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Help: how to deal with Refrigerator Noise from up stairs neighbour

Help: how to deal with Refrigerator Noise from up stairs neighbour

Hello,
We just movedinto an apartment, in cupertino, ca 95014.
We found recently it is so noisy in living roo and one small bed room. It turned out that noise coming fro upper statirs:
refrigerator.

they bought their OWN big refrigerator and put it into
liviinf room without adding any things to reduce the noise.

I have talked to apt manager and not sure what is the solution.

ANy suggestion about that?

--could i make a complaint : call Police department at night
(after 10pm)
-- get a noise inspector to check the noise level

-- ask manager to adding another 'wall' to reduce the noise?

right now we can not use the small bedroom because of the noise. I a not so sure if the noise in the bed room is
comming from the same source:
refrigerator. But I am sure that is from up stairs.

Maybe they have another small one in their bedroom,

many thanks,

George

# Posted on September 6th 2006 by cupertino2

Re: Help: how to deal with Refrigerator Noise from up stairs neighbour

It seems to me that handguns were invented for situations such as this.

Cheers,

Mark

# Posted on September 6th 2006 by lastnitesfun

Re: Help: how to deal with Refrigerator Noise from up stairs neighbour

Use it as a drone, find the key it's in and play along.

# Posted on September 6th 2006 by len

Re: Help: how to deal with Refrigerator Noise from up stairs neighbour

Did your neighbour just give you the "cold shoulder" when you tried to complain?

# Posted on September 6th 2006 by Johannes J

Re: Help: how to deal with Refrigerator Noise from up stairs neighbour

What's the connection between a fridge and Irish Traditional Music, or am I missing something here? Or, perhaps it's the same refrigerator that thon fellow hitch-hiked around Ireland with, having all manner of adventures - maybe it took part in the odd music session on it's travels?

# Posted on September 6th 2006 by Ron P

Re: Help: how to deal with Refrigerator Noise from up stairs neighbour

You don't say where you are, but this is a common kind of problem in New York City. I'd recommend going to apartmenttherapy.com and asking your question there. They know about all sorts of noise muffling products and strategies. Good luck!

# Posted on September 6th 2006 by kennedy

Re: Help: how to deal with Refrigerator Noise from up stairs neighbour

Vibration noise is really difficult if it gets into the structure of a building, for example a floor, which then acts as a sounding-board for the vibrations (just like living inside a huge violin).

The best and only really effective way to deal with it is to ask them to put the item on something which will cushion the vibrations and not transmit them to the floor. A few layers of carpet tile under each corner of the fridge might do the trick. Also it's important that nothing connects between any adjacent wall and the fridge, otherwise it will vibrate the wall and cause the same problem.

Asking them to move it is a much cheaper option than any building work (for example, adding false walls) and it will actually work a lot better.

I sympathise, as it's clearly upsetting you. I'm sure the people concerned simply don't realise what the problem is.

Good luck

Mark

# Posted on September 6th 2006 by Mark Harmer

Re: Help: how to deal with Refrigerator Noise from up stairs neighbour

Moving out may be your only option if the manager won't do anything about it. The most reasonable thing he could do is make them remove the refridgerator. It's really no different than someone playing an electric guitar too loud. You should have legal grounds to break the lease, but be prepared to go to court if the management won't go along. An audio or video tape with the noise on it will be helpful.

Does the noise go away periodically, when the refridgerator cycles off? If not, the noise could be from something else. However if it is unbearable to you, it doesn't matter what causes the noise.

# Posted on September 6th 2006 by Craymcla

Re: Help: how to deal with Refrigerator Noise from up stairs neighbour

If an informal solution can't be found, there may be a government agency that deals with this sort of problem. Try a Google search for "California landlord/tenant law" or something like that.

There are also dynamic noise-canceling headphones available. But if the neighbor and landlord can't/won't solve the problem your only option may be to move out. That's what I did, in a similar situation.

# Posted on September 6th 2006 by mickray

Re: Help: how to deal with Refrigerator Noise from up stairs neighbour

This is the wrong website for your problem. Here's a link to a pdf of the CA tenant's rights handbook.

http://www.dca.ca.gov/legal/landlordbook/catenant.pdf

# Posted on September 6th 2006 by Phantom Button

Re: Help: how to deal with Refrigerator Noise from up stairs neighbour

Um, take up the bagpipes. I'm sure your upstairs neighbor will be more than willing to work out a compromise...

# Posted on September 7th 2006 by atftb

Re: Help: how to deal with Refrigerator Noise from up stairs neighbour

Hi,
Thanks a lot.

I am living in cupertino, ca 95014.

The manager did provide an offer: move out. He said we are too
sensitive for noise.

Well, We have 2 kids and one baby. And it is not
easy for us to move.

The upper stairs neighbor is Korean couple with 2 children and they do not want to do anything for their 2-door refrigerator.

The apt structure is poor.

But Moving out is the only choice? Is there any department
(police, healty..) can measure the noise level?

Yes. the noise is from the refrigerator since we let them
turn it off and the noise was gone.

The noise is 24 * 7. not sure which brand !

But clearly they never respect for other neighbours.
Everybody deserve a better life but not disturb other's life,
right?

What about i call 911 after 11pm? they will forward to
police departent and thet will come to check?

I saw after that the last 2 ways are to
(1) go to small claim court
(2) next : move out,

Is so bad? From the agreement i see:
1.
2.
3.
4. No louding, loud taling ... after 10Pm if that disturb to other persons...


George

# Posted on September 7th 2006 by cupertino2

Re: Help: how to deal with Refrigerator Noise from up stairs neighbour

I think the didgeridoo might be the answer to your problems.

# Posted on September 7th 2006 by Phantom Button

Re: Help: how to deal with Refrigerator Noise from up stairs neighbour

Now THERE'S a sentence I never thought I'd see!

# Posted on September 7th 2006 by Mark Harmer

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