Air Source Heat Pumps - Noise nuisance for neighbours

Fieldsofgold

Why would an office building run these at night?

Cardew

Fieldsofgold wrote: »

Why would an office building run these at night?

ASHPs have a relatively low output compared to conventional CH systems. So the principle is that they run much longer - at times 24/7.

matelodave

We had no end of trouble with a small factory unit that started up about 40metres from our house. Angle grinding, hammering, compressors, paint spraying & fans from six in the morning to sometimes ten or eleven at night and on Saturdays & Sundays as well.
We, as well as several other neighbours who were directly opposite complained to the council's environmental health department and eventually (after six or seven months) they gave us a calibrated sound recorder (which didn't work properly) to monitor the noise. He was strangely quiet when the EH officers came to listen (we suspect he was being tipped off) and for some reason they had trouble downloading the info from the sound recorder, They would not accept evidence from a video camera which plainly recorded all the noise. We even had a meeting with him and the EH officials in our house and they eventually agreed that his noise was excessive but the best we managed was to limit the times he could make the noise from 07:00 to 21:00 Monday to Saturday. So not very satisfactory as he didn't comply anyway and the council weren't really all that interested afterwards when we complained about his transgressions.
Fortunately he went bust and moved out but we had 18 months of hell whilst he was there and the EH was as good as useless.


So all you can do is try the councils EH dept or possibly check with their planning dept as there are rules about having more than one heat-pump unit. A single unit doesn't need specific permission as it is a " permitted delopment" providing it's, size, location (including proximity to other buildings) & noise levels comply with the regs but any more than one requires specific planning permission - you should have had the opportunity to object if you were living there before they were fitted. There's not much you can do if they were already in situ or if permission had already been granted - have a look at your council's planning site and all the information on that installation should be there somewhere

Hardworking

Fieldsofgold wrote: »

Why would an office building run these at night?

It's energy efficient and cheaper to have them running 24/7. When we first complained they said there not on at night to be told by a staff member there on constant. We were then told only 2 Are on to keep the server rooms cool. We know there on cause we can hear a hum vibration in the bedrooms. It started the units were installed. When we use to complain to them the noise would stop but would always return so we contacted the Environmental health. They came at a time when the noise was low and said they couldn't hear it then told the office there is nothing he can do cause he couldn't hear it. Since that the noise never stops. They are just putting in for planning. We just hope they will listen to our complaints.

Hardworking

matelodave wrote: »

We had no end of trouble with a small factory unit that started up about 40metres from our house. Angle grinding, hammering, compressors, paint spraying & fans from six in the morning to sometimes ten or eleven at night and on Saturdays & Sundays as well.
We, as well as several other neighbours who were directly opposite complained to the council's environmental health department and eventually (after six or seven months) they gave us a calibrated sound recorder (which didn't work properly) to monitor the noise. He was strangely quiet when the EH officers came to listen (we suspect he was being tipped off) and for some reason they had trouble downloading the info from the sound recorder, They would not accept evidence from a video camera which plainly recorded all the noise. We even had a meeting with him and the EH officials in our house and they eventually agreed that his noise was excessive but the best we managed was to limit the times he could make the noise from 07:00 to 21:00 Monday to Saturday. So not very satisfactory as he didn't comply anyway and the council weren't really all that interested afterwards when we complained about his transgressions.
Fortunately he went bust and moved out but we had 18 months of hell whilst he was there and the EH was as good as useless.


So all you can do is try the councils EH dept or possibly check with their planning dept as there are rules about having more than one heat-pump unit. A single unit doesn't need specific permission as it is a " permitted delopment" providing it's, size, location (including proximity to other buildings) & noise levels comply with the regs but any more than one requires specific planning permission - you should have had the opportunity to object if you were living there before they were fitted. There's not much you can do if they were already in situ or if permission had already been granted - have a look at your council's planning site and all the information on that installation should be there somewhere

The units were installed while we lived in our property but the office installed them without planning. Since we have complained they have had to put in planning which they have just submitted. We have been complaining since the went in. They says it's not them. Over 18 months we've had the problem and it's effecting our health. All we can do now is put our problems to planning thanks

Hardworking

Jodal101 wrote: »

I am in the same position as you with a noisy pump about 2 metres from my bungalow. I can hear the noise all the time, all over the house but when the fan comes on it is even louder. Have complained to Environmental Health and filled in the log sheets. Neighbours with the fan refuse to acknowledge any problem. Man from the Council coming tomorrow. I hope he can do something as I can't get any sleep.
I googled the problem and found some interesting information in Australia where councils take the matter more seriously.

Hi. Did u get the problem sorted. We are having the same issue.

matelodave

If you can understand it there's some bumf on noise levels for air-source heat pumps in the following (see section 3) http://www.microgenerationcertification.org/admin/documents/MCS%20020%20Planning%20Standards%20Issue%201.0.pdf


It might help you in discussions with the EHO and at the very least make the owner get planning permission if it doesn't comply with the criteria of permitted development.

scheissefuergehirn

I have recently had an ashp installed and I am concerned about the noise it makes. I was told that they are quiet but it seems quite noisy to me. The sound meter application on my phone registers over 70 decibels. I don't know how accurate the app is but I suspect it isn't too far off. The trouble is, what can I do about it. The company (Huskey) didn't quote me any noise figures so I can't say that they missold me the pump. I am concerned that it will bother my neighbours when the cold weather comes and it comes on more often.

anotherbaldrick

It gets worse as the unit gets older , the bearings in the fan rumble and the valves in the compressor get noisy which when the casing starts to vibrate in sympathy with the wind makes a nonsense of 40 dBA which is more than you want anyway if you value sleep. I also found that the wall they were fixed on would form a sounding board to transmit the sound to the interior.

michelle2328

I have a noise problem. My neighbour uses theirs to heat their swimming pool and it faces our garden and house so we have noise for most of the summer from April to September incl. Spoke to them about it and was not believed. Contacted environmental health who were very supportive and gave them a visit advising them on the nuisance laws. My neighbour is a city dealer and is very self important. We have not taken this further for now and have instead planted a fast growing hedge that will block their solar panels and their heat pump will cost them a fortune to run plus their swimming pool will be in shade for a good bit of the day. At least in the winter most of our windows are shut but the low vibration is constant.