All quiet in Oak Bay: Vancouver Island community limits how loud heat pumps can be

If you're hoping get away from all the world's noise, B.C.'s Oak Bay may have what you're looking for.

The southern Vancouver Island community, home to about 18,000 people, has been phasing out noisy gas-powered lawn equipment — leaf blowers, namely — and now, the community is taking aim at another machine, one homeowners are being increasingly encouraged to use: heat pumps. 

A heat pump is an energy-efficient alternative to natural gas or electric heating and cooling systems. The machines can be installed both indoors and outdoors, and move heat into or out of buildings. In an effort to make B.C. more eco-friendly, the province has encouraged the use of heat pumps through rebate programs.  

Although they're increasing in popularity, they do make some noise.

In a letter addressed to Oak Bay council and staff, resident Thorsten Hanisch said his neighbour's heat pump has "significantly affected" him and others in his home. 

While he said the location of the unit is within the current three-metre requirement — the minimum distance a unit should be placed from a building —the sound carries into his yard and into his home, and his bedroom in particular. He added the volume varies in intensity depending on his neighbours' heating and cooling needs.

"There hasn't been a night during which we didn't notice [the sound], even with windows closed."

And while his neighbours have been understanding and working to find a solution, Hanisch said a bylaw would help ensure the "best possible relations" between neighbours. 

Now, the District of Oak Bay has passed an anti-noise bylaw amendment, limiting how loud heat pumps can be. 

From 7 a.m. PT to 10 p.m. PT heat pumps can be 50 decibels and from 10:00 p.m. PT until 7 a.m. PT, they can reach 45, according to Oak Bay Mayor Kevin Murdoch. 

"Most people honestly can't hear them during the day," Murdoch told CBC's All Points West host Jason D'Souza. "But sometimes at night, they become a bit more noticeable and can cause people hardship in sleeping."

According to the province, most modern heat pumps have a sound rating of about 60 decibels — which is the same volume as an average conversation between two people. 

Murdoch said the limitations won't be too restrictive for newer models, because most people have a way to reduce the noise through sound proofing.

Literature on heat pumps from the province suggests that special enclosures around the units can mitigate noise, as can placing the unit on a solid base to prevent vibration.

The amendment comes after the district council unanimously voted to phase out gas-powered leaf blowers and other residential lawn equipment in 2022, due to the loud noise they make.  

Murdoch said that in general, heat pumps are "not problematic" and said he thinks having clear guidelines around how they can operate in the community will actually encourage some residents to consider them. 

"There are some heat pumps that do generate excessive noise. And I think where this is probably gonna kick in is if people aren't maintaining them and they start getting problematic. With age, this will be a tool that allows neighbours to complain to bylaw about that and have them rectified."