ᐅ Neighbor complains that the mechanical ventilation system is too noisy.

Created on: 23 Jun 2016 16:04
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Illo77
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Illo77
23 Jun 2016 16:04
Hello,

Has anyone ever dealt with a situation like this? Our house has been standing for 3 years now, and for these 3 years the mechanical ventilation system (professionally installed with silencers as the manufacturer requires—inside the ductwork, etc.) has been running on level 2, occasionally on level 3 during hot summer afternoons (the unit has 4 levels) to blow the relatively cool air from the east side into the upstairs kids’ rooms and extract the warm air... It works quite well so that the kids’ rooms are comfortably warm at bedtime (one room is exposed to the sun from the south and west, the other from the west until sunset).

I understand that it can be annoying—I hear it myself—but our comfort comes first, not the neighbor’s (who also dislikes that there are often lots of toys scattered on our lawn or that I frequently mow the lawn for mulching, and has asked the local authorities if it’s permissible for me to place the carport on the property line).

He said he can’t sleep at night because of it (the system runs all year round on the same level anyway, so this is nothing new) and that he wants peace and quiet on his terrace. I had the installer check it again, and everything was fine.

One Saturday morning at 7:45 a.m., his radio on the terrace was turned on loudly (the station was fine) and played all day. Later, a second radio (a Makita job site radio) was set up right by the fence on another station, and the neighbor drove off...

When he returned, I asked if he could turn up the Makita radio because it was playing classic music, which is good for the heart and soul, and suggested he listen to it calmly. After that, he responded with pretty harsh insults, including remarks about my professional role (I work in a workshop with people with disabilities, and he questioned whether I work there or am being cared for) and about my son, saying he felt sorry for him but you can’t choose your parents...

Well, that certainly won’t make me inclined to accommodate him, like turning down the ventilation system to level 2 for a couple of hours upon request...

In casual conversation with an acquaintance who works at the environmental office, I learned that this kind of issue happens often (especially with mechanical ventilation systems or air-source heat pumps, for example) and that it will likely become a bigger topic in the future...

Have any of you experienced a similar situation?

I’m probably going to spend money next year to install roller shutters to block out the sun...
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nordanney
23 Jun 2016 16:30
How loud is your mechanical ventilation with heat recovery really? We can only hear a faint noise of the exhausted air outside when it is completely silent.

It can’t be possible that he finds this faint noise INSIDE his house so disturbing. Sounds like a passionate complainer rather than a poor system.

Ignore it!
Mycraft23 Jun 2016 17:27
I don’t know what kind of device you have there, but this guy is just crazy. As mentioned before me, just ignore it...

But it will probably cause you more trouble...
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Caspar2020
23 Jun 2016 18:48
Illo77 schrieb:
I can understand and relate to the disturbance, I hear it myself too, but our well-being takes priority over the neighbor’s

No, to improve or ensure your well-being, you must follow certain regulations, especially regarding the noise levels of controlled residential ventilation systems. In other words, only a specific decibel level may reach the neighbors. There are also common courtesy guidelines to observe.

Does “professionally” mean to you that you or the non-expert have considered this, or does it mean that the system is not damaged?
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ypg
23 Jun 2016 19:25
What is that sound?
I can barely hear our mechanical ventilation system for the residential space when I stand under the air outlet and inlet. I can only guess that the faint noise is coming from the unit.
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Curly
23 Jun 2016 19:58
What kinds of mechanical ventilation systems do you have (brand)?

Best regards,
Sabine