Can I be fined for a noisy heat pump?

You can. If a noise control officer finds the noise excessive and issues a direction to reduce it, ignoring that direction carries a cost. New Plymouth District Council lists an instant fine of $500 for not complying, and a court conviction can bring a fine of up to $10,000, plus more for each day the offence continues.

Will the council send someone the first time I call?

Not always. It depends on the council's policy. Tauranga, for example, needs two complaints, from separate people or from the same person an hour apart, before an officer is sent out. Ask your council how it handles noise complaints when you first phone.

Is noise inside my own house covered by the rules?

District plan noise limits are about noise reaching other people's property, so they don't set how loud your indoor unit can be in your own lounge. If an indoor unit is louder than it used to be, treat it as a fault and get it checked.

The noisy heat pump belongs to another flat with the same landlord. Who sorts it out?

New Plymouth District Council's guidance is that a noise problem between tenancies with the same landlord falls under the Residential Tenancies Act. That means going to the landlord rather than noise control, and if the landlord doesn't act, the Tenancy Tribunal is the next step.

Heat Pump Noise: The Rules, the Fixes and Your Neighbours

A heat pump has a compressor and a fan in the outdoor unit, so it will always make some noise. Most of the time nobody notices. Problems start when an outdoor unit sits close to a neighbour’s bedroom, hums through a still winter night, or develops a rattle. On smaller sections, with houses closer together, it comes up more often.

The rules come from the Resource Management Act 1991. Most of the fixes are simple. And a complaint is far easier to sort out early than after a noise control officer turns up.

What noise rules apply to my heat pump?

Noise rules come from the Resource Management Act 1991, and councils use two separate tools. It helps to know which is which.

Excessive noise (section 326). This is noise under human control that unreasonably interferes with the peace, comfort and convenience of other people. A council noise control officer can visit, decide on the spot whether the noise is excessive, and issue a direction to reduce it. Councils describe the direction as lasting up to eight days. This tool is built for noise that’s happening right now, like a party or an alarm.

Unreasonable noise (section 16). This deals with noise that carries on over time. If it isn’t fixed, the council can issue an abatement notice. Whanganui District Council notes that if two excessive noise directions are issued within three months, an abatement notice can follow.

On top of both sits your district plan, which sets permitted noise levels by zone and time of day. Heat pump boundary rules has real limits from two councils and explains how they apply at the boundary.

What if the unit is under the noise limit but still annoying?

A unit that meets the decibel limit can still cause a problem. Waimakariri District Council’s fact sheet warns that a constant, penetrating monotone noise, like a generator or a water pump, may be treated as unreasonable even if it doesn’t exceed the noise levels. What counts as acceptable is partly personal, and a steady hum through a bedroom wall at 2am wears on people fast.

How do I choose a quiet heat pump?

It’s much cheaper to avoid noise than to fix it later. Before the install:

Compare sound figures before you buy. The noise specifications are in the sales brochure. Look at the outdoor unit’s figures, not just the indoor unit’s, and compare models of a similar size.
Think about the night. Night limits are lower than daytime ones, and a heat pump often runs hardest on cold evenings and early mornings. Ask the installer how the unit will perform at night in the spot they’ve chosen.
Mind the size, the spot and the mounting. The noise depends on all three. A unit too close to the boundary, or not raised off the ground, is the classic cause of complaints.
Talk to the neighbour first. If the only sensible spot is near their side, a conversation before the install is far easier than one after a complaint.

How do you fix a noisy heat pump?

If you’ve got a noisy unit, work through these in order, cheapest first.

Check for a fault. A new rattle, buzz or grinding sound usually means something has worked loose or worn. A service can find and fix it. If it doesn’t settle, see heat pump problems and call a repairer.
Check the mounting. A unit on a flimsy wall bracket can pass vibration into the house and the fence. Moving it to a solid, level base raised off the ground often helps.
Change the settings. Night limits are the tight ones. A timer that warms the house earlier in the evening, rather than heating hard in the small hours, can shift running time to when the limits are higher. Winter settings covers timers and temperatures.
Consider a barrier. A solid fence or wall between the unit and the neighbour can block some noise. Anything you build around the unit must keep the clearances in the installation manual, or it will run poorly.
Move it. If nothing else works, relocating the outdoor unit away from the boundary, or turning it so the fan faces your own section, is the real fix. It costs more, but it ends the problem.

→ Related: What a heat pump service covers

My neighbour’s heat pump is keeping me awake

Start with a friendly conversation. Councils ask you to speak to your neighbour first, and many people don’t know their unit can be heard next door. Take notes on when the noise bothers you and what it sounds like, as that helps them and their installer.

If talking doesn’t work:

Call your council. Ask whether to use the after-hours noise control line or make a daytime complaint about ongoing noise. Report it while it’s happening if you’re using noise control.
Keep a record. Write down dates, times and how long the noise lasted.
Let the council assess it. An officer decides whether the noise is reasonable or excessive. For ongoing noise, the council can move to an abatement notice.

What happens if you get a complaint about your heat pump?

Don’t ignore it. The onus is on the owner or landlord to make sure the unit meets the district plan, and a council can require changes. Waimakariri’s fact sheet warns you may not be allowed to use a unit if complaints are received.

Get your installer back to check the unit and the mounting, and ask what it would take to move it. Find the sound figures for your model so you can talk to the council with facts. If you rent, tell your landlord straight away, since the unit belongs to them.

Find someone to fix a noisy heat pump

For a noisy unit, start with a heat pump repairer or book a heat pump service. If you’re replacing or moving one, pick your town to find installers near you.