Ask the guy that services your pump if they have any recommendations of what can be done to your neighbor's pump. If you're lucky the same guy services their pump and it can be solved stealthily.

Landscaping can help some, but there are a lot of factors involved.

Thanks Mark. My pool guy offered to look at his pump. When I emailed the neighbor that my pool contractor would look at his pump, he ignored me. :(

I recall you are in SoCal. In the photo the pump looks so far away, it's hard to believe it would be making that much noise to bother you so far away! What I mean is that neighbor's pump must be at max speed!

Everyone nowadays uses variable speed pumps, and they set the timer so as to coincide with the most utility savings (e.g., midnight to 6a.m. where I live).

Our variable speed pump is loud only when it's at max speed. So what I'm saying is that your neighbor will find out what that pump is costing in utility bills at the next billing cycle, and that problem may take care of itself. Holy cow, if it's going full bore 24 hours a day, that's going to cost a LOT $$$.

Maybe try to figure out who neighbor's pool service is, and see if you can phone them directly.

@Mrs. S Thank you! His pump is new. It is so loud I can hear it across the acre of his property, in my house, and out on the road. I bet you are right! It’s been going on for weeks. It was loud earler this year but I thought it got better, but it could have changed timing or maybe the ac units kicking in helped block the noise. It’s also possible that the pump was fixed and now is malfunctioning again. Cleary his pool co is not addressing it. I’ll keep an eye out for his pool guys, but I cant see his driveway from my house so it may be hard.

Regarding landscaping. Only solid barriers like walls and fences mitigate sound. Foliage will make little difference.

How obnoxious. Are there noise reflectors that could direct and even amplify the noise back at him? How about mirrors to burn sunbathers?!

Landscaping may help. A physical barrier (fence), water feature sound and/or outdoor speakers will help more than landscaping.

Are there any noise ordinances in your town that govern this type of noise? if yes, you can measure the decibel level at the property line to see if the noise is excessive per the ordinance.

Foliage does help - not sure in SoCal you can make that work but where I live (not at my house but at others) the sound from traffic is worse during the winter when the leaves have gone. But, I am sure that solid is way better and maybe your only option.

Since you have lost communication, perhaps you should consider a noise ordinance complaint. I was just researching this weekend because of the annoying leaf blowers. And in some jurisdictions in my area you would have a shot. It would typically only cover night time but worth a check.

I realize night time might not be your concern but it may make him address the problem. You typically video it with a sound meter at your property line.

Curious - does he have a huge water feature that requires a large water flow? My pump is quieter than my a/c units and more constant.

The only time my pool pump was loud was when there was a leak in a valve leading to the pump and when a barring failed. A new pump should be quiet. Mine is so quiet I often have to check if it is on. Now my heat pump is a bit louder when in use. Could he be using a heat pump? If it is a noisy pump he likely has air getting in the system or a barring issue. You should suggest he get it fixed because it affects the motor and it decreases cleaning ability.

If you get a new pool pump, it may drown out the sound of his pool pump.

(humor and pun intended)

You might want to check the actual noise level. (There are apps for that.) If his motor shows a high level, let him know. Depending on your local government there might be a law being broken. I am not saying report him but letting him know that it may be reported might motivate him to fix the situation.

One app, there are others.

Even if the sound level does not exceed local code, it can be annoying. We are dealing with similar from a neighbor’s spa heater which has to run constantly in cold weather. And we recently passed on buying a lovely house to downsize to, because a house across the street has some kind of huge fan or something that we could hear.

Anyway, a thick stand of evergreens, arbor vitae, that kind of thing, might help. And a sound wall. But, since they are higher than you, it almost needs to be closer to their pool.

Also, since the owner says they don’t hear it, it migt be a case of the vibration carrying. Kind of like when a car pulls up next to you and the bass pounds in your car, but it isn’t as audible in their car.

To heck with the e-mails. Invite your neighbor over for dinner and drinks. Sit out by your pool and pleasantly discuss with them your concerns and work out a resolution.

How long has it been going on? If it’s that loud there must be something wrong and it will eventually break. My friends pool has the pump within feet of the pool and it’s almost silent.

We know we installed good quality, efficient equipment that is quiet, but you can't control what your neighbors put in.

Now that we have a water feature that runs when the pool pump is running, we don't hear the neighbor's pool equipment or AC units. Most pools in my area have some type of water feature and some people have a fountain as part of their front landscaping.

I would prefer no noise pollution, but I guess you have to make your own noise to cover up other people's noises!

You might also just be unlucky to have the perfect combination of geography/layout around your home that is producing an amplification of the sound. In my previous hilly city, we had a highway running through parts of town and houses built up on the mountain/canyons. I went to a party at one of the houses up the mountain and was shocked at how loud the highway noise was, even though we were quite high up and away from the highway, it just seemed to echo right up the hillside. The views were amazing though, but I couldn't have lived with the noise.

When I lived on a large lake we could not hear any pool pumps. There were at times these large waves . . .

(for what its worth)

Thank you guys! I forgot to add that I got the noise at 94 db. It is insane. I"m meeting the steel guy out there at night so he hear it and see if he thinks the panels will work.

@kitasei2 LOL Yes! I thought about hanging flapping tibetian flags across the wash where his view cuts through. I own part of that wash. Or bright lights flooding his night view.

@design fan @dan cary Thank you! I don't know if I have a complaint. I'm in AZ not Ca. The regulations are vague - basically say something about hearing it inside within 500 feet. Yes, I can hear it inside, but it's pretty low. The only reason it's low is that I sound proofed my master bedroom when I built it. But when I open the master door to let the dogs out to go potty, it sounds like an idling semi out there. It carries over to my pool also. I also don't know if I want to go there. I don't think he has a water feature. I honestly don't know why it is so loud. I get 70-94 db on a db meter in my back yard.

@roarah He is completely ignoring my emails. But I'm going to see if I can have another neighbor contact him.

@bpath why does the spa heater have to run constantly? Could that be what is going on with my neighbor now that it is winter and getting into the low 40s at night? The owner told me he got 55 db on his property, and that he didnt think that was an issue. I do not believe he tested it when it was running at it's peak.

@mark bischak, architect I did when I first started sending emails. I asked them if they wanted to meet for coffee or a drink.

@hallett & co it's been going on since it was installed and running - last year around feb or march. It seemed to get quieter this past summer.

@chispa yes i think that is part of the issue - the georgraphy and that it's pointed directly at my house. I see that he recently installed a panel to protect his house, but not mine. How rude is that after I was complaining? I think he installed pentair which I think is good quality?

I could build an adu out back to block the noise. That would also block his views of the city. It's something I will be thinking about, although I'd rather not spend the money. The fact that he is not open to amending the promblem really pisses me off. If a neighbor had told me the same thing, I would be apologetic and build a block wall.