Hey everyone! I live pretty close to my neighbor's yard—just about 10 feet away. My yard is actually a bit higher than theirs, and they recently put in a pool with the pump and filter right up against the stone retaining wall that separates our properties. The issue is, this setup is super close to my office, where I spend around 12 hours a day with my window open, and the noise from the equipment is driving me nuts!
Technically, the noise level exceeds the local limit, giving me some leverage if I wanted to push my neighbor to relocate it. However, we've had a great relationship over the last 10 years, and he's genuinely a nice guy, so I'd rather not stir the pot. I was thinking about building an outdoor kitchen a little ways away in my yard, but then it hit me: could putting that kitchen between the pump and my window help with the noise? I'm thinking about making it around 8 feet long out of concrete or bricks for my BBQ and pizza oven.
Do you think this would block some of the sound? I also considered building a soundproof box around the pump, and I'd even help him do it if needed, but I want to see if my kitchen idea works first. Anyone have some tips? Thanks!
2 Answers
Another idea is to just talk to your neighbor about building an insulated enclosure for the pump. A pump house could do wonders! Plus, it’s a good chance to strengthen your relationship. Keeping the conversation open might lead to even better solutions for both of you!
Honestly, it sounds like a good plan to start with the outdoor kitchen to see if that helps with the noise. However, a lot of folks think that plants and a fence won’t do much to block the sound effectively. If you really want to reduce the noise, building a soundproof enclosure around the pump is probably the best route to go. Also, maybe consider closing your window or getting a white noise machine—those can mask background sounds pretty well!
I totally get that! I work from home with a chaotic household, and constant noise can be exhausting. Insulating the pump housing sounds like a smart move; it could really be a win-win for both you and your neighbor!