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My neighbor has installed an 18-ft fishpond in his backyard. I am hearing ambient noise in my house, and only in my house, i.e., not right outside my house. The sound is low-frequency, resonating like a car(s) moving over a steel bridge in the distance. At various times of the day it sounds more or less intense, sometimes no sound at all. It's heard throughout my house, all floors, and basement. Could a nearby fishpond installation cause a sound like this? Maybe it's the fishpond pump? Apparently there is a mini-waterfall that might also require some kind of motor but I'm not sure.

FYI, this is all information I received from the engineering department of the township whom I contacted when I started hearing the noise. They say it's possible the noise is coming from the pond, but they don't know. I thought this site might be a good place to ask as well.

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    Can you ask your neighbor to turn off the devices in his fishpond for a few minutes while you check if the noise stops?
    – Barry
    Commented Mar 14, 2023 at 22:49
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    The inference of the vibration of a air-pump with the structure of your house could be the reason. If you do not find the source of the problem, then you have the option to change the house or the furniture somehow. I had the same problem and did not find the source.
    – MikroPower
    Commented Mar 14, 2023 at 23:31
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    Can you get a mic and some sound analysis software? When you're talking about a weird sound only you can hear, you'll come off as crazy... unless you come off as Jonesie. Be Jonesie.
    – Harper - Reinstate Monica
    Commented Mar 14, 2023 at 23:34
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    low frequency sounds (vibration) resonate true the ground. is the fishpond above our under ground
    – DIY75
    Commented Mar 15, 2023 at 0:00
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    @blue_ego - If your neighbour have a big fish pond, then he will have a high power air pump there to provide the fishes with air. They are vibrating and do a lot of noise. If your neighbour do not have decouple the housing of the pump from the ground or especially if he have fixed it to the ground, then the noise can travel very far. Possibly some rubber buffers can solve this problem. I used two separated layers of rubber for my air-pump for the sewage treatment system.
    – MikroPower
    Commented Mar 15, 2023 at 0:00

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Is it possible? Sure. Is it the source of your noise? As others have said, the easiest test would be to have the neighbor turn it off and see what happens.

However I strongly suggest doing a blind test -- repeated trials where the neighbor flips a coin and either turns it on or off without your knowing which -- and see if it reliably matches up. Placebo effect may fool you into thinking you've found the cause when you really haven't.

And if this is reliably proven to be the cause, then since it's on their property but bothering you, it would be appropriate to offer to pay some or all of the cost of quieting it. You're asking them a favor that they don't have to agree to; make it easy for them to say yes.

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