Swimming pool pump noise: a conundrum

According to one of Australia’s leading suppliers of swimming pool pump covers, Hideaway Covers, the question of noise from pool pumps is often grossly misunderstood by homeowners.  Read Hideaway’s recommendations on managing the vexed question of pool pump noise.

BE A GOOD NEIGHBOUR

If you’re about to install a new pool or you have just done so, one of the things that you must take into account is the impact that your pool will undoubtedly have on your neighbours. 

It’s always important to try and have good relations with your neighbours. 

However, even for the best of neighbours, they will be inconvenienced in having to put-up with your influx of tradies, excavators, plumbers, tilers, pool installers, fencers, and electricians … all making your neighbour’s life unpleasant while you have the excitement of seeing your new pool being built. 

So, spare a thought for them and talk to them regularly to find out if there is anything which is really troubling them that you may be able to help with.  It could be tradie’s utes blocking their driveway; loud music being played all day; offensive language being used on-site; not managing waste on site ….  it could be a raft of small issues that all too frequently can blow-up into a big issue and damage your otherwise good neighbourly relations.

Noise from pool pumps running at night is the single largest complaint area received by most Councils.

Pool pump noise can disturb sleep, adversely impact health, and interfere with the general amenity and well-being of your neighbours, as well as yourself. Whilst you may be prepared to put-up with some inconvenience of noise from your pump – especially at night time – there is no reason that your neighbour should have to put up with it.  Remember this is EVERY DAY and EVERY NIGHT!

However, there are usually solutions to any problems – including noise from pumps.

Whilst pool pumps themselves are not very noisy – the swooshing of water as it filters through the system can be annoying to some people, and if it disturbs their general amenity – their peace and quiet – they may build up a resentment against you …. and your pool!

Therefore, plan to minimise any noise impact and remember that regular communication is the key to a smooth install and happy neighbours afterwards.

To see how you can minimise this impact, read on…

Do pool pumps have noise restrictions? 

Yes. Every state has Environmental Protection Acts (or similar names) which limits the amount of noise a pool pump can make – just like air conditioning motors. 

If someone with a noisy pool pump refuses to do anything about the noise, after a neighbour’s request in writing for you to reduce the amount of noise from your pool pump, a Council can impose on-the-spot fines and/or issue a Noise Abatement Order preventing you from turning your pump on until it is sound-deadened to the required standard.

For this reason, some Councils go to great lengths ‘just-in-case’ and suggest (but can’t mandate) the installation of sound-deadening or acoustic reducing type boxes just to avoid any potential complaints from neighbours. 

Part of solving this potential problem before it even has a chance to become one, is to plan where to locate your pool pump.  Ideally, have it located as far removed from your neighbours as is practical.

If you have no choice but to locate your pump alongside the boundary fence, you may have no choice other than to install a pool pump cover.  In reality, everyone who installs a pool wants to conceal the pump and all the pipework so that it doesn’t become a visual blight against your lovely new pool and its landscaped surrounds.

Colorbond boundary fences, whilst very effective and economical, do not provide a solid backboard for pool pump covers. In fact, they can make it worse by reverberating noise and if you attempt to screw your pool pump cover onto the Colorbond you end up with very dangerous sharp screws on your neighbour’s side.  

Read on to see what the law says….

What are the State Regulations?

Do you know what times you are allowed to run your pool pump and what constitutes “too loud?” 

If not, check with your local Council requirements, however most Councils have conditions similar to the following:

Queensland

• Day time: 7am – 7pm and pump noise can be no more than five (5) decibels (dB) above the location’s general ambient (background) noise. 

• Evening: 7pm – 10pm and pump noise can be no more than three (3) decibels above evening ambient noise.

• Night-time: 10pm – 7am – no pump noise can be heard.

New South Wales 

• Before 7am or after 8pm (8am-8pm on Sundays and Public Holidays): “if any noise that can be heard within any room in any other residential premises (excludes laundry, toilet, bathroom, garage, storage) whether or not any door or window to that room is open.”

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN IN PRACTICE?

The ambient noise is the background noise level as measured in decibels (dB) without the pump running. It includes the general background neighbourhood noise of cars, people, conversations, birds, sirens, music, wind …. and all other background noise as measured at a particular time and specific location.

Then, turn the pump on, and take a new decibel reading at the identical locations. It must be no more than the levels stated above of the ambient noise. 

Importantly, these measurements should be taken at the location where the complainant is complaining about the noise.  This may be in any habitable room (e.g. bedroom of a neighbour) or a backyard at the fence-line but only if the neighbour has a reason to use that area (for example, a gazebo or outdoor entertaining area which is immediately adjoining the fence).

Importantly, it does not include standing next to the fence if the neighbour does not have a reason to normally do that.

Urban Myth: Decibel measurement is not just taken at the fence-line as the defining sound level. This is an urban myth.  It may however be relevant as a part of a series of measurements across the effected neighbouring property as described above.  

Several readings may be necessary to be taken.  There are Government Manuals and Standards on how sound measurements are to be taken should this matter proceed to court or tribunals. 

Check with your local Council for their specific dB requirements (if any) and time restrictions.

Read on to understand what decibel noise means ….

What does five decibels (5dB) or “no noise” really mean?

To help you understand what this means, the following is a guide to comparative noise levels:

Soft –

• 10dB – 20dB is roughly when someone is whispering or leaves from trees are rustling.

• 30dB is a quiet rural area.

• 40dB is a quiet suburban area at night; a quiet library; light rain.

Moderate –

• 50dB is quiet conversation at home; a quiet suburban street in daytime; moderate rainfall; quiet office.

• 60dB equates to restaurant/normal conversation; office environment; background music; some dishwashers; air conditioners (67dB).

Loud –

• 70dB is normal traffic; vacuum cleaners; modern lawn mowers (75dB).

• 80dB is very heavy traffic; noisy restaurant.
• 90dB – Fun fact: did you know that cicadas at full chorus can reach a crescendo of 90dBA – that’s louder than being inside an A321 plane during flight, and louder than most lawn mowers! 

Most importantly however, the decibel scale is logarithmic and not linear.  

This means that each time a sound’s decibel increases by 10, its intensity multiplies by 10. For example, an increase of 10dB from a base recording of (say) 0 means that the intensity of the sound has increased by 10; an increase of 20, means the intensity has increased by 100; and and increase of 30 means the intensity has increased by 1000. Therefore if one sound (A) is 10dB louder than another sound (B), then B is perceived as being twice as loud.

So, an increase of 5dB technically means that the intensity or volume has doubled.  In real-world terms, this means that the general background noise without the pump is measured, then once turned on, the intensity/volume/noise from the pump must be ‘quite noticeable.’ i.e. the perceived noise level must have doubled from before the pump was turned on. However, psychoaccoustically (sound as perceived by your brain) you need about a 10dB boost to actually hear a doubling of the sound pressure level/intensity.  

You can get free decibel apps for your smart phone to test the dB rating if you want to conduct your own tests to give you a guide. These are also available from Bunnings. Certifiers however, use more fine-tuned specialist sound meters (noise dosemeter/dosimeter).

HOW DO POOL PUMPS COMPARE TO AIR CONDITIONING MOTORS?

Air conditioning motors are required to be rated at 67dB or less to be approved. Pool pump motors, filters, and swishing total noise should generally be no more than air conditioning motors, but must comply with the above, or your Council’s specific, noise requirements. 

Councils set the approval rules for themselves and Private Certifiers to administer. Some Certifiers are more stringent or pedantic in their assessment and application of these noise requirements than others. We hope that this explanation assists all parties to achieve a sensible and balanced outcome in relation to any noise mitigation issues regarding pool pumps. 

Read on to learn what you can do to reduce any potential noise…

What can I do to minimise pool pump noise?

• Design: At your design stage, look at where the pool pump is going to be located.  If possible, move it away from the fence line by more than one metre.  This way, you ensure there is almost no noise transmission. Also, do not breech the Non-Climbable Zone (NCZ). Very few pumps can be located on the boundary fence as they make your fence non-compliant. For more details on this critical topic see our Blog, “Pool Fencing Compliance Nightmares.” Most importantly, ensure that all equipment is absolutely level when installed.

• Check that your pump is fully charged with water:  Often air enters the filter chamber and makes the water filter “gurgle.”  Ensure the water filter is filled with water and that your pool water level is correct – this will help to keep it quieter. Remember to also clean the skimmer basket regularly.

• Modifications: sometimes changing the layout of the pump network can reduce noise.  Discuss this with your pool installer.

• Use a timer:  Most pools need to run the pump once or twice a day for three to six hours to filter the water correctly.  Consider use a timer so that this occurs during the day, and not at night. This way, any noise is baffled by the ambient day time noise.

• Maintenance: get your pump and filtration checked by a pool maintenance firm regularly to ensure that it is operating at peak performance. For example, it might be loose and vibrating; have a damaged motor; or need a vibration pad or silicon mat under the pump which will help both with any vibration as well as the humming caused by pumps. Vibration is the most common cause of noisy pumps.

• Get a new water pump: if your pump is old, you may solve your noise problem by simply updating to a newer designed and quieter pump motor.  Talk to you pool supplier.

• Install a pool pump cover: the type of enclosure you select will be based on the following:
  
  
  • closeness of the pool pump and filter to the boundary fence;
  
  
  • closeness of your neighbour’s property/outdoor entertaining area to the boundary fence;
  
  
  • noise of the pool pump when running;do you just cover the pump or do you cover and protect everything – filter, pipework, control boxes;
  
  
  • appearance (or ugliness) of the proposed pool pump enclosure – is it just a very large box or tin shed that detracts from your pool area;
  
  
  • ease of installation of the pool pump cover / warranty / serviceability of components;
  
  
  • maintenance and whether the cover will need routine painting or maintenance to keep it looking in as new condition;
  
  
  • whether the cover allows for ventilation to keep the motor cool – or is it fully enclosed and risks overheating the motor (if not adequately ventilated);
  
  
  • strength and durability – will it withstand knocks or will it show dents;
  
  
  • cost – but this will be of least of your concerns if you need to reduce the sound from your pump. 

Is pool certification required?

Certification of the pool is only required if you are installing a new pool, or you are selling a home with a pool and the prospective purchaser requires a full certification on the pool and its components. This applies especially to the pool fencing which is the most common form of non-compliance.  

If you already have a pool and you just want to enhance its appearance and provide weather protection by installing a pool pump cover then no certification or Council approval is required. 

DO I HAVE TO INSTALL ONE OF THOSE FOAM-BASED, “ACOUSTIC” TYPE TIN BOXES?

No. Councils are risk averse, and often suggest or even recommend (but they cannot demand) that getting a sound-reducing or foam acoustic style pool pump box will “remove any risk of a noise complaint” (to the Council that is – and it makes their life easier by not having to deal with potential complaints). 

Do your own homework and use the above information to decide if you really do need a big, bland, tin box sitting inside or next to your expensive and beautiful new pool. 

If you do decide that you do need, or want to, deaden the sound either because you want peace and quiet for relaxation around your pool, or because your pump is located on the boundary fence and it’s the only spot your pump can be located…then, at least…

• choose a pool pump cover that looks stunning,

• has appropriate ventilation so that the motor doesn’t overheat,

• has easy access for maintenance,

• that’s on-trend, and

• that compliments your new pool landscaping.

SOLUTION: Hideaway’s Pool Pump Covers help to reduce the sound from your pool pump and will enhance your outdoor entertaining area.  See: www.Hideway-Covers.com.au        (Updated 08.01.2024)