ᐅ Neighbor thinks the air-to-water heat pump is too noisy

Created on: 11 Jan 2021 13:40
M
Malz1902
Hello and Happy New Year to you all.

Here is the situation: our neighbor just came by to complain that our heat pump is too loud and runs continuously. The outdoor unit of the heat pump is located behind our house. On the property line, the neighbor’s garage is behind the heat pump, and our garage is next to the heat pump, forming a sort of narrow passage or corridor. The neighbor’s house is diagonally across from this setup.

He said he constantly hears a humming noise. What do you think could be done to reduce the noise somewhat?
M
Malz1902
11 Jan 2021 14:41
Yes, I thought so too... Strange guy.
The heat pump is a Fujitsu Waterstage
Air-to-water heat pump "COMFORT"
WOYA080LFCA

Hydraulic unit:
WSYA100DG6
Outdoor unit:
WOYA080LFCA
11ant11 Jan 2021 14:50
One of my first official acts as King of Germany would be to ban those awful siren boxes. It’s not the sound pressure itself that is disturbing, but rather the specific frequencies. Certain frequencies or combinations of frequencies simply feel annoying, even if the measured sound pressure is not exceeded by something like a jet fighter or an air hammer.
Malz1902 schrieb:

He said he constantly hears a humming noise.
What do you think could be done to reduce the sound a bit?

You would first need to determine exactly what is bothering him and where. A humming noise can actually be heard as humming, or a buzzing could be the overtone of a hum, where you organically hear the buzzing and the brain “recognizes” the underlying hum. But it’s also possible that the hum has a frequency that creates a standing wave between your house walls. So it makes a big difference whether it is better to dampen the sound, scatter it more effectively, or eliminate it at the source (for example, by replacing a worn bearing, if that is the cause). You need to figure out: is it vibration, resonance, reflection…
nordanney schrieb:

And only after several years does the neighbor notice that the heat pump is too loud? What kind of device do you have?

Yes. If the disturbance (or even just the part that makes the frequency mix unpleasant) comes from a worn-out fan bearing or something similar, it can definitely escalate past the tolerance limit only after a few years.
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G
Grundaus
11 Jan 2021 16:17
If the issue has only just become noticeable, a bearing (fan, compressor, or mounting) might be defective.
Is it lubricated by the refrigerant? As a quick and inexpensive temporary solution, stacking a few bricks in front to test it could be possible. Clearance must be maintained and can then be properly built in during the summer.
11ant11 Jan 2021 17:13
Grundbuch schrieb:

As a quick and inexpensive solution
... depending on the outcome of the root cause analysis, a Helmholtz resonator at the neighbor’s property could also be an effective approach.
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Nida35a11 Jan 2021 17:18
Suddenly loud,
The device has a defect,
or the neighbor sleeps with the window open so they can hear everything better
H
halmi
11 Jan 2021 17:39
or he has only recently realized that you have a heat pump. Try turning it off for one night and then ask if it has improved; if not, he should just stop wasting your time.