Noise levels

Greensource air source heat pumps are very quiet.

Sound levels are as low as 53dB(A) for the Greensource air-to-water heat pump outdoor unit (6kW, 7kW and 9.5kW ratings) and 49/50dB(A) for the Greensource air-to-air heat pump outdoor unit, when used for cooling or heating.

Importantly, the sound levels recorded from the Greensource indoor air-to-air unit registers even lower on the decibel scale, even when the indoor unit is operating on the highest fan speed setting.

To get a better idea of how the sound levels emitted by Greensource air source heat pumps compared with some of the everyday noises we hear, here’s a quick guide together with a few facts as a useful point of reference:

Everyday noises in perspective

(Decibels (dBA) / Noise)

150 Gunshot / artillery fire

140 Plane take off / fireworks

130 Pneumatic drill

120 Thunder / loud stereo / nightclub / chainsaw / rock concert / emergency siren

110 Football crowd / personal stereo / car horn / shouting in the ear

85 At this level, protection must be worn in the workplace (Caution: Prolonged exposure above 85dB(A) can damage hearing)

80 Ringing phone / hoover / hairdryer / doorbell

70 Washing machine / dishwasher / television

60 Normal conversation / Greensource air to water heat pump outdoor unit 53 dB(A)

50 Rainfall / Greensource air to air heat pump outdoor unit 49/50 dB(A)

40 Refrigerator / library / Greensource indoor air to air unit between 27-4 6dB(A)

30 Soft whisper

20 Broadcasting studio / whispering at 5 feet

10 Normal breathing

0 Threshold of hearing

Did you know?

• All sound levels are measured in decibel units dB(A), which is logarithmic. This means that an increase of 10 on the decibel scale corresponds to the intensity of the sound increasing by a factor of 10. Generally speaking, 0 dB(A) is the softest sound a person can hear and 150 dB(A) is associated with the kind of noise level you’d expect from gunshot or artillery fire

• Brushing your teeth with an electric toothbrush is actually noisier than sitting next to Worcester’s indoor air to air unit. An electric toothbrush will produce between 50-60 dB(A), and a normal conservation will register at around 60 dB(A)

• According to guidelines published by the World Health Organisation, a loud radio will hit levels of between 65-75 dB(A) and a heavy lorry around 7 metres away can expose ears to around 80 dB(A). Both are far higher levels than Worcester’s Greensource air source heat pumps.