I live in an older apartment, and unfortunately I live directly above the room with the generator. Last night the power went out in the middle of the night and I woke up to what sounded like a jack hammer just outside my window. I quickly figured out that it was the generator, but that didn't help me sleep with the awful noise. The volume was comparable literally to having a construction site with jack hammers just outside your window. In addition, my whole apartment smelled like gas in the morning.
I called the landlord and she said that generators have to make some noise and that they smell. She said the generator is necessary for keeping some systems running. I can understand SOME noise, but this was a lot more than some...does anyone else know if this is normal or if my landlord is just trying to pass off an outdated and improperly maintained generator as normal?
2007-12-12 04:58:17 · 4 answers · asked by fishfry 1 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
I suspect the generator is running without an exhaust muffler. You may need to check with your local authorities to find out if that is legal or not but it is certainly not renter-friendly.
Bert
2007-12-12 05:04:21 · answer #1 · answered by Bert C 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
With this being an older apartment, I'd doubt that your landlord sprung for a state of the art generator. Generators are very loud in general and do make quite a bit of noise. Even newer ones are going to sound at the very minimum like an outdoor A/C unit, and those too aren't going to be too fun to be living above either. As for the smell, the generator may very well be running perfectly fine, but it may not be meant for indoor use (most likely) I would definitely talk with your landlord about the issue.
2007-12-12 15:12:13 · answer #2 · answered by hfmgr06 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you are smelling gas you are probably breathing carbon monoxide. That should be more of a concern than the noise. I would insist that the generator's exhaust system be checked. I would check with your city building code enforcement officer. Rental properties are held to higher standards than owner occupied houses. If the exhaust system is not functioning properly that would explain the noise. Fixing it is not an expensive repair.
2007-12-12 13:56:57 · answer #3 · answered by winterrules 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
nope normal , sound, you can,t insulate a generator, they have to have an air flow or they will over heat,
its not a every day thing, be glad your apt has a back up, or you would be with out heat
2007-12-12 15:36:42 · answer #4 · answered by William B 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋