"Has anyone noticed noise issues with them though?"
Funny you mention that—I helped install one at my uncle's place last summer. He's pretty particular about noise, so we did some research beforehand. Honestly, the first few days he swore it was louder than expected, but after checking it out, we realized the unit itself was fine. Turns out the vibrations were transferring through the framing because we didn't use enough insulation and rubber dampers during installation. Once we added those, it quieted down significantly.
As far as energy savings go, he did notice a difference in AC usage—nothing dramatic, but noticeable enough on his monthly bill. Your neighbor might be onto something there (though I'm with you on the diagonal mowing theory... sounds like wishful thinking). Anyway, if you do go for it, just make sure to get a quality fan and pay attention to proper installation details—especially vibration dampening—to avoid noise headaches later.
Interesting about the vibration issue—I hadn't thought about dampers or insulation being a factor. Makes sense though, vibrations traveling through framing could definitely amplify noise. Did you guys notice if weather conditions made a difference in noise levels? I'm wondering if colder temps or humidity changes might affect how noticeable the vibrations are...
I've definitely noticed weather playing a role—especially colder temps. When things get chilly, materials contract slightly, and that can make joints and fasteners loosen just enough to amplify vibrations. Humidity's trickier though; sometimes moisture can actually dampen noise, but other times it swells wood framing, tightening connections and making vibrations more noticeable. It's a bit of a toss-up...but if you're hearing more noise in winter, checking fasteners and adding some insulation or dampers might help quiet things down.
"Humidity's trickier though; sometimes moisture can actually dampen noise, but other times it swells wood framing, tightening connections and making vibrations more noticeable."
You're spot on about humidity being unpredictable. Last winter, I dealt with a client's roof that was driving them nuts with creaks and pops during cold snaps. We tightened fasteners and added some insulation, which helped...but come spring, humidity kicked in and a few noises returned. Honestly, seasonal roof checks are underrated—catching these small issues early saves bigger headaches later.
Totally agree that humidity can throw a wrench in things. Last summer I thought I'd solved a similar issue by tightening up some loose shingles, but once the damp weather rolled in, those annoying creaks came right back.
—couldn't have said it better myself. Learned my lesson there..."seasonal roof checks are underrated"
