Re: neighbors new air/heat conditioning unit..... ... - Page 3

SeaMaiden · ‎03-10-2010

@Carmie Amazon has it for free shipping and no sales tax.

SeaMaiden · ‎03-10-2010

@occasionalrain wrote:
Assuming it's a heat pump and there is a quieter brand now, while construction is in progress, is the time to speak with them. Better still, send them a registered letter which will let them know you will not tolerate it.

@occasionalrain I am going to go over there today when the work crew and boss is there and discuss it with him. See if he will talk to the owners about installing it. Start there... and hopefully I will not have to take further steps. We have been neighbors for 24 years.. we are not close, but, friendly hello etc.. friendly.

Carmie · ‎10-25-2010

@2blonde wrote:
@SeaMaiden Since you say it's both heat and A/C, I assume it's a heat pump. Depending on the brand, they are all usually pretty noisy (the only ones that aren't are the Trains, and they aren't cheap). I live in a condo where all our back doors line up with just a fenced patio behind. We all have heat pumps, and I instinctively know which neighbor it is when theirs comes on. Mine can be pretty noisy at times (it's only a couple years old), but you can barely hear it inside the house, even when standing right next to that wall (it's about 3 feet away from it). The only way you can shield one of thes units is with a barrier that's not very close to it, as they do need room to "breathe."

My heat pump is a Trane and it is big and noisy. If they are the quiet ones, I'd hate to hear the loud ones.

riley1 · ‎03-10-2010

Also, if you live in an HOA, they might have a problem with type of "fence". Would your neighbor have to apply to the ARC to get approval for it?

The second thing might be the room to allow the configuration necessary to properly fit around the unit. Also, easy access for when the unit needs to be serviced.

My HVAC system was just installed last fall and I don't find it to be extremely noisy and mine is a Carrier.

HappyDaze · ‎06-13-2012

It is things like this that again reminds me how happy I am not to live in a neighborhood anymore. I am one that likes quiet and noises like this would bother me.

However, you cannot control what your neighbors do if it is all within the law. That is part of the trade off living in a neighborhood. When things in my neighborhood got noisey and unacceptable to me (pool parties every day/night, constantly barking dogs, loud and noisey children that were out of control, etc I moved to acreage. Moving is not easy but if you really cannot deal with regular neighborhood noises, it would be your only option besides just learning to deal with them all.

stevieb · ‎03-10-2010

@seaBreeze wrote:
I would mention your dissatisfaction to them.. I, too, have a situation with my neighbor but mine is from mowing on Sundays, constant car horn blowing, dog barking, and throwing tin cans in their metal garbage can that resonate in my inner being. I never get used to it, and neither will you--A.C. units are annoying--ask your neighbor for some type of noise abatement around theirs for your own sanity. @SeaMaiden

I'd say the dog barking and horn blowing are on the neighbors... Dogs can be trained not to bark incessantly, if that's what it is, and at least theoretically, human beings can be taught not to lay on the horn... Sunday grass cutting is, however, not outside the norm, as many people attend to household chores on weekends... Unless it's prohibited by an HOA or some sort of ordinance, it's probably up to them to choose when they mow the grass, annoying though it might well be.

In my pantry with my cupcakes...

151949 · ‎03-09-2010

An AC unit should not be running all the time. If it honestly is running all the time they need to know and call the company where they bought it as that sounds defective.

Plaid Pants2 · ‎03-14-2015

When one lives in the suburbs, one expects there to be noise from others living within close proximity to them.

It's called "Life".

It will never be silent in the suburbs.

Tinkrbl44 · ‎08-23-2010

@SeaMaiden wrote:
@occasionalrain wrote:
Assuming it's a heat pump and there is a quieter brand now, while construction is in progress, is the time to speak with them. Better still, send them a registered letter which will let them know you will not tolerate it.
@occasionalrain I am going to go over there today when the work crew and boss is there and discuss it with him. See if he will talk to the owners about installing it. Start there... and hopefully I will not have to take further steps. We have been neighbors for 24 years.. we are not close, but, friendly hello etc.. friendly.

@SeaMaiden

I think you should point out to the boss that the noise is too loud for the neighborhood. I don't know how close the next adjacent homes are, but it's possible that the noise can be heard by other residents, as well. I am pretty sure the owners didn't see that unit running before they made the decision to get that one.

Since it's brand new, ask the contractor / boss if they can recommend a quieter unit that won't bother the neighbors. He'll have to talk to the owners, obviously. My suggestion is have them (and the contrator) sit with lawn chairs on that side of the house and see how long they can take it. It's entirely possible they really don't even know how loud it is, so give them the benefit of the doubt. Seems like the contractor could "exchange" the unit for a quieter model. There has to be one.

Having explored that possibility, THEN introduce the sound abatement idea you're willing to pay for.

This is one of those things where "you must speak now or forever hold your peace". lol

That's my two cents on the subject.

stevieb · ‎03-10-2010

@occasionalrain wrote:
I would let them know their noise is unacceptable and ask when they planned to remedy the situation. Let them figure it out. They have no right to inflict their noise upon you.

Unless the unit is faulty or is violating some sort of noise ordinance, it wouldn't seem it's a matter of what a neighbor finds "unacceptable"... Moreover, unless it does meet one of the criteria above, it isn't incumbent upon them to do anything at all to remedy the situation... People living in close proximity clearly do not need to tolerate any level of noise, but some noise is clearly unavoidable and the noise made by a heat pump would appear to fall in the unavoidable category...

Were it me, I'd approach the neighbor directly rather than going to their contractor... They might be very nice people and think nothing of it, but I believe most people would probably appreciate being approached directly rather than by a third party...

In my pantry with my cupcakes...