Heat pump noise

Sir – The noise made by heat pumps (report, November 13) cannot be ignored because it is constant and all-pervasive. Unlike conventional boilers, a heat pump relies on a fast-turning fan to operate effectively. While the rules may require the noise to be limited in laboratory tests, such tests – like those for cars – are notorious for providing optimum data in laboratory conditions, but turn out to be inaccurate in the real world.

Air-source heat pumps must be outside, are exposed to weather and age quickly. The fan runs smoothly until its bearings get contaminated. Time and lack of maintenance will mean that heat pumps will only get noisier as they age. We should not be subsidising prototype technology that we know will cause problems in the future. Far better to wait for the technology to mature so that the harmful effects are avoided.

Dr Michael A Fopp

Soulbury, Buckinghamshire

Sir – The report by leading acousticians that says heat pumps are too noisy for millions of British homes should act as a wake-up call to the Government and climate activists (report, November 13). There is a real danger that, if the Government listens to the siren voices in the climate movement and insists on the installation of heat pumps, millions of people will be forced to live with unacceptable levels of noise.

The worst hit will be those living in flats, houses of multiple occupation and terraced homes. Instead of setting a target for the installation of heat pumps, the Government should introduce a moratorium on them until the noise issues are resolved.

John Stewart

Chairman, UK Noise Association London SW9