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The short answer: Mitsubishi Electric currently produces the quietest heat pumps available in New Zealand – hands down. Their wall-mounted units operate at just 18dBA on the lowest fan setting. To give you some perspective, a dishwasher generates around 55dBA. At 18dBA, your heat pump becomes practically inaudible.
At Varcoe, we’ve installed over 12,000 heat pumps across Auckland since 1975, which gives us real-world experience with how these units actually perform in New Zealand homes.
Sound levels work differently than most people expect. A 10dBA increase doesn’t translate to “10% louder.” It actually means the perceived loudness roughly doubles. So the gap between 18dBA and 35dBA feels enormous to your ears, even though the numbers look close on paper.
Here’s how the major brands compare:
| Brand | Model/Series | Noise Level (dBA) |
| Mitsubishi Electric | EcoCore AP Series | 18 |
| Mitsubishi Electric | Designer EF Series | 19-22 |
| Mitsubishi Electric | Other models (quiet setting) | 25-30 |
| Daikin | Cora series | 32-35 |
| Daikin | Other models | 35-40 |
| Panasonic | Aero Series | 35-38 |
To give you some context: according to the NZ Ministry of Health’s resources, a normal conversation at a distance of 1 metre registers around 60dBA, a quiet library measures 30dBA, while a whisper comes in at roughly 20dBA. Mitsubishi’s quietest units fall between whisper-quiet and normal speech levels.
Models from other brands are great, as well, with the “loudest” (Daikin’s) clocking in at just the sound of a quiet office. Nevertheless, if you’re after the quietest around, it’s clear from the chart which brand you ought to pick.
Location determines whether noise becomes a problem. If you’re installing a heat pump in your garage to heat the laundry, a bit of noise probably won’t bother you much. But if you’re putting one in a bedroom or right next to your lounge where you watch TV? Quietness matters a lot.
During winter months, your heat pump will probably be running for hours. Even if it didn’t bother you before when it was running for just an hour or so everyday, it might start to grate a little then. Constant background noise affects sleep quality, concentration, and stress levels (Health Council of the Netherlands). As such, buying the quietest option you can afford right out the bat makes sense.
The World Health Organization provides indoor sound level guidelines that apply to New Zealand homes. For bedrooms, WHO recommends:
While most standard heat pumps operate around 40-45dBA, Mitsubishi’s quietest models stay well below that threshold.
Some brands can only achieve quiet operation on the lowest fan speed – alright during summer months when you don’t need a lot of heating power. But on cold winter nights, you’ll have to crank the fan up, and suddenly it’s not so quiet anymore.
The reason why we always recommend Mitsubishi’s is because their heat pumps are designed to maintain quiet operation across all fan speeds. So even if you crank it up, the noise would still be very minimal.
The unit itself tells only part of the story. Other parts of a heat pump system can contribute to the noise calculus, such as:
A unit bolted to a flimsy bracket that vibrates will be noisy regardless of its specifications. That’s why you want to hire competent installers who can take care of vibration and provide solid mounting for your unit. Even a premium Mitsubishi heat pump unit can be ruined by a poor installation job.
This is why we always do a thorough assessment of your space before we recommend placement points for your system. If an outdoor unit is placed right outside of your bedroom window, it’ll annoy you even when the specs sheet says it’s whisper-quiet.
Indoor unit placement counts, as well. You’ll hear it if it’s mounted directly atop your bed. But on the opposite wall? The fan noise would be so much less noticeable.
If you have a large lounge, a 30-35 dBA unit is fine – the room’s size allows the noise to dissipate before it could become an annoyance. In a small bedroom, though, we’d ask you to consider a quieter unit. In a small room, the sound will bounce around your space by pinging off the walls, and a technically-quiet 30 dBA unit will still sound loud.
| Priority | Recommended Option | Noise Level | Price Point | Best For |
| Quietest possible | Mitsubishi Electric EcoCore AP Series | 18dBA | Premium | Bedrooms, noise-sensitive areas where you need winter heating |
| Quiet + budget-conscious | Daikin Cora series | 32-35dBA | Mid-range | Solid middle ground between performance and cost |
| Quiet without premium pricing | Panasonic Aero series | 35-38dBA | Competitive | Good value, reliable performance despite less marketing |
| Avoid | Budget/cheapest options | 40-45dBA+ | Low | Often louder due to cost-cutting on compressor and fan design |
Yes! Varcoe can arrange unit demonstrations so you can hear the actual noise levels before committing.
Both contribute. The outdoor condenser unit generates noise from the compressor and fan, which can be audible if it’s placed near windows or outdoor living areas. The indoor wall-mounted head produces fan noise. A truly quiet system needs both units to be quiet. Mitsubishi’s outdoor units are also among the quietest available, so their advantage extends to the whole system.
Mitsubishi genuinely stands alone at 18dBA. No other mainstream brand currently available in New Zealand operates at that level. Daikin and Panasonic’s quietest models sit 12-17dBA higher.
Not necessarily for noise reasons. Ducted systems move noise through ductwork, which can create different acoustic issues. Wall-mounted units give you better control over where the sound is directed. If you’re extremely noise-sensitive, a high-quality quiet wall unit is often better than a ducted system.
Noise typically increases slightly as compressors and fans age. A unit that was quiet when new may develop a slightly noisier operation after 10+ years of use. Regular maintenance (keeping filters clean, having the compressor serviced) slows this degradation, but it’s natural for aging units to be noisier than new ones.
Mitsubishi Electric genuinely produces the quietest heat pumps available in New Zealand. If noise matters to you and your budget allows it, this represents your best option.
For everyone else, modern heat pumps from any current brand run pretty quietly compared to older systems. Daikin, Panasonic, and other reputable manufacturers all produce units that will be quieter than you expect, especially with proper installation and correct sizing for your space.Want to discuss quiet options for your specific situation? Call Varcoe on 0800 088 888. We can arrange unit demonstrations if you’re making decisions based on noise. Hearing the actual sound before purchase helps ensure you get what you expect.
Most homeowners don’t realize they could be eligible for the Warmer Kiwi Homes grant. That’s up to $3,450 off a professional heat pump installation. Let us check if you qualify.
