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We've run into one small inconvenience with our new home . . our neighbor's ac unit. It is an old clunker, looks well over 15 years old, rattles as loudly as motorcycle and is 15 feet from my bedroom window!!
Is there anything to do in such a situation besides replacing my windows with some amazing sound proof things and adding insulation to my walls?? They aren't very friendly people so its not a situation where I can mention this to them. But right now, as I'm trying to sleep, I am seriously ready to scream!!
Not much you can do (morally or legally) if he's not real friendly. Hopefully it's on it's last leg & will freeze up this summer when it's 102 and he'll have to very quickly have a new one installed.
We've run into one small inconvenience with our new home . . our neighbor's ac unit. It is an old clunker, looks well over 15 years old, rattles as loudly as motorcycle and is 15 feet from my bedroom window!!
Is there anything to do in such a situation besides replacing my windows with some amazing sound proof things and adding insulation to my walls?? They aren't very friendly people so its not a situation where I can mention this to them. But right now, as I'm trying to sleep, I am seriously ready to scream!!
If worse comes to worse I would do one of four things,
1. Call the authorities and explain your situation to see if there is an ordinance that could be enforced. ie: (disturbing the peace)
2. Take the bull by the horns and go over and have a talk with them. See if they would agree to replace it if you helped to pay the cost of a new quiet AC unit. check with local installers to find out what the best quite unit is so you dont end up with another noisy unit. I like Lennox.
Make the offer attractive as you may only get one shot.
3. You could replace your windows with Milgards Quiet windows or have someone install an inner third pane of 3/16 glass with a thermal break. Specify super spacers if new windows are used.
Then you could have the latest quite 5/8" sheet rock applied over your exsisting sheetrock on all the walls that would be affective. One sheet is equal to 8 regular sheets in db levels.
4. Buy a set of good ear plugs.
It could just be something loose on the unit. Maybe it could be checked.
Be generous with your offers. That way they will know you are serious.
If you decide on the sheet rock and windows let me know and I can get you the info.
Good Luck,
Silverfox
Last edited by silverfox; 05-20-2008 at 11:26 PM..
I had to look at your location to see if it was Georgia -- because WE have a very noisy heat pump ourselves. It's now 5 years old and has been noisy from day 1 despite examinations and "work" by at least 3 ac/heat guys. I'm just guessing that you're talking about a big "unit" and not something easy to replace like a window a/c?
Anyway, after you get to know your neighbors a bit you might start off with something along the lines of "they sure don't make stuff like they used to". If you've had problems with any appliances or things like that yourself that didn't last or had problems you could toss that in for starters. Your neighbors might hate the racket of their a/c unit themselves. We hate ours and have been thinking of ways to replace it, but in our case the entire heat pump would need to be replaced. Their problem might be something that's fixable.
You could also call the local power company and see if they have a policy of offering any financial advantage for replacing older units with newer more energy efficient ones. I don't know about this years tax laws, but I do know in previous years that SOME energy efficient replacement things can be a tax credit (which I imagine you know is so-o-o much better than a deduction). I don't know if a/c units would be included in credits if they are still being offered.
Does your neighbor drink beer? Have a nice cold one in hand one day when you see him outside and then start a conversation that leads up to the air conditioning issue. Ask him how the heck does he sleep with that thing being so loud. It could be a money issue on their end and he may mention he wants to replace it but blah blah blah. Sometimes when we get to know our neighbors we find they are not just being unfriendly but they just got things they are dealing with.
I think the city probably has a noise ordinance that might come into play for this--check the city's web site to see if you can find something-
do you have a homeowners' assoc with rules about noise and other issues like parking or unkept yards--some people complain about HOAs but ours has stopped people who live across from us from continuing to run their roofing business out of the house they moved out of more than 6 months ago so i can see good and bad with them...
while it seems stupid for YOU to have to spend money (ie new windows, sheetrock, whatever) to avoid the problem--it is really a matter of poor planning on the people who designed the layout of the two houses--and no consideration for issues/problems like this
no offense but guessing we are taking a tract development where there is little side space and most houses were built about the same time
Legally... earplugs are the easiest. Otherwise... lots of things can be done.
My thought was to kill it.
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