What's relaxing for you in your backyard might not always be enjoyed by your neighbors. Some sounds could be a major irritant for them, and wind chimes are one of the worst culprits. Wind chimes can be a lovely way of introducing relaxing sound into your yard.
However, when used incorrectly they have the potential to endlessly annoy your neighbors, causing a low-level irritant that's just as antisocial as a leaf blower or lawn mower. I spoke to a gardening expert about the problems with wind chimes, potential legal issues, and how to make your wind chimes a little quieter. Are windchimes antisocial? Wind chimes can be very antisocial.
They split opinions, however. Gardener and nursery owner Tammy Sons has some in her garden shop and says that they're controversial among her customers. Tammy says 'Some people stop in our garden shop and love the noise, but many people will say they sound beautiful, but when the wind blows you cannot hear anyone talking for them.
' The problem with wind chimes is that they can't be switched on and off. They play whenever the wind blows, which happens randomly every few hours every day. They are louder or quieter depending on the force of the wind, and this randomness is part of the annoyance for nearby neighbors.
With wind chimes, there's no respite - just constant, unpredictable low-level noise. Tammy says they're even controversial in her own family. 'My husband hates our wind chimes.
I have them all over our back porch hanging.' In short, pla.