HELP - Neighbor's wind chimes are driving me crazy!

[lucas]

HELP!

The neighbors behind us have 4 sets of wind chimes hanging in their back yard. Three of the sets are hanging close to their house, basically right outside of their windows and on their patio. Fine. But, one is hanging in a tree, the farthest they can go from their house which puts it closest to our backyard. Weeks ago hubby asked her to please take down the wind chimes that are in the tree by our house and yesterday I asked her again nicely if they could do something about the ones hanging in the tree because the noise really bothers us. I thought I made my point - NICELY - and that she would take them out of the tree. As of tonight - NOTHING! What else can we do? The noise is really getting to me. Even when the neighbors aren't home to hear the wind chimes, they are still in the tree and we still have to listen to the irritating racket! Not only can we hear the noise if we are in our backyard but we can even hear them from the inside our house!! I don't want to argue with them - I want to be on a friendly basis - but I don't know what else to do. Please - any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!

 

[DawnCt1]

When she is not home twist them together so they don't make a noise. She might think the wind did it. If that isn't possible, ask her if she can move them to inside her house. I don't get wind chimes.

 

[Marseeya]

UGH!

When I still lived at home, we had a neighbor whose porch was lined with windchimes (she had at least 20) and someone eventually called the cops because they made so much noise at night.

I don't think she ever knew who called (wasn't us), and relations remained friendly.

 

[Rhonda922]

I have two outside. Do you think they're really that annoying? Oh jeez, now you've got me wondering if I'm annoying MY neighbors.

 

[Lil_Tink]

Make it 'Fall' Off the tree...Hehehe

 

[gr8tpanther]

Make it 'Fall' Off the tree...Hehehe

I like this idea! Mine are in my bedroom... Only one who hears them, is me, and only when I WANT to hear them!

 

[Tigger&Belle]

We have one set of windchimes and years ago my DH took them down because he figured they are noisy and could be bothering the neighbors. As far as I know nobody complained, but it was a courtesy thing since our houses are so close together.

As far as your neighbors chimes, maybe you should sneak out and wrap bubble wrap around each chime.

 

[laura001]

Oh my! I was sitting here reading your post thinking you were one of my neighbour's writing about my other neighbour with the windchimes that never shut-up. If you had been from Canada I would have fallen out of my chair...

What I don't understand is how it doesn't seem to bother the person with all the chimes?

 

[dmslush]

I have two outside. Do you think they're really that annoying? Oh jeez, now you've got me wondering if I'm annoying MY neighbors.

For some of us, the high pitch sound that the chimes makes is irritating. My neighbors have them hanging out, and I can't stand them. It isn't a pretty noise, to me it is simply metal clicking together. It is not musical, it is not comforting. I keep a large windmachine fan blowing in my bedroom year round to help block out the noise of the chimes.

 

[lucas]

When she is not home twist them together so they don't make a noise. She might think the wind did it. If that isn't possible, ask her if she can move them to inside her house. I don't get wind chimes.

I know - I REALLY don't get wind chimes!!!!

I did think about using a long stick to knock them off the tree but I could never do that. Anyway, with my luck, they would catch me!

I guess I have to get up the nerve to ask her for a third time to take them down. We don't know them very well. It is an awkward situation.

I do have a sound machine that I travel with, and I could use it to drown out the noise, but why should I have to live like that everyday in my own house??

Thanks for the help. Please keep the suggestions coming.

 

[Beth76]

What did she say when you asked her? Did she seem put off or apologetic? It seems strange that you would ask her twice and she doesn't do anything about it. I would call the police.

 

[epcotfan]

Yup, wind chimes are extremely annoying. I can't believe they wouldn't take the one out of the tree down after you asked nicely.

 

[lucas]

What did she say when you asked her? Did she seem put off or apologetic? It seems strange that you would ask her twice and she doesn't do anything about it. I would call the police.

She seemed to acknowledge the problem and was nice about it, she wasn't upset or anything. And we thought she understood and would take them down - both times. And both times we waited - but she hasn't done anything. Actually, since we asked her the first time, she has added a few additional ones that I mentioned that are hanging on her patio, close to her house. We can hear those too, but the one on the tree is the worst one for us.

 

[daisyduck123]

If I had to listen to that...those windchimes would mysteriously disappear...esp. after you have asked her several times.

Maybe they could disappear during the next big storm?

 

[N.Bailey]

I don't like them either. My MIL has 3 on her front porch, but thankfully, they're the only ones who have to hear them. When we're down there though, they drive me nuts!

I'd make sure they had some type of accident! LOL I like the wind em up idea because the wind could do that. The fact that you've already approached them kinda rules out knocking them out of the tree.

Good Luck!! It sounds like you need all you can get.

 

[PrincessKitty1]

I'm afraid this would drive me past the point of being polite and neighborly. I would call the police--even if the level of noise isn't against the law, police depts. often have a kind of Community Affairs officer who will go talk to neighbors about stuff like this. If you can't bring yourself to call the cops, you could do something a little passive-aggressive like decide you need to do some noisy yardwork in the part of your yard closest to her house--like maybe leaf-blowing--at 6 AM--several days in a row. Or maybe bring out your portable radio while you do yard work (very close to her house!) and "forget" to bring the radio inside with you.

Or wait a week, and as others have suggested, let the wind blow down the chimes.

 

[tmt martins]

Well if she added after you nicely complained then she is not taking them down .She might even be waiting to see if you do something to them just out of spite .

I would get some very bright light and let them shine as to highlite your fence but into her windows as well.

 

[Serena]

I think I'd ask her one more time, and then I'd just call the police.

My neighbors have chimes too, but I've gotten used to them.

 

[Aidensmom]

Wow, I have 2 sets of windchimes on my screened porch, and the only time I can even hear them inside the house is during a storm. I like the sound they make. (Mine are pretty small though, maybe that is the difference.) Perhaps your neighbors don't realize how much they annoy you. Honestly, I would kind of be shocked if my neighbors said anything about mine. I would ask again, and emphasize how much they bother you.

 

[Marseeya]

Wow, I have 2 sets of windchimes on my screened porch, and the only time I can even hear them inside the house is during a storm. I like the sound they make. (Mine are pretty small though, maybe that is the difference.) Perhaps your neighbors don't realize how much they annoy you. Honestly, I would kind of be shocked if my neighbors said anything about mine. I would ask again, and emphasize how much they bother you.

There's a big difference between 2 sets and 4 or more (or in the case with my neighbor, 20). Just one or two can make a harmonious sound, kind of like a duet, but once you start adding more, it becomes more and more dissonant, like a symphony warming up before a concert.

I wonder if some people are just more sensitive to discordant sounds?