@sobo Has someone left a yellow transport bolt connected inside the unit? I had exactly the same issue last year on an Altherma Mono Block. I clocked up 70dB! Almost silent after the bolt was removed.

Sobo - I have the same Daikin Altherma 3 model (I think) and the noise I get sounds just like you video. It is LOUD and I worry that my neighbours must be being disturbed. We bought the house with it already installed and I am calling Daikin in to have a look at it. from what you say, I'm not hopeful though. It is true that the it is not always this loud, but that doesn't help a great deal.

The point about the transport bold being still installed is something I will investigate - thanks for he suggestion.

Please keep us all posted if anything new happens.

Thanks!

Posted by: @bsandf1

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@sobo Has someone left a yellow transport bolt connected inside the unit? I had exactly the same issue last year on an Altherma Mono Block. I clocked up 70dB! Almost silent after the bolt was removed.

Problem solved !! It was the yellow transportation bolt that was still in place, left in there by the supposed expert installer. There is no reference to this in the Daikin installation manual, or anywhere else. If you want to take it off you will find it makes a big difference to the noise level. Remove the right hand access panel and it is down on the bottom left and is bright yellow. Unscrew the bolt, slide out the yellow bracket and retighten the bolt and enjoy a heat pump that is now bearable instead of irritating yourself and all your neighbours !

@sobo same design as my pump, I noticed it rattling slightly (I didn't measure the sound level) but I noticed the sound diminished a lot if I pressed on the fan cover. The rattle in mine was due to the fan cover vibrating and bumping into the casing. I resolved that with foam between the fan cover edge and the casing, so the cover can no longer bump on the case. The foam I used is the adhesive sort used for door and window gaskets - less than ten centimetres required for the job.

@toodles Was hoping that at the end of this thread you would have a solution.  I have a Daikin Fit, that is also putting out "fan noise" it's like a mild "chop" from a helicopter.

Definitely from the fan.  i cannot hear the compressor.  I can easily hear the fan from 60' away (and I wear hearing aids).  I measured 72 dB at about 1 meter from the unit.

It's been installed for about 6 months.  The installer says that heating is the noiser of the modes, but they mentioned added compressor noise, and this is not compressor noise this is fan/air-flow noise for sure.  It sounds like this is way out of bed from what others seem to be experiencing.

  Thanks for any thoughts you might have.  I am thinking a call to Daikin is in order.  I can also talk to them about why it froze up when it was 53 degrees outside ... wrote them an note on their website, but did not hear back from them.  I obviously need to be more persistent. 

@zogy A solution to what Zogy? Our system is very quiet running and below ambient noise level. Mars has included our pump ‘noise’ in his short video on heat pump noise - it is the Daikin near the beginning of the presentation. I wonder if the fan blades on your pump are the wrong type? Various designs using ‘spoiler’ profiles are used these days and your pump sounds to be way above spec. level to me! From your description, it does sound like air turbulence - in propellor technology it would be referred to as ‘cavitation’ I think.Regards, Toodles.

@zogy I think it would be very helpful if you could send us the sound/noise – can you film a short video and either email it to me (editor@renewableableheatinghub.co.uk) or if it's too large to email, please send to the same email address via WeTransfer.

And this the video @toodles is referring to: https://youtube.com/shorts/2KlIphuM8pM

@sobo could you please give us an update on the noise issues you were experiencing and whether you found a solution?

Just joined and reading through - the noise issue reminded me of a YT video on the Skilbuilder channel where Roger visited a homeowner with a very noisy LG unit.  Adam from Heat Geek got involved and one of the issues he noticed was that the HP unit had been mounted leaning slightly backwards to the wall, which had caused the fan bearings to wear.  This unit was 5 years old so not comparable to a new installation but something to think about.

@editor I did not find a solution, and have pretty much resigned myself to the fact that it's not a quiet as I expected.  I have the installer come out an check out the situation and they gave it a clean bill of health.  I was unable to talk to anyone @ Daikin, as they are unwilling to talk to the "home owner", and insist you go thru the installer.  I am nearly certain that what I am hearing is fan "chop" (cavitation).  I suspect that the fan runs at a higher speed when heating, hence the added noise. It does not sound like a compressor noise.  = It is supposed to run at 55 (ish) dB, but i measured 68 dB a few feet from the unit.  It's right next to a block wall so that may reflect/amplify the sound.  I am not sure I there is much I can do except build a sound enclosure around it.  Not sure it bothers me enough to do that however.  The unit is a Diakiin Fit (3.5 ton) heat pump.  It works great overall for heating and cooling duties in the house.