Neighbours buzzing hot tub

[Shibby585]

Next door have decided to get a permanent hot tub installed on their deck a couple of weeks ago and since then I can hear a none stop hum within my house 24/7.

The fence got taken down to put it in, it still hasn't been put back up so I've had no privacy, they've also been using the hot tub during this time with no fence which I've found really awkward when putting washing out.

The low frequency hum drives me mental, I tried to approach next door and got told it wasn't their hot tub making the noise and told they refused to do anything about this. Aibu to expect a resolution to this and not have to sit in my house listening to it humming all day.

Would the local authority do anything? I've read up and believe the deck is acting like a drum and resonating in my house. It's not actually loud outside but in my house it's a constant low drone that is awful. I can no longer sit in my house in peace, I have to turn the TV up to drown it out and take tablets on a night to sleep or try to mask it.

Just wait until they get their bill! We do have a permanent hot tub, I know they’re not popular on here, but it’s away from the neighbours and it certainly won’t be on all the time with the energy hikes - it would cost around £80 a month to run! Husband and I plan on running it for a couple of months a year now.

With any luck the novelty will wear off after a while, and as others have said, the electrical bill may deter them from having it on constantly. I honestly cannot understand why anyone who lives in a terraced or even semi detached house would want a hot tub. The thought of neighbours looking at me while I sit with my head and shoulders freezing in a manky hot tub is enough to put me off for life.

@OfstedOffred here is some information off a hot tub specialist.

There are two causes of spa vibration noise:

1. Hot Tubs sitting on small wooden decks
2. Hot Tub equipment vibration, underneath the spa.

In the first case, outdoor wood decks act like a drum and resonate a low frequency that sounds like a constant drone, even with pumps on low speed. The sound can be amplified as it conducts through nearby fences or reflects off exterior walls. To correct this situation, the wood deck can be cut-out to fit the spa, with a 4″ thick reinforced concrete slab poured for the spa to rest on. Another option would be to place thick rubber mats, or patio squares underneath the entire spa, on top of the wood deck. These can also be used on concrete patios that are connected to the house to reduce hot tub vibration noise. In addition to these two sound solutions, tall planters or short fences can be used adjacent to the hot tub/spa, to reflect sound away from the house(s) toward a more open area.

In the second case, vibration can come from the equipment located under the spa cabinet. Circulation pumps and jet pumps are the usual suspects, check that the base bolts are tight on each pump, or install them if they are missing. Alternatively, you can place a thick rubber mat underneath to dampen pump vibration noises. The Spa Pack or blower could also be the culprit. Placing your hand on pumps, valves, spa pack – you should be able to feel what you hear, and can tighten the equipment to the base, or use dense dampening rubber squares beneath. You can also use sound dampers or insulating material on the inside of the cabinet wall panels to contain spa equipment noise.

So although they may not hear it, the lack of fence and the sound waves from the deck are hitting me just right so I can hear it drone. I've got ear plugs in and can hear it through that, low frequency noise unfortunately reach farther and are harder to stop.

This would drive me nutty. I'd hate it.

I have no advice but just wanted to offer sympathy. You poor poor thing, I am feeling tense just reading about it. It must be an absolute nightmare and would drive me crazy too. I hope there is a quick resolution.

@edenhills

I can't believe people still have hot tubs that stay on 24/7! So bad for the planet and such a kick in the teeth for those of us struggling with high energy prices and make every tiny saving we can.

Apparently it’s more energy efficient to leave them on 24/7 then turn them off and have the water heat up from cold again. Must cost a fortune with the price of electricity at the moment.

Yes OP I wasnt disagreeing with the fact that hot tubs vibrate, or that a wooden deck can transmit noise.

I was question that you can hear it so loudly (over your television), indoors, with your windows (double glazed?) and doors shut.

I would have thought the brick walls of your home would considerably block it, and hot tubs arent that loud to begin with. I've got neighbours with them and can't hear it at all indoors, living in a very ordinary 80s build estate house.

@OfstedOffred that's what I was trying to explain it's the deck acting as a drum resonating in my house. I must be in a perfect spot to pick it up.

I've obviously got no fence to shield me which is making it worse and loose bits of wood touching the deck, so this may improve when the wood is moved and the fence goes up. I've found if the wind is blowing my way that's when it's worst.

Low frequency waves hit those further away and permeate buildings due to the type of noise it is. Its the frequency its resonating and the hardest to block. although it doesn't sound so bad up close it does in my house as vibrations travel. I can tell when they are in the tub without even checking as the sound changes.

Things to consider with your neighbour having one is theirs is probably installed right or your house is not in a place to pick up the sound. The type of hot tub, what it is placed on, what kind of pump it uses and the settings can make a massive difference as to if you can hear it or not. My dad's neighbours have a hot tub and I can't hear it when I go over his house.

Report to environmental health

@olympicsrock

Could you ask them to put a rubber mat under it to absorb the vibration ?

Yes,my friend has a rubber mat thing which hers sits on.

Insist the fence is put back asap.

@MrsPelligrinoPetrichor that is what I asked them to put down she told me it won't be done for 6 months as it costs £500 to empty the tub. I don't suppose you know via your friend the cost to empty and fill back us as this seems like a massive over exaggeration.

It's not more energy efficient, that's not the reason. It just takes ages to heat up so you can't use it spontaneously.

[quote Shibby585]@MrsPelligrinoPetrichor that is what I asked them to put down she told me it won't be done for 6 months as it costs £500 to empty the tub. I don't suppose you know via your friend the cost to empty and fill back us as this seems like a massive over exaggeration.[/quote]
I know it's a faff to drain and re fill and get to the right temperature. £500 seems a lot though!!

Our tub holds 1200lt of water, at todays water and electricity cost it would be approx £20 to refill, there would also be a slight cost for the chemicals to balance the water but youre talking pence.

@Hteng so massive over estimation because she didn't want to empty it and resolve? I asked her to turn it of for 5 to 10 mins just to confirm it was the tub I was told it would cost £15 to power it off for that long :/

Your neighbours sound like dicks, OP. Shouting and screaming when you asked them to come and listen to the noise inside your house! Honestly, what the fuck is wrong with some people that that's their default response?

As some others have said, I'd check your household insurance for legal cover and get onto your local Council as clearly your neighbours aren't going to be inclined to be even the least bit 'neighbourly' in helping to remedy this issue - nor go as far as being prepared to even find out if it IS their hot tub causing the issue in the first place.

I'm sorry OP but while I totally understand your points regarding low frequency vibration being able to permeate into building, I'm just not sure I believe that your neighbours hot tub is clearly audible through the brick walls of your house, over your television, when you are indoors, with doors and windows fully closed.

@OfstedOffred

I'm sorry OP but while I totally understand your points regarding low frequency vibration being able to permeate into building, I'm just not sure I believe that your neighbours hot tub is clearly audible through the brick walls of your house, over your television, when you are indoors, with doors and windows fully closed.

I can believe it. Our neighbours had terrible issues as the people next to them put a freezer in their garage and right up against the wall. The noise was terrible.

The dishwasher next door is really noisy but because it's not on all day/ night we tune out but if it was an all day sound diy would be terrible!!

Can you invite them over to sit in your house for a short while to understand how intrusive it is? Is that possible?

**it would be

The humming can indeed be really irritating. Also be mindful of how the hot tub will drain when this needs doing. If this is a self install drainage may not have been considered properly and you may find your garden gets flooded (and fence damaged), when they finally do drain.

Please go to Environmental Health, they are there to help

• You didn't experience noise/vibration before the hot tub was installed. Seeking help promptly makes it easier for them to deal with it.

• You have tried to resolve this amicably, with reasonable suggestions.

Noise/vibration can travel in strange ways depending on local circumstances (ground conditions, building construction etc) and an expert judgement/monitoring is the best way to determine if what you are experiencing in your property is a nuisance.

@OfstedOffred how do I explain that this started 24/7 the instance the hot tub was plugged in and that when they turned it off for 5 minutes the noise stopped?

It's a common issue with hot tubs installed incorrectly: Most hot tubs produce between 41 and 67 dB of airborne noise. 41 dB is only as loud as the average library, so this shouldn’t cause any problems. 67 dB, however, is more like constant traffic noise or the sound of running your hoover. It also tends to be a low-frequency hum which can be more stressful to listen to than louder higher frequency noises.

Also, bear in mind that even quiet sounds seem much louder at night and carry further. Many tubs are set to heat and run filtration cycles overnight, making the noise it produces more of an issue. (I can generally drown it out until the evening when it's quiet).

Really hoping it's just because there is no fence.

@Ohmybod I did invite her over but I took her into the kitchen which in hindsight wasn't a good indication as I had my fridge freezers running, (I blame 2 hours sleep and being shouted at) but when she came over she was shouting at me and stomping about. I'm not sure I would want to repeat and take her to another part of the house as she has already made up her mind it isn't her hot tub.

@OfstedOffred

I'm sorry OP but while I totally understand your points regarding low frequency vibration being able to permeate into building, I'm just not sure I believe that your neighbours hot tub is clearly audible through the brick walls of your house, over your television, when you are indoors, with doors and windows fully closed.

You obviously don’t really understand what a low frequency vibration noise is, because you have repeated suggested that the OP is exaggerating the noise level on several posts, saying it can’t be louder than her TV.

When the frequency level of a noise is very low or high pitched and vibrating through the walls, some people will hear that far more clearly than normal background noise.

Try to imagine having a small bumble bee hovering next to your ear buzzing away whilst you’re trying to watch TV. The noise from the bee isn’t louder than the TV in terms of decibels but because of the pitch, you will hear that clearly above the normal TV sounds and it will drive you demented in a short space of time. It’s definitely akin to torture.

OP, report this to your local Council and insist that they investigate further. The vibration noise from the hot tub is clearly spoiling your entitlement to quiet enjoyment of your home and they will be held liable to resolve the issue.