ᐅ Positioning of the air source heat pump

Hello everyone,

we are currently planning our semi-detached house and considering the placement of the outdoor unit of the air source heat pump. The initial idea was to place the heat pump in the carport (see picture, left dark gray area, left side of the house). I think the heat pump will take up about one carport width, which will make parking tight. Also, the fan blower will be obstructed if the car is parked directly in front of it. The heat pump will probably not operate optimally.

Positioning it in front of the house is also not an option, as this would block the path from the front door to the carport. Additionally, I would prefer not to see the unit every time I am in front of the house. The new idea is to place the heat pump on the carport roof, see picture.

Questions:

• There is a children's room window about 4 meters (13 feet) to the left of the heat pump. Above the heat pump is the bedroom window. Will the heat pump be audible at full load with these windows open? I assume it should not be noticeable during normal operation.
• Opposite the heat pump is a side wall of the neighboring semi-detached house, about 7-8 meters (23-26 feet) away. The heat pump’s fan blower will be directed at this side wall. On the heat pump side, the neighbor’s ground floor kitchen window and upstairs bathroom window are located. Should the neighbor be able to hear the heat pump with windows open, or am I correct in assuming not?
• Any other suggestions for positioning?

Heat pump: Daikin Altherma 3 R 8 kW (dimensions (W x D x H): 884 x 388 x 740 mm (35 x 15 x 29 inches))

Some additional technical data about the heat pump:

• Sound pressure level heating (at 1 m / 3 feet distance): 49 dB(A)
• Sound pressure level cooling (at 1 m / 3 feet distance): 50 dB(A)
• Sound pressure level whisper mode 2/3 (measured at 3 m / 10 feet distance): 47.5 / 34.5 dB(A)
• Sound power level heating: 62 dB(A)
• Sound power level cooling: 62 dB(A)
• Sound power level in whisper mode 2/3: 59 / 52 dB(A)

Thanks in advance.

Sound pressure levels listed in catalogs refer to new devices under optimal installation conditions,
not on a vibrating roof, not mounted directly on an exterior wall, and not after 10 years of use.
It is no coincidence that these devices receive their own foundation and are preferably decoupled from buildings, placed at the maximum distance from bedroom windows.

Nida35a schrieb:

Sound pressure levels are catalog values for new devices under ideal installation conditions, not on a vibrating roof, not mounted on an exterior wall, and not after 10 years of operation. It’s no coincidence that these units are given their own foundation and are ideally decoupled from buildings, with maximum distance from bedroom windows.

The carport has a concrete roof. I strongly assume that the air source heat pump will not be mounted on the exterior wall but placed on a foundation. However, I still need to confirm this. The air source heat pump blows away from the house wall toward the neighbor. For the DAIKIN unit, the sound pressure level at 3 meters (about 10 feet) distance (directly in front of the heat pump) is 47.5 dBA. The windows are located to the side and above the heat pump. Therefore, I expect even lower sound levels.

Is the fan actually audible inside the rooms when the windows are positioned as shown in the picture?

Another option would be to place it in the front yard, see picture. In that case, I would need to install a cover to make it less visually intrusive. Would the air source heat pump be audible from the kitchen with the window open in this setup?

But it is just as noticeable on the roof of the carport.

Also, you’d rather hear it in the kitchen than in the bedrooms… At first, you’ll definitely notice it when it’s by the entrance, but later on, you won’t really pay attention to it anymore; it’s just something you get used to in the beginning… I find these things acoustically disturbing (I have one myself)… but most of the time it runs in winter, and then you have the window closed… so put it in the kitchen where it will bother you the least.

wesson76 schrieb:

Another option would be to place it in the front yard, as shown in the picture. However, I would need to add a cover so it doesn’t stand out too much. In this case, would the air source heat pump be audible from the kitchen with the window open?

Yes, I think you would hear it in the kitchen with the window open. But only very faintly; if you’re not paying attention, you’ll probably tune it out. What I definitely recommend is placing it somewhere you don’t walk past. Worse than the appearance and noise is the draft it creates. Unfortunately, ours faces directly onto our driveway because everyone talked about the noise but no one mentioned the airflow. That really bothers us because we get the draft every time we park the car in the driveway.