ᐅ Neighbor complains that the mechanical ventilation system is too noisy.
Created on: 23 Jun 2016 16:04
I
Illo77
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...
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...
He should come by when it’s -20 degrees Celsius (-4°F) and the air-to-water heat pump kicks in.
I can only hear our controlled ventilation system outside if I stand right next to the outlet in complete silence and the unit is running at at least level 3 out of 4. Some people are just unreasonable. We’ve been really lucky with our neighbors, but it can definitely be different. Even if it’s hard for you, I would try not to let this escalate further. In the end, nobody wins. Just tell him you’ll turn the system down (you don’t actually have to do it, he probably won’t even notice). And shading is the best protection against heat anyway.
I probably would have strangled him by now, but that’s not the right approach.
I can only hear our controlled ventilation system outside if I stand right next to the outlet in complete silence and the unit is running at at least level 3 out of 4. Some people are just unreasonable. We’ve been really lucky with our neighbors, but it can definitely be different. Even if it’s hard for you, I would try not to let this escalate further. In the end, nobody wins. Just tell him you’ll turn the system down (you don’t actually have to do it, he probably won’t even notice). And shading is the best protection against heat anyway.
I probably would have strangled him by now, but that’s not the right approach.
C
Caspar202023 Jun 2016 21:01Illo77 schrieb:
I can understand and relate to the fact that it’s annoying, I hear it myself too@One00: The original poster himself says that he hears it too and can understand it...
So it’s not a whisper-quiet device...
Hi Illo 77,
could you also share what type of mechanical ventilation system you have? I’m quite sensitive to noise myself, but I’ve never heard more than a low hum from a mechanical ventilation system. The equipment is inside the house anyway, so you shouldn’t really be able to hear anything from outside, right?
What kind of wall vents do you have on the exterior? If there is any noise, it must be coming from there. Maybe, if you want to show some goodwill (though you probably don’t feel like it), you could replace the air outlet or intake grilles for a small cost. Perhaps that would help calm your neighbors down.
Nobody wants 25 years of stress with a difficult neighbor... (but unfortunately, I fear that’s what you’re going to have)...
Best regards,
Andreas
could you also share what type of mechanical ventilation system you have? I’m quite sensitive to noise myself, but I’ve never heard more than a low hum from a mechanical ventilation system. The equipment is inside the house anyway, so you shouldn’t really be able to hear anything from outside, right?
What kind of wall vents do you have on the exterior? If there is any noise, it must be coming from there. Maybe, if you want to show some goodwill (though you probably don’t feel like it), you could replace the air outlet or intake grilles for a small cost. Perhaps that would help calm your neighbors down.
Nobody wants 25 years of stress with a difficult neighbor... (but unfortunately, I fear that’s what you’re going to have)...
Best regards,
Andreas
S
Sebastian7925 Jun 2016 08:58I can understand that depending on the size and capacity, these systems are not quiet—especially on the exhaust side. Normally, there is no silencer (or sound attenuator) installed, but it is possible to add one.
At level 3 out of 4, I can clearly hear the system—at level 2, you have to pay a bit more attention.
Still, it seems you won’t get very far, and it also appears that you might be provoking a bit.
Why not install a silencer? Then it won’t be an issue anymore.
At level 3 out of 4, I can clearly hear the system—at level 2, you have to pay a bit more attention.
Still, it seems you won’t get very far, and it also appears that you might be provoking a bit.
Why not install a silencer? Then it won’t be an issue anymore.
EveundGerd27 Jun 2016 18:41I am familiar with this issue from our neighborhood. A neighbor’s mechanical ventilation system was so loud that even we, living two houses away, were affected. However, we only noticed it when we were on the balcony.
An inspection revealed a missing, forgotten silencer that had not been installed. Since installing it, the noise has mostly stopped. Still, the system is not really quiet, and the location right next to the neighbor’s bedroom—where they have lived for two years longer—is very poorly chosen. Unfortunately, the relationship between the neighbors has not improved since then.
An inspection revealed a missing, forgotten silencer that had not been installed. Since installing it, the noise has mostly stopped. Still, the system is not really quiet, and the location right next to the neighbor’s bedroom—where they have lived for two years longer—is very poorly chosen. Unfortunately, the relationship between the neighbors has not improved since then.
S
Steffen8027 Jun 2016 19:07In our residential area, there is already tension because of two of the outdoor units from heat pumps. Thank goodness we have neighbors who don’t install such nonsense. We all heat our homes with old-school gas.
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