Apartment Air Conditioner Noise

[Aarondawg]

Hey there, I am not sure that I am in the correct forum but I will start here.

I live on the top floor of a 3 story apartment and the air conditioning units are on the roof top. When my neighbors below air conditioners come on, I get this loud roar, like an airplane sound in my apartment. As soon as their units shut off, my unit jolts and there is a rumbling sound in my apartment.

I thought that the noise was coming from my hot water heater room and maintenance came cover and said that the noise was coming from the units on the roof top. Also, they discovered that there is a pipe coming down from the roof top to vent the hot water room and you can look up and see daylight. Of course, the top is made in such a way that birds or such can not come in.

The noise is just so loud from the units and I'd like to know what can be done to help alleviate it. Can they adjust anything on the unit to lessen the noise? It is really loud at night and is not a nice noise; rather, a rough one.

Any advice will be appreciated.

[beenthere]

May or may not be something they can do. It depends what is causing the unit to make the noise. Would have to be there and know what is causing it.
Many apartment complexs won't do anything major to stop noise. If you think your complex is different, ask the office when they are going to fix it.

[Aarondawg]

May or may not be something they can do. It depends what is causing the unit to make the noise. Would have to be there and know what is causing it.
Many apartment complexs won't do anything major to stop noise. If you think your complex is different, ask the office when they are going to fix it.

Thank you for your quick response. The aparments are very expensive in that my 595 Square Ft appartment is $1040 per month and some units go as high at $3000 per month. I am moving into a new unit 3 doors down the hall in a couple of days (need more space) and I am hoping that the loud noise is only in my current unit.

One thing that I forgot to mention is that there were actually 2 ventilation pipes coming down to my apartment and one was supposedly closed off last week. They were not sure why I had 2 pipes in my hot water room. There is also a 3rd pipe for the outtaking of air. So in essence, I have 3 holes from the roof top coming into my hot water room.

[beenthere]

Cross your fingers the noise isn't in the new apartment too.

Can't tell you why there are 3 pipes. Could be one ran to the apartment under you at one time.

[Aarondawg]

Cross your fingers the noise isn't in the new apartment too.

Can't tell you why there are 3 pipes. Could be one ran to the apartment under you at one time.

I know, me too. It's just the most obnoxious noise and it seems to penetrate my tv as well as the water fountain nicer noise when I have my french doors are opened.

I am hoping that since my new apartment is in the middle of the building and not near the end like I am now, any noise will be more bearable.

Regards,
Aarondawg

By the way, I am in Charlotte, NC.

[beenthere]

Apartments up here, go for a bite less then down there.

[Aarondawg]

Apartments up here, go for a bite less then down there.

Yep, we have many new folks from the NE down here now. Mainly Upstate NY, and Eastern IN and OH.

Question: Do you think that moving into the center of my building will help reduce the noise? The new unit is vacate so I may leave work early today, have them make me a key and go inside to see. My current place has already been rented.

Thanks for communicating. As you have probably now drawn the conclusion, the noise has really been bothering me. :)

[beenthere]

I've been on rooves where the HVAC equipment is mostly in the center of the building, and others where it is spread out.
So its hard to tell if its a good move or not.
If you can get in and listen for a while, thats a good idea. Keeping inmind, that not all the units will run at the same time.

[Aarondawg]

I've been on rooves where the HVAC equipment is mostly in the center of the building, and others where it is spread out.
So its hard to tell if its a good move or not.
If you can get in and listen for a while, thats a good idea. Keeping inmind, that not all the units will run at the same time.

Thank you. It's fine as long as the other units are not on. A lot of my neighbors travel lots so maybe my new ones will be some of those. :)

[BigJon3475]

What bldg if I may ask?


Sounds like uptown prices.

[Aarondawg]

PostPark in Phillips Place. Southpark. Do you reside in Charlotte?

[BigJon3475]

Yeah in 4th ward in uptown. I live next to a Post property. They are usually pretty good about fixing problems have they ignored a request or have you made one?

[Aarondawg]

Yeah in 4th ward in uptown. I live next to a Post property. They are usually pretty good about fixing problems have they ignored a request or have you made one?

Cool Big John. Well when the first guy came in a few weeks ago, he did not hear a noise and I told him to check the hot water heater. He said that hot water heater was fine. He then checked the downstairs unit and advised that the air conditioner was frozen up and maybe that was causing the problem. Well, it wasn't and the guy went out sick.

Last week, I met the lead engineer, he went up on the roof, turned on a unit and the noise started. He called up another guy to come to my place while he was on the roof and that guy determined that I had 3 open pipes coming to my water heater room. 2 for fresh air and 1 for return. He stuck his hand in one of the pipes' end and the noise was reduced.

I am getting ready to sign a new lease and I just can't live with that noise, especially, if it's also in my new apartment that I will be moving into on Friday, 3 doors down the hall.

There has got to be a fix that will reduce the noise that is resonating from my hot water heater room.

[Aarondawg]

BigJon, I have a call into Post's manager to see what can be done. Do you have any suggestions after reading what I am experiencing?

[BigJon3475]

Sorry I had to take care of some things.

They won't allow you to see the apartment before you move in.....obviously they will want all the turn done but they shouldn't have a problem with letting you check it out. If nothing else say you would just like to take some measurements to see how you want to set your place up when you move.

[Aarondawg]

Sorry I had to take care of some things.

They won't allow you to see the apartment before you move in.....obviously they will want all the turn done but they shouldn't have a problem with letting you check it out. If nothing else say you would just like to take some measurements to see how you want to set your place up when you move.

Yes, I have seen the place. I will stop by today and have them provide me with a key and I will check the noise level.

[Aarondawg]

BigJon,

I stopped by the leasing office last evening and the manager advised that property engineer advised that I would not have the same noise in my new apartment. So I took your advice and got a key to check it out last night. The noise was not there. Yippee! I pitty the poor girl who is moving into my place; however, maybe she will not hear it.

I start to move out of my old apartment tomorrow at which time I will say good riddens to it. Plus, I am getting much more space in this new one.

Thank you for your advice.

Regards,
Aaron

[deneuvefan]

Hey folks,

I'm in the exact same boat. My apartment is on the 3rd floor, and the HVAC sits on the roof directly above my head. Last summer, the thing would kick on for 3 days straight- without kicking off once. It feels like there is a dump truck directly over my head, the entire apartment rumbles, and it is nothing short of living in hell. My head throbs, I can't sleep, hear my t.v./radio, and the vibrations actually make me feel like I want to vomit. I have begged my landlords countless times to do something about this... but they simply don't care, and pretty much tell me that the problem is all in my head. Last night, the stupid thing ran for 4 hours straight... and it was only 46 degrees!!!
I'm moving in August, so at this point, it's more of a just "grin and bare it" type of a situation... but these next 2 months are going to be brutal...I can tell. I'm glad to know it is not just me, and that other people experience the same kind of "hell."

[Sick&Tired]

I have the same kind noise; ALL day, ALL night, ALL the time. I've called the manager numerous times and nothing has been done to fix it. I even asked to move and they want to charge me more money. No one understands what I’m going though, they think I’m crazy. I don't know what else to do. I think all they have to do to fix it is put some springs under the AC? They're too cheap to bring a real repair person, yet take all your money on the rent.