Has anyone upgraded their windows in order to reduce outside noise?
 

My neighbor's house is very close to mine. They have a pool pump that creates an annoying noise that goes right through my windows. They have reduced the pump speed but I still hear it inside my house. I was wondering if anyone has upgraded their windows in order to reduce outside noise; did it make a big difference? I don't really care about any energy savings, just noise reduction. Can you recommend any vendors, and give me some idea of the cost?

Pool pumps have a humming vibration noise that will be very difficult to block out. You probably already have double pane glass, so you would need to upgrade to expensive triple pane, but you would most likely still hear the pump. One thing that may work is a fixed hurricane shutter, but you would not be able to use the window. Another thing you can try is heavy block out drapes.

I once attended an open house for a new house where the builder had built a pool next door with the pool pump about 10 feet from the master bedroom. The windows were shut, but you could still feel and hear a humming noise from the pool pump. That would be a non-starter for me.

Hearing pool pumps is a common complaint here due to the nearness of neighbors. We bought our home between two lots that were not large enough to put in a pool so we would not have to put up with that in the future. We also passed on a home we were going to buy that the neighbor had just put in a pool and we could hear the pump in the home we were looking at. In any event, hearing the pump is better than living next to pickle ball courts.

One problem is that many houses have a garage on one side of the house and bedrooms on the other side. When a new pool is installed, the pool contractor will locate the pump on the garage side right next to the next door neighbor's bedrooms. So, the neighbor hears the noise, but the pool owner is not affected nearly as much.

I think The Villages needs to address this issue with new rules.

On a related topic, all wind chimes should be banned.

I understand that “White Noise Generators” help drown out background noises.

I’d recommend researching that further.

Starting at $20 on Amazon

You might also be hearing noise conducted through the ground. You seem to be on good terms with your neighbor, so I would ask them to see if it would be possible to have noise/vibration pads installed at the pump. I would also contact a pool supply company (like pinch a penny) and ask if they know of a pump enclosure to cut down on noise. I would then offer to buy one for the neighbor. You contact a window supplier and ask them about the possible installation of a storm window outside the existing window to cutdown on the noise. I had a neighbor that was really into having a very quiet room to listen to music. He found sound absorbing panels which he placed on the walls which were very effective in making the room very quiet.

When I am not sure about something I often do an internet search and your problem intrigued me so I did. It looks like there are some YouTube videos on this topic and the link below suggests vibration pads as one solution among others and as Tinker suggested, etc. I would see if the pump noise could be reduced before I spend money on the window as a last resort.
14 Effective Ways How to Quiet a Noisy Pool Pump

Amen on the wind chimes.

Your neighbor needs a better pump. A Pentair Whisperflo earns it's name. I have a pool at my Non-Villages place and I literally have to walk up to the equipment sometimes to be sure it's running. Those pumps aren't cheap though and it's not a fix you can implement. Good luck!

I usually just take my hearing aids out....

Seriously look into the "White Noise" generator. You can buy them on line and they are probably cheaper than new windows, plus if you get a portable one you could move it around to find the best spot for it.

You could also purchase an Amazon Echo(or equivalent) and set it to play your preferred background noise by voice command. It is also a great aid for insomnia.

My preferred background noise is "Brown Noise" but there are many other options. YouTube has them all. Good chance that visitors won't even notice it playing.

If there is a significant period of time when you are not around, perhaps your neighbor would alter his pump schedule. Another alternative might be for him to run it while you are sleeping. It is an easy thing to try. Sure, the pump will normally be run for a short time after chemicals are added, but the daily run might be done on a schedule that fits yours.

In south Florida I owned a house near a road and heard noise. I upgraded the windows to what I call “impact glass”. Supposedly glass strong enough to withstand hurricane force winds so one is not required to shutter (something we did in south Florida). Amazing. Zero noise. So quiet. I like quiet. The windows were three times the cost of regular windows. But I did not have a lot of windows and worth it to me to also not to have to shutter when a hurricane came through.

It seems odd to me that we do not have shutters here in central Florida and if Milton was not the 100 year storm they say and we see more, I’ll look into getting impacted glass for my current home in the villages. With Milton, even though I have double pane windows now, they shook and vibrated quite a bit on the exposed pond side during the storm. I know Romac does windows in The Villages, but I have not researched vendors. I’d probably look to have an Orlando based window company come over, as it likely would be less.

That's the answer right there.
And they save $$$ on power usage as well.

Had a house in SE Florida before moving to TV. Installed impact glass and it did a great job reducing the noise. Work was down there and can not make a recommendation about a local company. Window cost2- 3x more for materials 10 years ago.

Might want to ask your neighbor to run his pump during the day. Pumps do not need to be on 24/7. Had a pool for 20 years and we ran our pump 6-8 hours a day. In wintertime, can be run less

Maybe if they run it at night, it can act as your white noise generator. Two birds, one stone :crap2:

Ohiobuckeye
 

Windows aren’t insulaters! Might be wrong but sounds like like a sales gimmick!!

All glazing combinations will have an STC rating.
Playing with different airspace’s (thickness of space between layers of glass)and spacer bars ( material that separates the layers of glass will result in achieving better or worse STC rating(sound transmission coefficients).
You should work with a reputable window manufacturer that can then work with their glazing manufacturer or department to get the best rating possible.
On installation backer rod air space backer rod offers the best STC rating around the frame itself.
STC ratings used much more commonly in the commercial glazing industry.

OP is certainly not going to buy his neighbor a new pump!!!

I agree with the anti vibration pad and sound enclosure around the pump. We used them for generators too.
When we added water features to our new birdcage, our neighbor asked that we not light up the side near their bedroom. We understood and enjoy motion sensor lights when we use the birdcage. Less light pollution for space craft viewing too. The pump is behind our birdcage.

There are windows that control outside noise!

Contact a local glass company, tell them you want to replace the insulated glass
in your widows. You need to use a laminated glass insulated unit consisting of 2 lites of laminated glass. This will greatly reduce the sound transmission and be much safer in the event it gets broken. This is a fairly easy install for an experienced glazer and will be much more reasonable than having new windows installed.

My friend put a thick foam mattress topper cut to window size over the window and keeps that curtain closed.

While that might be an acceptable short-term solution, it is not a reasonable accommodation, IMHO. I mean, may as well not even have a window there then.

Ohiobuckeye
 

Space between glass are called Thermal Pane Windows we had to have 2 replaced. Also maybe blocked out a little noise but that not what windows are for, windows are to maintain temperatures in house. If they don’t you’ve been scammed or just got cheap windows from a slick talking salesman!

In MI we lived 8 miles from Oakland Airport, one of the busiest in MI. Those living in airport glide path had the ability to upgrade their windows under government guidelines.
Those windows blocked the noise from the landing jets so well, that you rarely knew there was a jet landing. Now outside was a very different matter.
Have no idea the windows that were installed in those homes, or the cost, because it was partially paid by the county. But for a noise factor they were the most noise canceling windows I have ever witnessed. So they are windows out there research may take awhile.

I am truly sorry that noise is bothering you because there are many pool pumps and certainly many air conditioners buzzing and our homes are much closer to each other, part of the plan to try to have smaller yards to maintain. I will tell you that in the eighteen years we have lived here that many of my friends have lost some hearing. I know that isn't what you would like to hear, but that is a fact. I do recommend Dan at The Village Ear on 466 if you eventually need hearing aids. And I am sorry about the noise being annoying. Ear plugs maybe?

Thinking OP doesn’t need advice on business for hearing aide :girlneener: . My guess is OP hearing is just fine. Or probably wouldn’t have posted complaints about the noise.