# What is this noise? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 28, 2015, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-noise/729234 "2015-08-28T23:41:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Di675](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@Di675](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Di675)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2015, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-noise/729234/1 "2015-08-28T23:41:31Z")
There is a noise in a neighboring condo that I’m hoping someone can identify. It’s a pretty loud buzzing and sort of high-pitched sound coming from something that I don’t know what it is. I’m posting a video. [- YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msg440ReNqY) I’ve lived here for 10+ years and this is new in the last few months. Not sure how to proceed and if there is anything I can do about it? Driving me mad when I sit on my patio… ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2015, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-noise/729234/2 "2015-08-29T00:07:57Z")
Have you tried just walking over there and locating the source? Is it outside? Could just be an AC dying. OR, that downspout has a ‘thing’ on it just below the level of the bushes. That ‘thing’ might be a radon pump. I’ve never heard one run before but if it looks like [this](http://www.homeenergytune-up.com/images/photo-radonpump1.jpg) and it’s making the noise, that’s what it is. I’d start by walking over there and seeing if you can find it. If it’s inside a condo, talk to the landlord. It might be an air compressor or some small appliance gone rogue and the tenant needs to be talked to. If that is a radon pump and it’s making that much noise, it probably (if I had to guess) has a bad bearing or a fin/blade that’s snapped off and needs to be looked at. Like I said, I’ve never heard them run, but I really doubt they’re supposed to be that loud. ---
**Author:** ![Dickerman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8baadc/32.png) [@Dickerman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dickerman)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2015, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-noise/729234/3 "2015-08-29T00:24:11Z")
Just looking at that reminded me of when my wife and I lived in an apartment complex and would hear a very similar noise, which would start later in the evening when we were trying to sleep. It was a three story building and our place was on the second floor. It was quite annoying and kept us awake. We finally figured out what it was: a clothes dryer vent just under the eave one story above our bedroom window. The neighbor upstairs would come home at night, do some laundry, and use the clothes dryer. I suppose it could have been altered so it didn’t make the buzzing/whistling noise, but it was not easily accessible as it was so far above ground level, and we moved out and it wasn’t our problem any longer. ---
**Author:** ![Di675](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@Di675](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Di675)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2015, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-noise/729234/4 "2015-08-29T00:55:49Z")
Thanks. Yes, in my video you can see where the noise is eminating from and I believe it could be a radon pump now that I see a pic. I did not know what those were until googling. So, they’re not supposed to be that loud? I am not sure what to do. It’s a neighboring condo and we have an association meeting coming up. I guess I should bring it up, but they probably have a right to have this thing running? ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2015, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-noise/729234/5 "2015-08-29T01:15:30Z")
They likely have a right\* (and a responsibility if there property tests positive for radon) to run it. However, I don’t think it should be that loud. You might just take a stroll into the office and mention that ‘the thing on the side of the building is really loud and keeping me up all night’", espeically if it’s been there for a while and just started. If it’s a big complex, they won’t know you don’t live there and probably just say 'we’ll send someone over to take a look at it. Like I said, it’s probably broken and needs to be replaced. You might also go to your office and let them know as well. I wouldn’t tell them you contacted their office, just let them know that some equipment on the other building is really loud and right next to your bedroom window.