Noise pollution, ideas? - General

ARRRG, noise pollution is driving me insane aaaaaa I live in downtown Toronto, one of the busiest places in one of the largest cities in Canada, 4th largest in North America. I live in an apartment, on the 8th floor, on top of one of the busiest shopping streets around. Below me, are blocks upon blocks of bars, restaurants, hair stylists, internet cafes, porn shops, hobby shops, the list goes on. Views out of my bedroom: [t]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/64514745/Toronto2014/bedroom/2014-12-08%2013.28.55.jpg[/t][t]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/64514745/Toronto2014/bedroom/2014-12-08%2013.29.04.jpg[/t][t]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/64514745/Toronto2014/bedroom/2014-12-08%2013.29.14.jpg[/t] While it's very convenient, noise pollution is driving me insane (I come from the far and quiet suburbs of Vancouver, Canada... with a little stream and forest around my parent's house...) I wake up in the morning to the sounds of construction, cars with their speakers turned up so high I can hear boom-boom-boom well inside my apartment, and seemingly the apartment's electrical room beside my bedroom, making the constant humming noise. I walk out into the living room, and I hear the sounds of the fridge, or the fans on my NAS (server), or the sounds of someone shouting in their unit, so loud that I can hear them in mine. The noise, it doesn't stop aaaaaaaaaaaa My current, but rather poor solution is to put on some music through my headphones. While it does work, it's mostly a temporary solution until my ears start complaining at around the 4 hour mark. Would anyone here happen to face similar problems? And have figured some way to solve them?

Muffs/plugs are the only decent solution outside of moving or soundproofing your room.

Listen to Rock and Roll That ain't noise pollution [editline]8th December 2014[/editline] Right your music makes your ears bleed already. sound insulation is really expensive and likely won't be able to be installed underneath your drywall, if you can it would be your best long term option. [url]http://www.acousticgeometry.com/products/acoustic-insulation/?gclid=CMPz7KWjt8ICFYM8aQodkrwAcQ[/url] A cheaper and cooler option would be to get some old rugs or something and put them all over the street facing walls. Persian rugs are thick and generally work somewhat well. My neighbor in high school was big into drums and had a room full of them. Mostly to keep the noise from going through the whole house, and it worked pretty well.

Another option is to go look/talk to people who work in sound design in torontos large film industry and see if they have extra sound blankets they're going to throw away or sell. They muffle things SUPER well(we put them over generators and you can't hear those 20-30 feet away. Their ugly but they block sound super well. You'll still, and always have to deal with the low bass rumbles but those blankets will cut out a huge swathe of high frequency sounds.

Thick curtains near windows can cut down on noise pollution surprisingly well. There's soundproof padding you could add to the outer wall if you're willing to spend some. The most affordable option is to just wear headphones and jam to music all the time.

For sleeping, earplugs should be your thing. I've used earplugs every night for over 10 years, you just get used to em.

I've lived in a city too, but on ground level on a busy route into Birmingham and honestly after a while I stopped noticing it but the city has been my home for almost all my life. You could try moving your bedroom further into the building maybe? shutting doors and some windows have little air vents on them that let air get out for condensation and what not but let some sound in too, I'm not sure how it works in Canada or how your building is setup though.

[QUOTE=Orkel;46670453]For sleeping, earplugs should be your thing. I've used earplugs every night for over 10 years, you just get used to em.[/QUOTE] I've thought of this but how do you hear your alarm

[QUOTE=Zeke129;46671395]I've thought of this but how do you hear your alarm[/QUOTE] Quality ear plugs dampen sound without killing all of it. You can get earplugs with filters for 9dB, 15dB, and 25dB from Etymotic Research. 9dB should probably be good enough for blocking noise while at home. I have a custom pair of earplugs for when I go to concerts outfitted with 15dB filters and I can still hear the music amazing well and not have any buzzing or ringing the next day. As for sound dampening material, I guess you could order a box of [url=http://www.amazon.com/Auralex-Studiofoam-Acoustic-Absorption-Charcoal/dp/B0002D05KA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1418087945&sr=8-1&keywords=sound+foam]these[/url].

Proper walls and shut windows should do it. The only noise pollution that would drive me insane is the really silent sounds that stick out inside your home, like water droplets inside a pipe or a toilet water container. [editline]9th December 2014[/editline] Cars or even the muffled sound of people fighting/fucking/tumbling over is like music to my ears really, because they're much less frequent in a way, unlike some other sounds.

The price on those sound absorbers are nuts. Cant do much about the apartment though, renting it from the landlord. Luckily I'm getting out of here in about 4-5 months from now.

[QUOTE=BANNED USER;46669299]Listen to Rock and Roll That ain't noise pollution [editline]8th December 2014[/editline] Right your music makes your ears bleed already. sound insulation is really expensive and likely won't be able to be installed underneath your drywall, if you can it would be your best long term option. [url]http://www.acousticgeometry.com/products/acoustic-insulation/?gclid=CMPz7KWjt8ICFYM8aQodkrwAcQ[/url] A cheaper and cooler option would be to get some old rugs or something and put them all over the street facing walls. Persian rugs are thick and generally work somewhat well. My neighbor in high school was big into drums and had a room full of them. Mostly to keep the noise from going through the whole house, and it worked pretty well.[/QUOTE] wall rugs are also totally rad

I use earplugs that block out sound except certain high frequencies (so I can hear my alarm clock) and they work super-well. Only thing that wakes me up is that one asshole who starts his harley davidson every morning at 5 and lets it run for like 20 minutes before driving off. It's like constant explosions are happening.

If your place has hard wood floors put some carpets down at least.

You could always put sound dampen certain things and walls. You can actually buy sound dampening paint, which is expensive but it would help you.

maybe try listening to Pink noise?

IMO one of the best ways to combat noise pollution is with more noise. When some other noise in my bedroom bothers me, i just turn on a fan or something that makes a constant white noise and that usually helps me sleep. Check [URL="http://www.popsci.com/article/science/fyi-why-does-white-noise-help-people-sleep"]this[/URL] out, maybe it'll help you.

There are basic sound insulation options for you. Find where the sound most leaks in from and use some silicone caulk to help seal it up. Put the pre-adhered foam strips on your door. This not only stops you from slamming the door, but it helps to create a seal and block out sound. Those two should make a minor but noticeable difference. Last option would be a noise cancellation device. But I have no idea how expensive that would be.

Most simple method that can help. Thick rugs, put rugs and mats down on your floors, then stuff like wall rugs (previously suggested) and even pictures can help. As for windows, look into thick curtains, I'm pretty sure your landlord wont care about you replacing the curtains as long as you keep the originals. Its an inexpensive fix that can work nicely, it wont be as good as actual sound proofing but it'll help.

[QUOTE=Angus725;46672751]The price on those sound absorbers are nuts. Cant do much about the apartment though, renting it from the landlord. Luckily I'm getting out of here in about 4-5 months from now.[/QUOTE] I had to rearrange my furniture in my dorm in such a way that blocks and muffles noise from the frats across the street. Try earplugs or rearranging furniture so you are as far away from windows and doors as possible. Also try everything else suggested here, but I found rearranging furniture can help.

[QUOTE=Angus725;46668655]ARRRG, noise pollution is driving me insane aaaaaa I live in downtown Toronto, one of the busiest places in one of the largest cities in Canada, 4th largest in North America. I live in an apartment, on the 8th floor, on top of one of the busiest shopping streets around. Below me, are blocks upon blocks of bars, restaurants, hair stylists, internet cafes, porn shops, hobby shops, the list goes on. Views out of my bedroom: [t]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/64514745/Toronto2014/bedroom/2014-12-08%2013.28.55.jpg[/t][t]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/64514745/Toronto2014/bedroom/2014-12-08%2013.29.04.jpg[/t][t]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/64514745/Toronto2014/bedroom/2014-12-08%2013.29.14.jpg[/t] While it's very convenient, noise pollution is driving me insane (I come from the far and quiet suburbs of Vancouver, Canada... with a little stream and forest around my parent's house...) I wake up in the morning to the sounds of construction, cars with their speakers turned up so high I can hear boom-boom-boom well inside my apartment, and seemingly the apartment's electrical room beside my bedroom, making the constant humming noise. I walk out into the living room, and I hear the sounds of the fridge, or the fans on my NAS (server), or the sounds of someone shouting in their unit, so loud that I can hear them in mine. The noise, it doesn't stop aaaaaaaaaaaa My current, but rather poor solution is to put on some music through my headphones. While it does work, it's mostly a temporary solution until my ears start complaining at around the 4 hour mark. Would anyone here happen to face similar problems? And have figured some way to solve them?[/QUOTE] Move to York Region. A little north, a little nicer ;) [editline]18th December 2014[/editline] By 2AM, it's dead quiet here around Major Mack.

I'll probably move out of Ontario in 2-3 years from now :v

Also, I don't think noise pollution should be your only concern. Get this: every time I drive south on Bathurst here in RH aroun 5/6AM in the summer, I get to see Toronto, your place of residence from a distance. And let me tell you: it's not pretty. Most of the time (given the perfect sun angle), I can see the whole smog cloud. It's enormous and toxic looking :/

Having spent 3 months in China this year, Canadian smog is like a clear day over there, nothing to worry about.

Make a formal complaint with the city. Before you do so take some dB readings with either an actual dB meter or a calibrated dB meter app on your phone. These should be from your apartment, and again at street level. You should also look up the city ordinances for noise. Some places don't have any standards until 11p when the loudest you can be is something like 85 dB. 85 dB is what audio engineers work at, and at that point for no more than 4 hours at a time without taking a break. Your ears get tired just as any other body part does after prolonged use. If your dB meter reads at 100+ from your apartment window then there is a serious problem. [URL="https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=standards&p_id=9735"]Here is a link[/URL] to OSHA, the occupational safety organization in the United States, where they discuss noise in the workplace. This can slightly translate to the home use and Canadian use. It can help you build a case. Source: Am an audio engineer, have gotten town noise ordinances changed in the past by producing a several page document describing the issue and steps needed to correct said issue.