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Quietest Heat Pump for Listening Space

Chilliwack

Chilliwack

New Member
I’ve tried searching several terms and haven’t found anything so I’ll ask the question.

Can anyone recommend a very quiet or silent heat pump system?

I’m building an addition to my shop to be a dedicated listening space and thinking about how to heat it. I’m using baseboard heat in my current space but they creak and groan when they cycle and resonate at several frequencies.

I’m thinking I’d like to go with a heat pump system to handle the existing and new space so I could also have AC in the summer. My concern is noise, I’ve stayed in many, many hotels and motels with these ‘split systems’ and they all make far too much noise to use while listening.

Does anyone have first hand experience
with a truly quiet system? I see there are some options for non ductless systems which I’m thinking would be more like a traditional furnace with a quieter central fan though they seem to be double or triple the cost.

The existing space is about 20x20 and the new space will be about 20 x 16. Two separate zones would be better. If I had the option of multiple zones I might add third zone to keep the shop from freezing at some point. I’m on the West coast and it doesn’t get much below freezing most of the year.

Cost would be the main factor followed by sound level.
 
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Suggestion, and yes these are available and sold where you live.
At least a starting point.
Mitsubishi Mini Split AC/Heat Pump
 
+1
I love these things. Very efficient, and very quiet (both the inside and outside sections).

I'll skip the back story, but when we built this house we didn't have it air conditioned.
We 'beta tested' a Mitsubishi H2I high-effiency heat pump on our main floor a couple of years ago for cooling and adjunct heat; this year we added a second system with air handling units in my hifi room and upstairs in our bedroom. These units produce useful heat at good efficiency down to outdoor temperatures as low as -12 degrees F; they have no 'emergency' resistive heat elements. They do a nice job of air conditioning, too -- at least in Northern New England.

Highly recommended. Accept no substitutes for the Mitsubishis (there are other brands), IMO.
 
FWIW, this is the unit in the hifi room (ca. 25 x 25 feet, with a high-ish ceiling).

DSC_0735 (2r).JPG

... and these are the two outside units -- we have two because we added these piecemeal, and we started with a small unit to see if we liked what it did & how it worked -- there are myriad sizes (capacities) to fit most any new construction or retrofit. :)

DSC_0778 (2r).JPG


... and this is why I like these most of all. For a good part of the year, they operate for free. :)

DSC_9961 (2) by Mark Hardy, on Flickr

HTH

Ohighway said:
Geothermal.
Click to expand...
Good point. Indeed, geothermal is also very good -- kind of expensive up here; probably more economical installation, e.g., in the mid-Atlantic (from whence @Ohighway hails, if memory serves).
 
totem said:
Suggestion, and yes these are available and sold where you live.
At least a starting point.
Mitsubishi Mini Split AC/Heat Pump
Click to expand...
+1 and coming from a commercial HVAC tech for 28 years. It will allow you to have 2 indoor wall fan units with 1outdoor unit.
 
mhardy6647 said:
+1
I love these things. Very efficient, and very quiet (both the inside and outside sections).

I'll skip the back story, but when we built this house we didn't have it air conditioned.
We 'beta tested' a Mitsubishi H2I high-effiency heat pump on our main floor a couple of years ago for cooling and adjunct heat; this year we added a second system with air handling units in my hifi room and upstairs in our bedroom. These units produce useful heat at good efficiency down to outdoor temperatures as low as -12 degrees F; they have no 'emergency' resistive heat elements. They do a nice job of air conditioning, too -- at least in Northern New England.

Highly recommended. Accept no substitutes for the Mitsubishis (there are other brands), IMO.
Click to expand...

+2
 
Thanks for the replies so far and from them I get that the Mitsubishi is the winner for quality but I’m most concerned with noise.

I don’t remember what all the various brands were that I’ve seen over the years but I’m looking for quiet like a modern furnace in a house. I’m hoping for something you can’t hear unless you’re listening for it. In my experience, all these wall mounted indoor sections were noisy or Very noisy.

mhardy mentions his is quiet but how quiet? Can you compare it to something else - can you hear it with the tv on, over heavy rain outside?
 
Chilliwack said:
Thanks for the replies so far and from them I get that the Mitsubishi is the winner for quality but I’m most concerned with noise.

I don’t remember what all the various brands were that I’ve seen over the years but I’m looking for quiet like a modern furnace in a house. I’m hoping for something you can’t hear unless you’re listening for it. In my experience, all these wall mounted indoor sections were noisy or Very noisy.

mhardy mentions his is quiet but how quiet? Can you compare it to something else - can you hear it with the tv on, over heavy rain outside?
Click to expand...

32 decibels
How Quiet is a Mitsubishi Mini Split? The mini split systems are the quietest air conditioners you can find on the market. They have an average noise level of 32 decibels. To put that into perspective, window units and split and packaged central air conditioners have an average noise level of 50-72 decibels.
 
The typical hotel/motel through the wall heat pump noise level is:
around 50 dB
Normally, window, through the wall, and PTAC air conditioners operate at a sound level of around 50 dB, which is slightly quieter than normal conversation level. The compressor is the loudest part of any air conditioner. With these types of units, the compressor is located right next to the room.
 
I would characterize the one in the listening room as essentially inaudible in operation, heating or cooling.
It is quieter than any hotel wall unit I've encountered.

Best I can do, sorry.
 
Chilliwack said:
Thanks for the replies so far and from them I get that the Mitsubishi is the winner for quality but I’m most concerned with noise.

I don’t remember what all the various brands were that I’ve seen over the years but I’m looking for quiet like a modern furnace in a house. I’m hoping for something you can’t hear unless you’re listening for it. In my experience, all these wall mounted indoor sections were noisy or Very noisy.

mhardy mentions his is quiet but how quiet? Can you compare it to something else - can you hear it with the tv on, over heavy rain outside?
Click to expand...

i have an air source heat pump that uses traditional duct work. It is not what you’re looking for. It’s so noisy that when it kicks into high speed I have to turn up the volume on the TV.
 
I've only gotten the foundation started on this project so I'm nowhere near purchasing a heat pump yet but I wanted to be sure I did my homework and didn't do anything to limit my options.

There's lots of specs on the internet and human nature is that most people will promote what they bought but first hand knowledge and examples tell a better story.

Thanks to those who took the time to resond.
 
I have a ducted mini split that is super quiet inside and out. The wife said the inside wall unit that most mini splits use was just too ugly. It was a good call. My system is by Pioneer but I bet Mitsubishi has a ducted option too. It’s a more complicated install but super quiet and good aesthetics.
 
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