How to Avoid Common Apartment Noise Problems

Having lived in apartments for years the number one complaint comes from noise.  You cannot avoid noise no matter how well insulated the apartment.  However, one can avoid noise and noisiness with a few well-mannered considerations.

For the apartment dweller, invest in a noise machine.  These machines range from around $20 and go up from there.  A little low level noise can drown out most common apartment noises.  Additionally, this gives you, the apartment dweller, a way to gauge whether or not a neighbor is just too noisy to ignore any longer.  Please stay tuned for dealing with unruly neighbors.

For the unruly neighbor, do you really want to be THAT guy?  Always keep in mind that not everyone likes your music quite as much as you do.  Your neighbor like your music even less if you are enjoying it at four in the morning.

To avoid becoming THAT guy, try some of these tips.

Music & Television

Most noise disturbance comes from stereo and television speakers.  Noise that transmits through walls is most often low-level and comes from the subwoofer on a stereo and from a similar speaker in the television.  Many times the volume level in the offending apartment is appropriate but walls and second story floors can amplify these sounds.  The offender may not even know that he or she is THAT guy.  To avoid transmitting sounds outside of your space make sure all speakers or speaker hosing is not in contact with the wall or floor. 

To accomplish this, place subwoofers on a stand or bottom shelf of side table.  If you really do not care about appearances, a sturdy cardboard box works just fine.  Make sure to pull your television away from the wall six to eight inches.  Many televisions have part of the speaker mounted on the back but the television itself can transmit sound through its casing into the wall. 

If you have done all of this and you are still unsure if you might be THAT guy try this.  Turn on your devises one at a time and put them on the noise level you generally use.  Making sure not to lock yourself out, go outside your apartment and close the door.  Listen for a couple of minutes and see if you can hear anything from inside your apartment.  Often the exterior walls and doors to apartments are more insulated that the walls between apartments.  If you can hear your music and television outside your apartment with the door closed your are definitely in danger of quickly becoming THAT guy.

Turn your volume down or get headphones and turn the volume up all you want.  You can even knock on your neighbors door and ask them to tell you if thing get too loud for them.  You can even point them to this blog!

Workout Equipment

If tenants live below you, they also live below your workout equipment.  If you must have workout equipment make sure it is as quiet as possible.  Most stationary bikes or rowing machines do not make much noise in your apartment but they transmit tremendous vibration through the floor from the resistance mechanisms that deliver that great workout.  It is impossible to muffle the vibrations from those types of machines.  Workout stations or weights for toning and muscle building use a different resistance so they do not send out as much vibration.  However, put a pad under them since you will probably drop something from time to time.  The bad will absorb most of the shock and will keep you from becoming THAT guy.

These tips are incredibly useful and important as more people choose to live in apartments and condominiums. 

Please send suggestion on problems you have living in an apartment and perhaps we can find a solution.  Tune in again as we begin our discussion on approaching and dealing with THAT guy.