Neighbor's windmill

runharley52 · #1 04/21/14, 08:32 PM

We have our new homestead and we love it with small exception... Our only neighbor (1/4 mile away) has a windmill that ruins the peace and quite that we moved here for whenever there is any breeze to speak of.

To start off I will say we need to go introduce ourselves and get to know them but we have not even lived here a month. My thoughts are offer to help him fix it (I have access to a lift) or buy it from him and/or offer to take it down. I have no idea how they sleep at night as it is quite loud. Friends and family are convinced they must be deaf. Other thoughts?

Secondly how hard could it be to fix? It's likely at least 30' and I'm guessing more is needed than a little grease?

bassmaster17327 · #2 04/21/14, 08:51 PM

Wasn't the windmill there before you property? What some people consider noise is a soothing sound to others, a rooster crowing is a nice sound to me but it bothers some people, same with rain on a tin roof

LisaInN.Idaho · #3 04/21/14, 08:51 PM

You didn't know it was there when you bought your place?

Dixie Bee Acres · #4 04/21/14, 08:55 PM

Honestly, in a couple weeks, you won't even hear it, unrolled it stops.
I live right along an interstate highway. For the most part, after a few weeks of living here, I got to the point the only time I noticed the traffic noise was in the winter after ice storms when the traffic was at a stop or going very slow.

Pops2 · #5 04/21/14, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by runharley52

We have our new homestead and we love it with small exception... Our only neighbor (1/4 mile away) has a windmill that ruins the peace and quite that we moved here for whenever there is any breeze to speak of.

To start off I will say we need to go introduce ourselves and get to know them but we have not even lived here a month. My thoughts are offer to help him fix it (I have access to a lift) or buy it from him and/or offer to take it down. I have no idea how they sleep at night as it is quite loud. Friends and family are convinced they must be deaf. Other thoughts?

Secondly how hard could it be to fix? It's likely at least 30' and I'm guessing more is needed than a little grease?

if you read here much you'll see a term "citiot." your mindset APPEARS to be heading that direction. YOU just moved in, NOT HIM. it is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to adjust to your new environment, NOT the environment's responsibility to adjust to you.

Alice In TX/MO · #6 04/21/14, 09:26 PM

I love the sound of our squeaky windmill. My mother in law couldn't stand the sound.

Yes, it probably needs some grease/oil.

Do you know if it's working, i.e. pumping water? Or has it been disconnected from the well and is just turning in the breeze?

rambler · #7 04/21/14, 10:58 PM

Ours sounds good to me, tho it reminds me it should have a greasing, I just haven't felt like crawling up there.

I sure wouldn't mind a fella offering to come grease mine with a 40 foot boom, but I'd be a little surprised if he came and complained about it, not sure how I would take that.

Two weeks ago a fella stopped, offered me $1000 for mine, said his wife wants one. I said thanks but no. When I told wife, she said heck no, farm has to have a windmill even if it isn't used.

Paul

bjgarlich · #8 04/21/14, 11:15 PM

Try turning on a small fan in your bedroom at night - it might help to cover the noise. You will probably get used to it - we used to live by O'Hare Airport and we got so used to the noise of planes taking off that we would just pause the conversation and then start up once the noise stopped. We didn't even know we were doing this, but guests would always comment on it!!!!

Super55 · #9 04/22/14, 02:46 AM

Certain country sounds after awhile become "white noise" much the same as how sirens or traffic don't seem to bother some city people. If it is that much of a nuisance offer to go over and lube up the bushings and bearings for free.

Personally I would hate to see the windmill get torn down. To me Chicago Aeromotor is kind of a piece of Americana. I eventually hope to get one put on my property because I like the look of them and while a constant screech would be annoying an occassional squeak would be gladly tolerated.

haypoint · #10 04/22/14, 04:15 AM

Run Harley 52 complains about a neighbor's wind mill 1/4 mile away? Wonder if the Harley ever broke the silence we all strive for?

On some level, I think we can't move to an area and expect others to change to suit us, but if I bought a place in the country and later discovered my neighbor had a loud motorcycle or like to target practice every Sunday afternoon, I wouldn't like it.

For me it is barking dogs. I don't see any excuse for it.

An offer to grease it might be nice, if presented correctly. " I am sick and tired of all that racket your windmill makes, why don't you let me tear it down or at least grease it" might not work.

None of us knows what "quite loud" is. To some that seek silence, " I can still hear it." is too loud. Noise complaints are common. Loud vehicles, music, dogs, chickens. Often the attitude is " It's my property, I can do what I want."

A month? Maybe introduce yourselves and act like a good neighbor. Then, after a couple months, gripe about their windmill.

runharley52 · #11 04/22/14, 05:43 AM

As I noted, I'm in no rush and introducing ourselves is first priority. As for noise level, it sounds very distinctly like they're running a dog kennel. Everyone that comes over usually asked, unprompted, "who has the dogs?". So it's loud and it sounds like a group of three or four dogs barking consistently, over and over.

I understand the comments on me being the new guy here. Valid comment but there's also common courtesy. I'm not the only one in earshot and the neighbor the other direction (previous owner of our 40) warned me that she has called the cops repeatedly (that won't be my tactic). I wanted to take a more friendly route. Btw, if I bought it, I would be putting it up here. No idea if it's operational, but it would be a shame to scrap. I would be giving it some grease or a new bearing though

MichaelZ · #12 04/22/14, 06:05 AM

Pretty soon the birds will start off at about 4AM and even my box fan that I run each night (year round) next to my bed on HIGH will not drown it out. I run the fan in the winter to cover my wife's faint snoring. I think the only place quiet enough for me to not wake up at night with window open would be the Moon.

Give it a few months. Bring them a few plates of cookies. Then offer to help grease the windmill.

Gravytrain · #13 04/22/14, 07:02 AM

It is quite possible that the neighbor doesn't grease the windmill, because if he did HE wouldn't be able to sleep without the background noise that HE is used to.

runharley52 · #14 04/22/14, 07:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gravytrain

It is quite possible that the neighbor doesn't grease the windmill, because if he did HE wouldn't be able to sleep without the background noise that HE is used to.

If so it's his place and I won't hold it against him. Just thought I would throw this out here to see if others have found good ways to deal with similar situations. Thanks for the comments.

Patchouli · #15 04/22/14, 10:03 AM

Unfortunately if the previous neighbor was calling the cops on him all the time he may be a bit belligerent towards you to start. I would just begin by being sociable and then bring it up casually in conversation. Like if you are chatting and it starts turning you could say something like I thought at first you had dogs, that's what your windmill sounds like. See how he takes it. Hopefully he will say something like yeah I need to grease that old thing and then you can offer to help.

I am a firm believer in being a good neighbor. Part of that is when you have something that annoys your neighbor you try to fix it. I know a lot of people think it's my land and I can do whatever I like and my neighbors can just like it or lump it. And then they wonder why everyone around them is unfriendly.

Personally I try to give the same courtesy I expect from others.

It sounds like your 2 neighbors have had a pretty antagonistic relationship for awhile now so I would be careful stepping into it. It's quite possible he hasn't greased that windmill just because he knows it ticks off the lady who used to own it. So I would step carefully and hopefully you can win him over.

FarmboyBill · #16 04/22/14, 12:14 PM

When I first moved out here, Slick Rd was a mess. NOBODY used it unless they lived on it, and IF you drove over 40 you were asking for a flat tire and/or a messed up front end. Well around 5yrs after I bought the place, the state paid an d helped the county to repave it. In around a year, I guess the word got round that it was safe to drive on. Now, I cant keep on sleepiong now that im retired because of the fast traffic going to work. I used to not hear them when I was working as the alarm wiould go off while I was still sound asleep, and if/when I did hear a car, I knew I was late as the alarm hadn't gone off.

ALSO, when we first moved out here, there were several oil rigs in the area still using 1 lunger gas engines for power. A couple of them would periodically sound off like a shotgun at night. Got used to that before they took them all out and converted to electric. Funny that, for the most part, when I was home on weekends, I c ant remember them firing off in daytime.

haypoint · #17 04/22/14, 12:43 PM

Please don't think we don't sympathize with you. We know only the little you offered, your version. Some of us have had people move to the country and complain about the manure smell. Lots of opinions about barking dogs, two camps, really. Those that hate the noise and those that think that their dog's job is to keep predators out, by barking, all night long.

Seems this has been a long standing problem, with no resolution. Often, in discussions we hear from those that think they can do on their property whatever they want and those that take the "tough guy" route. Easy to tell a stranger how you wouldn't put up with this or that, but in reality, the rule "Push comes to Shove". That is when you complain about target practice and they invite 20 friend over to target practice. You complain about their dog barking and someone cuts your fence in the night. Too often, "Push comes to Shove" ends up with someone going to jail.

I worked in a prison for 27 years. I was a licensed Hostage Negotiator and Crisis Intervention Specialist. I think I could talk to your neighbor without anyone getting crazy. I don't know your neighbor, nor do I know your mediation skills. Your neighbor could be cutting off his nose to spite his face. Clearly, he has had pressure to do something that escalated to police, yet the problem continues.

A few years ago, I had a new neighbor build a Lighthouse replica. While he was there only a few weeks per year, the rotating light ran from dusk to dawn, every night. Not a real Lighthouse light, but bright enough. My neighbor approached the owner, asked him to shut it off. But, he paid a lot for a full scale Lighthouse replica, and liked the light. While he was gone, the light was shot out with a rifle. This happened several times. Finally, no more light.

AngieM2 · #18 04/22/14, 12:56 PM

I will say I've only read some of the posts.

But, when you get to know those with the windmill you may find they are past the age of climbing the tower and doing the maintenance. But they really love their windmill.

Maybe casually ask about the windmill in the local diner, let it be known you like climbing towers to see the view from the top.

And make gradual friends with the owners of windmill.

Let it be mentioned in some conversation that you've had some experience in upkeep, oiling/greasing, etc. Would be a shame for it to sease up due to needing an oiling/greasing. Etc.

then one day, ask if you could help him with the maintenance as it would be a pity for that fine windmill to cease to work for need of a little mainenance/oiling.

Best wishes

eta: once it's known you know how to grease these and like to climb towers you MIGHT get popular in the area. (Dad moved to a small town and ended up fixing electrical stuff in homes, churches and the merchintile once the neighbors knew he could and would help for free. He got lots of beef (cattle country TX) and friendship after that in that area.)

CJBegins · #19 04/22/14, 01:36 PM

Farm life is anything but quiet. Spring peepers, bullfrogs, whippoorwills, owls, roosters, dogs, cows, donkeys, and the ---- basset hound. All those sounds are music to a country person's ears, except the basset hound.

I got a giggle out of my neighbor a while back. He made sure that I knew he could hear my jack braying and the basset hound barking. He only lives 2 miles away.

Oggie · #20 04/22/14, 01:54 PM

My grandmother used to tell a story about two guys staggering home from a bar.

On their way, they came across a dog hunched over by the sidewalk, licking his doggie naughty parts.

One guy nudges the other and says, "Heh heh heh! I'd kind of like to be able to do that, myself!"

The other guy looks over at the dog, then looks back to the guy and says, "I don't know, but I really think that you ought to try petting him first."

You can't really do much about the windmill until you actually meet the neighbors.

And the best way to meet the neighbors is probably with a smile and not a complaint.