Problem with neighbor: would would ATOT do?

Page 3 - Seeking answers? Join the AnandTech community: where nearly half-a-million members share solutions and discuss the latest tech.

classy

Lifer
Oct 12, 1999
15,219
1
81
If its causing unecessary noise while running, then call the police. They will come and at least knock on his door for disturbing the peace.
 

GRIFFIN1

Golden Member
Nov 10, 1999
1,403
6
81
I had a neighbor that had an AC unit that was obviously about to die. The AC compressor sounded like it was full of rocks and it was really loud. The poor thing ran for about a month before it finally quit.

After the AC quit, the guy told me that his place was really hot and he was having trouble sleeping. He was hinting to me that he wanted to stay at my place while his AC was broken. Because he had a months warning that the AC was about to go out and I had to listen to it the whole time, I didn't offer to let him crash at my place.
 

Exterous

Super Moderator
Jun 20, 2006
20,429
3,533
126
I am sure the solution is the stance of dominance. I'm suprised no one has mentioned it yet
 
Apr 17, 2003
37,622
0
76
We need MSPaint drawings to understand what type of HVAC unit you are talking about and how it is directly below your bedroom.
Wouldn't that make it directly beside his bedroom?

Is it a bank of AC Condensers? (2, 3, 4?) Is it a window AC unit?

all the HVAC units are on the roof and I live on the last habitable floor.



I----I I----I
I----I I----I (Roof with both our HVAC units).
__________________________________________________________________

3rd floor (my unit).

___________________________________________________________________


2nd floor (his unit)
___________________________________________________________________
 

Anonemous

Diamond Member
May 19, 2003
7,361
1
71
Declare war.

That's what my crazy french neighbor did. I recorded his rant and played it to the leasing office and they couldn't do jack. They want you to resolve the problems yourself or get the police/lawyers involved.

To OP: Document everything (letters and occurences) and get a lawyer since the HOA/other owner is not being responsive. You can also call the cops so it's noted that you complained but I doubt they can do anything.
 
Last edited:

sao123

Lifer
May 27, 2002
12,648
201
106
So I'll try to make this as short as possible. I live on the last floor of a 3 floor condo complex...the neighbor directly below me has a HVAC unit directly on top of my bedroom that sounds like an engine every time it turns on.

The problem is he rents the unit from the owner. When I first moved in, I tried knocking on his door to talk to him about it but he would never answer. So I left a few letters on his door. I contacted the HOA and they were useless (surprise surprise) because they said this was a "private" dispute (although HVAC units that are not properly maintained are a violation of the CC&R).

I asked them for the contact info of the owner of the unit. They gave me the address but several letters came back as undeliverable. I advised the HOA that they got the wrong/out dated address for the owner but the rep from the management company tells me that I'm sending the letter wrong :roll;

Anyway, I tracked down the address using my own sources. However, I'm pretty sure the owner got the letter from the tenant anyway. The tenant went months without even using the HVAC unit (I told him in the letter that I don't even mind the noise as long as it doesn't turn on and off literally dozens of time per night when it's the loudest). However, in the last week or so, it's been the same turning on and off dozens of times during the evening.

What does ATOT recommend? I'm almost to the point where I think I should take legal action to get their attention.


ATOT recommends:
Since all AT'ers are millionaires... buy your own house.
/problem
 

edro

Lifer
Apr 5, 2002
24,328
68
91
Ahhh, I see. So you can walk onto the roof and stand next to the HVAC units?

That sucks. I can see why the renter wouldn't give a crap, and the owner doesn't live there so he doesn't care either.

If you have full access to it, walk up there while it is loud and kick the hell out of it.
Maybe you will help it... or maybe it will require actual service then.

Hell, order service for it and say you live in the condo below you.
 

Joepublic2

Golden Member
Jan 22, 2005
1,114
6
76
Legally, I can do this, and it would be easy to do as there is open access to the roof and there is power switch right beside his HVAC unit but it's a temporary fix as he can just flip the power on.

Take some tin snips put on some electrically insulated gloves and just cut out of all the lines, electrical and refrigerant (yes, tear up yours as well). Just strip everything copper out of the units and generally tear all of them to hell (the goal here is to make it more expensive to repair your neighbors old unit the just buying an new one) and rip out any switches, relays, knock holes in pcb controller boards with a hammer (don't make too much noise, of course, but since you're on the top floor it shouldn't be a problem). Make sure to take all the parts with you (a heavy canvas/nylon bag will work great) and just throw them in a dumpster somewhere at your discretion. Then call maintenance and say your AC is broken. Cops will be called and they'll chalk it up to random copper thieves/vandals. Just make sure there's some public way to reach the roof that isn't recorded on camera (and take that way) because they WILL check the tapes if you do this.
 
Last edited:
Apr 17, 2003
37,622
0
76
Ahhh, I see. So you can walk onto the roof and stand next to the HVAC units?

Correct.

That sucks. I can see why the renter wouldn't give a crap, and the owner doesn't live there so he doesn't care either.

Correct.

If you have full access to it, walk up there while it is loud and kick the hell out of it.Maybe you will help it... or maybe it will require actual service then.

Looks like we are forming a consensus.

Hell, order service for it and say you live in the condo below you.

Looks like we are forming a consensus.
 
Apr 17, 2003
37,622
0
76
Take some tin snips put on some electrically insulated gloves and just cut out of all the lines, electrical and refrigerant (yes, tear up yours as well). Just strip everything copper out of the units and generally tear all of them to hell (the goal here is to make it more expensive to repair your neighbors old unit the just buying an new one) and rip out any switches, relays, knock holes in pcb controller boards with a hammer (don't make too much noise, of course, but since you're on the top floor it shouldn't be a problem). Make sure to take all the parts with you (a heavy canvas/nylon bag will work great) and just throw them in a dumpster somewhere at your discretion. Then call maintenance and say your AC is broken. Cops will be called and they'll chalk it up to random copper thieves/vandals. Just make sure there's some public way to reach the roof that isn't recorded on camera (and take that way) because they WILL check the tapes if you do this.

There is public access to the roof but there is 5 story apartment complex within 20 feet that overlooks the roof. This, combined with my previous letters, make it a real problem to tamper with the unit.
 

Joepublic2

Golden Member
Jan 22, 2005
1,114
6
76
There is public access to the roof but there is 5 story apartment complex within 20 feet that overlooks the roof. This, combined with my previous letters, make it a real problem to tamper with the unit.

I dunno then it kind of sounds like you're bonered beyond the noise war/escalation with the neighbor that other people have mentioned. Invest in some good ear plugs is the only other idea I really have.
 
Apr 17, 2003
37,622
0
76
I dunno then it kind of sounds like you're bonered beyond the noise war/escalation with the neighbor that other people have mentioned. Invest in some good ear plugs is the only other idea I really have.

I'm having custom earplugs made this week for $100
 

melly

Diamond Member
Feb 5, 2002
3,612
0
0
Can you use a device with white noise in your suite to neutralize the HVAC sound? For example: fall asleep to music, use a small fan aimed toward the floor, crack the window ever so slightly to alleviate the vibrations, etc.
 
Apr 17, 2003
37,622
0
76
Can you use a device with white noise in your suite to neutralize the HVAC sound? For example: fall asleep to music, use a small fan aimed toward the floor, crack the window ever so slightly to alleviate the vibrations, etc.

I sleep with a white noise machine and ear plugs. It helps, but does not eliminate the noise.
 

MotionMan

Lifer
Jan 11, 2006
17,312
12
81
I called the HOA and asked for the contact info of the owner one last time so I can have my attorney send a letter over.

Was that a line or were you really going to get another attorney to send a letter?

HOA does nothing to help.

Put up the wrong colored drapes and you will get the HOA's attention.

MotionMan
 

LiuKangBakinPie

Diamond Member
Jan 31, 2011
3,910
0
0
Acquire 110 kg of weapon grade Plutonium from your local supplier. Sourcing the Plutonium from a nuclear power plant is not recommended, as large quantities of missing Plutonium tends to make nuclear plant engineers and officials very unhappy. I suggest that you contact your local terrorist organisation, or perhaps even your local supermarket. Bear in mind that Plutonium, especially pure, refined Plutonium is dangerous. Take measures to wash your hands with soap and warm water after handling the material, and don't allow your children to play in it, or eat it. Left over Plutonium dust however is excellent as an insect repellent for the roses. You may wish to keep the Plutonium you have acquired in a lead box, although an old coffee tin will suffice

Make an enclosure to house the device. Most common varieties of sheet metal can be bent to make an enclosure and disguise the bomb, for example as a briefcase, a lunch box, or even a car. Do not use aluminium foil as it is not strong enough. Separate the Plutonium into two hemispherical shapes and separate these hemispheres by about 4 cm using toothpicks (available at most chemists or supermarkets)

Acquire 220 kg of trinitrotoluene (TNT). Gelignite is better, but is messier to work with. Your local hardware shop will be happy to provide you with this item. Pack the TNT around the hemisphere arrangement constructed in step

If you cannot find Gelignite, use TNT padded with Plasticine or another modelling clay

Place the Plutonium/TNT sphere in the enclosure made in step 2, and use a strong glue to bind the hemisphere arrangement against the enclosure, in order to prevent accidental detonation which might result from vibration or mishandling

To detonate the device, obtain a radio controlled mechanism, as used in model aeroplanes and cars. and a detonator cap. The remote control can be obtained from most toy shops, and the detonator caps can be obtained from most construction work sites. With a minimum of effort a plunger can be made that will strike the detonator cap to initiate a small catalyst explosion

Hide the completed atom bomb from neighbours, children, wife, the police and security forces. The garage is not recommended because of high humidity and the extreme range of temperatures experienced there. (Nuclear devices have been known to spontaneously detonate under unstable conditions.) The hall closet, under the bed, or under the kitchen sink is perfect, but do not place it anywhere near your "HB apparat" (moonshine still)

As the proud owner of a working thermonuclear device there are a number of things you should consider:

An atom bomb is a great ice-breaker at parties, as in "take a look at what I have under the sink"

An atom bomb prevents daft disputes with your neighbour, e.g. "behave or I'll Nuke you, punk"

An atom bomb can be sent as "rekomendert post" to your local "kemner kontor"

An atom bomb in a pinch can be used for national defence

An atom bomb detonates when the detonated TNT/Gelignite compresses the Plutonium into a critical mass. The critical mass then produces a nuclear chain reaction, and there you have it, a 10 megaton explosion fot pesky neighbours
 

Red Squirrel

No Lifer
May 24, 2003
67,904
12,374
126
www.anyf.ca
Another option would have been to record the sound, reverse the sine wave, and play it loudly. It should cancel out the sound. At least in theory, somehow I don't think it would work. But I see it got solved.
 

Joepublic2

Golden Member
Jan 22, 2005
1,114
6
76
Another option would have been to record the sound, reverse the sine wave, and play it loudly. It should cancel out the sound. At least in theory, somehow I don't think it would work. But I see it got solved.

Hmm now I have to try this...
 
sale-70-410-exam    | Exam-200-125-pdf    | we-sale-70-410-exam    | hot-sale-70-410-exam    | Latest-exam-700-603-Dumps    | Dumps-98-363-exams-date    | Certs-200-125-date    | Dumps-300-075-exams-date    | hot-sale-book-C8010-726-book    | Hot-Sale-200-310-Exam    | Exam-Description-200-310-dumps?    | hot-sale-book-200-125-book    | Latest-Updated-300-209-Exam    | Dumps-210-260-exams-date    | Download-200-125-Exam-PDF    | Exam-Description-300-101-dumps    | Certs-300-101-date    | Hot-Sale-300-075-Exam    | Latest-exam-200-125-Dumps    | Exam-Description-200-125-dumps    | Latest-Updated-300-075-Exam    | hot-sale-book-210-260-book    | Dumps-200-901-exams-date    | Certs-200-901-date    | Latest-exam-1Z0-062-Dumps    | Hot-Sale-1Z0-062-Exam    | Certs-CSSLP-date    | 100%-Pass-70-383-Exams    | Latest-JN0-360-real-exam-questions    | 100%-Pass-4A0-100-Real-Exam-Questions    | Dumps-300-135-exams-date    | Passed-200-105-Tech-Exams    | Latest-Updated-200-310-Exam    | Download-300-070-Exam-PDF    | Hot-Sale-JN0-360-Exam    | 100%-Pass-JN0-360-Exams    | 100%-Pass-JN0-360-Real-Exam-Questions    | Dumps-JN0-360-exams-date    | Exam-Description-1Z0-876-dumps    | Latest-exam-1Z0-876-Dumps    | Dumps-HPE0-Y53-exams-date    | 2017-Latest-HPE0-Y53-Exam    | 100%-Pass-HPE0-Y53-Real-Exam-Questions    | Pass-4A0-100-Exam    | Latest-4A0-100-Questions    | Dumps-98-365-exams-date    | 2017-Latest-98-365-Exam    | 100%-Pass-VCS-254-Exams    | 2017-Latest-VCS-273-Exam    | Dumps-200-355-exams-date    | 2017-Latest-300-320-Exam    | Pass-300-101-Exam    | 100%-Pass-300-115-Exams    |
http://www.portvapes.co.uk/    | http://www.portvapes.co.uk/    |