An On the wire story
Noise remains one of the biggest barriers to the heat pump market, and Quiet Mark’s latest UK survey suggests just how pronounced that concern is. Conducted with YouGov, the research found that 63% of Britons say worries about noise would affect their decision to install a heat pump, while 23% say it would put them off altogether. For a technology that is increasingly central to home decarbonisation, the finding underlines a simple point: quieter equipment may be as important as better efficiency in winning over hesitant households.
Quiet Mark is using National Heat Pump Week to highlight what it sees as the quietest options available this year, grouping models by property size and application. The organisation says its certification is intended to give consumers and installers a clearer way to identify lower-noise products, with 57% of respondents in the survey saying independent noise certification increases trust when they are weighing up a purchase. That is especially relevant in a market where many homeowners are making a leap from familiar gas or oil boilers to systems they may only know from headlines about performance, cost and disruption.
The group’s wider message is that low-noise performance is not just about the unit itself. According to Quiet Mark, correct sizing, a full heat-loss survey, careful siting and regular maintenance are all crucial to keeping a system running quietly and efficiently.
The organisation also argues that the industry still needs better acoustic scrutiny: it says it reviews manufacturers’ declared sound levels against technical standards and that a large share of the market fails to make the cut for certification. Its work with the Noise Abatement Society is aimed at treating noise as a public-health issue rather than a minor annoyance.
Among the models highlighted for smaller homes, flats and apartments is Daikin’s 4 Port Multi+Split system, which combines heating, cooling and hot water in one package, alongside options from Trianco, Grant and Bosch. For medium-sized family homes, Quiet Mark points to Panasonic’s Aquarea M Series T-CAP, Vaillant’s aroTHERM, Windhager’s AeroWIN Deluxe NXT, Insta Group’s IG6-MP1-A1 and Mitsubishi Electric’s Ecodan range. T
For larger homes and older properties with higher heat demand, Quiet Mark lists LG’s THERMA V R290 Monobloc and Ideal’s Logic Air among its quieter choices, while NIBE’s S2060-6 and Midea’s M Thermal Nature Plus Series are pitched towards boiler replacement and renovation projects.
The broader policy backdrop matters too: heat pumps are often promoted as lower-carbon alternatives to boilers, and several of the listed models also offer cooling, a feature that may become more attractive as heatwaves become more frequent.
References
Main reference: InstallerOnline [1]
• This On the wire article was created using Noahwire AI and reviewed by CIBSE Journal’s editorial team
