My next-door neighbor has an air conditioner that makes such a loud noise that I can’t leave my window open when his AC is on. I wrote to the management company about it last summer, but they did nothing, and with this heat wave, his air conditioner is once again buzzing away. —Carol L., Midtown
If the managing agent continues to ignore you or declines to offer a solution, approach your neighbor directly. The good news is, you’re confronting him about an inanimate object — as opposed to grousing about his beloved pet or a family member. In other words, though he may not be inclined to fix a piece of equipment that — to him — works perfectly well, he’ll hardly be offended when you let him know his cooling device is causing you disquiet. If he balks, offer to pay for the purchase and installation of a new model. This may seem excessive, but on the other hand, what price would you put on being able to open your windows without needing to reach for earplugs or aspirin?
My upstairs neighbor’s window air conditioner is positioned right above ours, and whenever it’s in use, drips onto the metal casing of our AC unit. If our air is running, there’s no problem, but if it’s off, we hear drip, drip, drip all day and all night. Apart from keeping my unit on 24/7, is there anything I can do to end the annoyance? —Kate J., Greenwich Village
Isn’t it uncanny how the littlest noises often turn into the biggest annoyances? Before you run up an electricity bill the size of Rhode Island’s GDP, investigate some of the easy fixes available for silencing this pitter-patter. A company called Drip Drop Stop offers a low-tech answer for less than $60; there are also DIY solutions on the Web.
I’m very concerned by the window air conditioner of the couple that lives in the top floor of my building: It’s too small for the opening, so they’ve propped it up on bricks to help it fit better. I shudder to think of what would happen if this unit ever fell from the window and onto the street. Am I being paranoid? — Clyde B., Prospect Heights
You’re absolutely right to be wary of the precarious setup, which violates guidelines for window air-conditioner installation issued by the city’s Department of Buildings. Ask your management company to address this dangerous situation immediately, and if they don’t take prompt action, contact the Brooklyn DOB and file a complaint. You may be saving a life, or at the very least, preventing a scary sidewalk mess.
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