Noisy AC unit at the apartment, please help (apartment complex, leasing, renter)

[Pann]

Hi everyone


I am living at Summer Meadows apartment complex, Riverside. Recently, I am having a problem with excessive noise caused by an AC unit right outside of my bedroom wall. There are total three AC units placed outside my apartment wall. Two of them (one is running for my apartment) are right outside the kitchen wall. The third one which is running for an apartment upstairs is outside my bedroom wall. I talked to the property manager about the problem. I told her that whenever the AC unit is running, it makes the noise which can be heard clearly inside the bedroom. Since I have not been sleeping well lately, I felt tired during daytime most of the time; and this affected my study routine and performance. She said she would send someone to take a look at the AC unit. When I came the next day, she said that there was nothing wrong with the AC unit, and thus she could not do anything about the noise. I told her that I understood that the AC unit would make noise when it was running. However, my problem was that I could hear the noise it made from my bedroom. I would not care how loud the AC unit was running as long as I did not hear the noise in the bedroom. The two AC units outside my kitchen wall (when they were running at the same time) made much louder noise than the one outside the bedroom wall. Yet, when I was standing in the kitchen, I didn’t hear any noise. I asked her to find the solution for the problem such as moving the AC unit further from the wall (it was placed really near to the wall) or investigating the wall (maybe the problem was with the wall). She replied that the AC unit could not be moved because it would violate the law (I don’t know if that is true or not) and that there was nothing wrong with the wall because it was standard built wall.


Can someone please show me the way? I know that I can use earplugs to help me sleeping, but I prefer not to. I mean why I have to bear with this unpleasant living condition when I am paying more than $900 rent fee each month. Is there an authority I can contact to help with this problem? Unfortunately, I signed a 1-year leasing contract two months ago; therefore, I can not move out now or they will fine me a penalty for breaking contract. I appreciate for your replies and thank you.

[MIKEETC]

Does the contract discuss the procedure for handling problems such as this? Regarding moving the AC units, you could contact the Building and Safety (or equivalent) Department and ask if it a code requirement for the AC units to be where they are located. Also, realize that moving the AC units is going to cost. Have you considered paying for part of it and using that as a bargaining tool? Ask the property management if there is any way they could construct an enclosure that dampens the noise without interfering with normal operations.

[EscapeCalifornia]

Ah, the joys of apartment life. The manager is probably right in that there's nothing wrong with the unit and the wall is up to code. Its just the luck of the draw that you get more noise. Look luck finding a solution that they'll pay for or that doesn't cost you more than breaking the lease. Probably the best you can do is to run a fan or other white noise source to mask the AC noise and help you sleep better.

[MisterDuke]

I have the same issue at my place. Eight huge air conditioners within 50 feet of my bedroom. And there is a giant concrete wall of a department store that bounces the sound at my window. If they ran consistently it would be tolerable, but they turn on and off all through the day and night.

Earphones didn't work for me because they were too uncomfortable and would fall out. I have a small tabletop fan next to the bed. It drowns out the noise and is calming. For awhile I played CDs of the ocean and rain, and set the disc to loop.

[sonarrat]

You would have loved my last apartment before this one.. the laundry room was next door and the upstairs neighbors would have approximately 25,342 kids over every Friday night for a church meeting.

[mkfarnam]

THE 298th REASON WHY I NEVER HAVE AND NEVER WILL RENT AN APARTMENT!

[wigirl920]

Another suggestion might be to see if you could move to another unit within the building, if they have one available. Is the room large enough that you could move your bed to another spot to lessen the noise at all?

If everything is up to code and nothing can be done with the unit, you'll just have to suffer through the next several months and use the techniques that others have suggested. As a general rule, I always ask the LL to flip on the A/C so that I can hear how loud it will be in the rooms. That's not going to help you this time but it'll make you more aware next time you move.

PS: As a side note, when you look at a place to rent you should always test everything to make sure it works - faucets, appliances, lights, A/C units, etc. There can always be problems after you move in and certainly nobody can spot every defect, but checking things out thoroughly ahead of time might aid in showing you what you might be in for.

[VegasGrace]

I hate you are in that situation.

I'm a renter and move alot. When I look at a potential home I investigate the noise level. If there are mechanical things (like a/c units) I pay attention to the noise.

If they were there when you moved in, you basically consented.

But if within the first few days or even weeks (maybe) it was causing you to not have a peacable home...then you could have notified managment and request the situation be rectified, and perhaps move into another unit or move out.

But time is not on your side when it comes to things like this.

If you find you have to live there.... carpet, rugs, tapestries....work wonders for noise absorption.

Good luck.