As households look for ways to cool down this summer, Randwick City Council is reminding residents to be mindful of the noise impact air conditioners may have on neighbours.

In accordance with NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) regulations, noise from the use of air conditioners should not be heard by neighbours in a ‘habitable room’:

• before 7am and after 10pm on weekdays, and
• before 8am and after 10pm on weekends and public holidays

A ‘habitable room’ is any room other than a garage, storage area, bathroom, laundry, toilet or pantry.

Randwick Mayor Philipa Veitch said: “With the hot and humid weather we’ve been having lately, lots of people will be using their air conditioning.

“In a built-up environment like Randwick it’s sometimes difficult to avoid noise, but it’s important that everyone is mindful of the impact they have on others.

“If your air conditioning unit is very noisy or rattling that be a sign it needs a service or replacement,” Mayor Veitch said.

Residents are encouraged to speak with their neighbours first if noise from air conditioning units is disturbing them after 10pm.

If you cannot get a satisfactory outcome from this, then please consider reporting unwanted neighbourhood noise by contacting Randwick Council on 1300 722 542.

For more information, check out the NSW EPA fact sheet.