wind chimes

[sleeplessinmyapt]

If you’ve ever had a successful conversation with a neighbor about the neighbor’s wind chime keeping you awake at night, please tell me what you said and how you said it.

If you’ve ever hung a wind chime from an apartment building balcony, please tell me if there is anything that a neighbor could say to cause you to reduce the 24-hour noise. What is the nicest way that someone could possibly approach you about this, and is there any way that would work?

I don’t understand how someone could think that a noise generator wouldn’t bother anyone in such a crowded neighborhood. It clangs randomly all day every day and all night every night, only a few yards from my bedroom window.

I’m asking for help because I’d like to have a neighborly conversation with the wind-chime owner. But before I knock on the door I’d like to have a more charitable starting point than the thoughts I currently have about my neighbor’s lack of consideration for everyone nearby.

Share This

[PangolinPie]

Those must be some LOUD windchimes! I have a few sets around my house but they’re melodic and gentle; I can’t imagine that anyone nearby can even hear them except as a delicate sound in the distance. Your neighbors’ are louder than all the other city noises: cars, trains, airplanes? I might be tempted to have a word with them too if so. I’m guessing you like to sleep with your windows open.

I would maybe just start by making friends with the neighbor and then bringing it up over a drink or a cup of friendly coffee. I hope they’re nice folks, because I think a lot of people would scoff that of all the noises a city can provide, windchimes are the ones bugging you…good luck.

Share This

[935]

That sounds like a “conversation” in which many around here would like to begin…ie “I am going to tell you why you’re wrong about______, and you’re going to listen and take it, because MY opinion is better than yours”
Were I you, sleepless, I would begin preparing for your so called “conversation” by ready-ing myself to hear a list of YOUR faults.

Some people just need to create drama..

PP – nicely said – I appreciate the velvety glove delivery.

Share This

[anonyme]

Wind chimes are annoying. My beeping alarm clock may not be louder than all the trains, planes and automobiles either, but it would be thoughtless and aggravating if it were left to bleep all day. Melodic to one is noise to another. Many apartment complexes have rules against wind chimes, because the sound really can be intrusive.

That said, I do have a small bamboo wind chime. The wood seems to have a more subtle sound than metal, and I have it only because it’s on a side of the house where there is no neighbor to hear it. If I thought that it could be heard by others, and that the sound bothered them, I would take it down. But that’s just me; these days, the very concept of consideration for others is becoming a rarity.

Share This

[Bonnie]

I do not like wind chimes. I don’t like pond waterfalls either. The noise annoys the heck out of me. It’s not calming to me, it’s annoying. I guess everybody likes different types of noises. My neighbor had wind chimes at one point but before I said anything (not sure if I would have) there was a big storm and I think something happened to them because they were gone. Either something happened or the noise in the storm annoyed her so much she took them down.

Share This

[mark47n]

So…as we all live in the city perhaps we should accept that we don’t have intimate control of our environment. If you’re in an apt that forbids them you have a place to stand but beware, your neighbor may be able to find similar issues, all of the time.

As to neighbors coming to complain over if it’s a house and I’m not running a jackhammer or some other similar loud noise late into the night I’d tell them to pound sand. I have to listen to other folks barking dogs, music, parties, ball games, children and the list goes on. I cannot control these things and I’d be careful about trying to exert control unless I’m willing to die on that hill.

Share This

[atigus]

We have a wind chime that was given to us, we hung it up in the front of the house and it drove me crazy like you sleepless. I then thought if it did this to me what about my neighbor (we live in a house) that it might keep them awake so we put a rubber band around the chimes. Maybe you can write a letter (un-signed)stating that it’s keeping you awake and if they wouldn’t mind taking them down or suggest that they could hang them up inside their apt in front of a window so when it’s nice out they can open the window and enjoy them that way, in the privacy of their own apt. ???

Share This

[shihtzu]

I don’t like windchimes either. My husband came with a large collection that he tries to hang on occasion, but I can’t sleep with them going and consider them noise polution. I can only imagine how annoying they could be to neighbors. I do agree that the wood ones are a little nicer.

Ack, it makes me anxious just thinking about them :)

Share This

[shihtzu]

Maybe ask if she could move them to the other side of the balcony? Maybe she’d take the hint and take them down. Or, I guess just nicely ask her to take them down. I would if my neighbors asked, but know many people aren’t reasonable.

IMO, chimes and fountains are different from jack hammers, screaming children, dogs, leaf blowers because the sound is 24/7.

Share This

[aa]

In my opinion, its ok to ask for what you need. Doesn’t mean you always get it but the asking is your right. I asked a fellow apt dweller to move their wind chimes once. Something like this ” I wonder if you’d be willing to move your wind chimes because they are right outside my bedroom window”. She said of course.

If they say no, there’s always earplugs!

Share This

[Author]

Posts