under which the noise intensifies.

Posted by: @editor

↑

@clairelp while plumbing is far from being a subject of expertise for me, it seems plausible that a distribution pump could be at the heart of the noise issue. In our home, the utility room, which houses our distribution pump, is located directly beneath our bedroom. This pump, which was installed to enhance water distribution through the heating circuit, has three operational settings. When it’s set to its maximum, we’ve noticed the noise becomes audible in our bedroom above. It’s not loud enough to disturb our sleep, but it’s definitely noticeable. However, when we adjust the pump to its middle setting, the noise disappears completely.

Considering your situation, the increased noise during the defrost cycle might be related, as this process involves reversing the circulation, potentially altering how sound travels or is generated. This could align with your observation that the noise becomes worse during specific operations, like heating water or frost protection. It’s worth investigating if the distribution system in your setup exhibits similar behaviour, especially in how it interacts with the structure of your home and the specific conditions under which the noise intensifies.

During the defrost cycle it is the refrigerant gas flow that is reversed, not the water pump or compressor.