Neighbors Playing Loud Music During the Day?

One morning you sit down to study, read, or spend some relaxing time in your own home when all of a sudden loud music disturbs you. Neighbors playing loud music during the day can be an incredibly disturbing event, particularly when you can't escape the noise and are not sure where to turn to for help. In this blog, we will review the most common situations so you can quickly create an action plan for getting the noise turned down.

I want law enforcement to stop the loud noise

Each city has a noise ordinance that sets specific rules for when loud noises may be played and what is considered an acceptable range of loudness (dB). If a violation is reported, police may come to the scene, or a noise officer may come out with a decibel reader to confirm if the sound is outside acceptable limits.

Generally, these rules are not going to help you during the day unless the sound is incredibly excessive (as in hearing damage level). From around 7am – 10pm, your neighbor will not be in violation if the noise is below 60 dB – the equivalent of a vacuum cleaner. But the decibel reading will be from your property line. A great check is to try turning on a vacuum cleaner to see if it drowns out the noise. If you can still hear the music, you should file a noise complaint.

Check your local noise ordinance by typing “[city name] noise ordinance” into search to get the times and decibel ratings. They will also provide specific instructions on how to file the complaint.

If you already filed a complaint and it is not working, you can either soundproof your own home and/or consider small claims court, where a lawyer is not required. You can either sue your neighbor for the cost of soundproofing your home, or general damages.

Small claims courts have judgments between $2,500 and $7,500. A request of $20/day for your suffering is reasonable, but if the noise is bad enough it impacts your work and daily life, requesting the cost of soundproofing materials may be required.

I want my landlord to stop the loud noise

If you are renting, you have the right to a quiet space and can ask your landlord to investigate with the city or speak directly to the neighbor. The source of the noise does not have to be in the same apartment building for your landlord to step in. If your neighbor also rents, they may be in violation of their rental agreement and can be evicted if the noise does not stop.

Adding another person to the mix can elongate the time that you are experiencing the noise. Make sure to read our sections on communicating with your neighbor directly or contacting law enforcement before proceeding.

I want my neighbor to understand my pain & stop playing music / making noise

It's hard to imagine, but your neighbor has their own emotional needs for playing this loud music. We don't know what is going on in their lives. They might be trying to make a living as a musician or creating art for self expression. Having a frame of mind of understanding instead of only anger will give you a higher chance of amenable conversation instead of a heated argument.

Starting with a conversation directly to the source is always the easiest and quickest way for you to get relief. You may have to try this a few times for it to properly work. Are there compromises you can offer on hours that you really don't want the noise and other hours where they might be able to play their music?

Consider talking to your other neighbors to see if it is also an issue with them and if you can work together to communicate that change is needed for the neighborhood. If this does not work, contact law enforcement or soundproof your space from the noise.

I'm taking this into my own hands (or) the city and my neighbor aren't listening to me. I need to soundproof my space!

It is possible to create a quiet zone without changing the behaviors of external things that you simply can't control. This will help you attain a more comfortable space to reduce your stress and get better sleep, contributing to a healthier life.

First, decide if you need soundproofing or sound absorbing treatments. Noise travels through vibration, which is carried through the air. So to stop noise, you must control the airflow. Noise generated outside, like neighbors playing loud music, calls for soundproofing products. They stop noise from traveling through windows, ceilings, doors, and walls. Here are some examples:

Soundproof Window Inserts

Installing window inserts is an easy and effective way of soundproofing windows. Indow® Acoustic Grade window inserts can reduce up to 70% of outside noise when placed over single-pane windows and up to 50% of noise coming through double-pane windows. In an office or home, soundproofing windows is easy with our inserts that press into your existing window frame—no hassle, nails, or adhesives required. Check out this video of a customer who is a drummer and was dealing with complaints from the neighbors for playing loud music during the day. After installing Indow inserts, his neighbors were satisfied with the noise levels.

Acoustic Caulk

Look through your space and find areas where you see gaps between things like your door frame and the wall. While it seems like a small area that might be insignificant, sealing up all gaps will help reduce the noise. Consider it like a mission to find a leak in the bathtub. The leak still happens with even a pinprick. Standard caulks will work, but Green Glue sealant has a specialty formula for acoustic damping.

Noise generated inside your home requires sound absorption products, which reduce echo. If you are in an apartment building with noise coming through the walls, this will help control the sound.

Acoustic panels

When sound enters a room, it can bounce off various surfaces and continue amplifying in your space. Plush rugs with sound dampening rug pads, wall hangings, upholstered furniture and plants will help absorb sound. If you want to get really advanced, consider placing acoustic panels on the wall where sound is being transmitted and/or the wall opposite to the incoming noise.

While you may be fantasizing about pranks you can play on your neighbor as payback for the stress you are receiving, we applaud you on your efforts to find a more peaceful solution. It may be difficult, but finding compromise to create a healthy space for you both, and a peaceful neighborhood for all, will give you the biggest win in the long run.

Customer Reviews

Excellent

4.49 Average 1496 Reviews

Dianne

This is a 5 star company from beginning to end. I purchased the I inserts in 2017 because the bedroom on the second story faced the street. These are very effective for street noise. Noticed a problem on one of the windows recently and they quickly took care of it due to their warranty. Customer service personnel are very helpful. The price of the windows was acceptable for top quality of sleep and less noise during the day

Posted 1 month ago

Paula S

From start to finish, we were very pleased with our rep, Reed, and the other staff at the PDX will call! The inserts themselves are stupendous! We purchased six total for the noisiest, road side(s) of our home. The outcome was beyond our expectations! Not only did the three rooms that bordered the road become at least 70% quieter, the other end of our home did as well! I cannot recommend Indow inserts more! The technology makes sense to add the inserts rather than purchasing new windows. Great results and thank you! Paul and Paula Spilsbury

Posted 5 months ago

JD

Brian was very helpful & informative. He helped me order the correct windows for my needs. They were shipped with the utmost of care & arrived ahead of schedule. Ultimately, the Indow Windows have been very helpful in muffling unwanted noises & they have helped save on our energy costs. Thank you, Indow Window!

Posted 5 months ago

Cynthia M

Very happy with the reduction in noise. Easy to install and use. Great customer service.

Posted 6 months ago

Juli E

We are thrilled with our Indow window inserts! I'd been on the lookout for a more permanent solution to leaky windows in our third floor living space. I discovered Indow on social media but since then have learned of friends who'd had Indow recommended to them by their rennovation contractor. The entire process went smoothly with friendly reps at hand to talk through questions during measuring, etc. They fit perfectly and help us to maintain the beautiful design of the windows on our 100 year old home! Highly recommend!!

Posted 7 months ago

Jen F

Worth the money!

Posted 8 months ago

Elizabeth H

For townhouse living, this solved my problem with noise from my neighbor's with my kitchen window. A considerable decrease of noise indeed! Measurements were a bit frustrating so I recommend using a laser measurement device and following directions to use a string for the diagonal. They look great and were easy to push into place. I highly recommend as an alternative to buying a new window.

Posted 8 months ago

Anonymous

Easy to install, and instantly stopped drafts and dampened outside noises very effectively!

Posted 8 months ago

Robert C

The process could've been smoother with the sending of the measuring kit. There was a delay with weather in Oregon but then it felt like my kit was still delayed due to other reasons. Most new homes (like mine) have textured paint and it can also be inside your window frames. I measured everything out but I still have little tiny gaps due to the texturing. Not indows problem but just be aware you made need to sand or fill in those gaps yourself to get a perfect seal. I did the acoustic grade inserts and they have reduced some noise but they will not completely block or significantly reduce road noise. This is most apparent with deep or lower frequencies like truck exhausts or modified street racing cars that are quite popular these days. Taking the inserts out to open your windows isn't an easy task. The little metal hook they provide needs to be either bigger or you can attach something to it as a way to leverage yourself. Overall the process was average. I think they're definitely a good option for weatherproofing and some sound reduction depending on the type of windows you have. I would purchase again.

Posted 8 months ago

Shelley C

The process for ordering and installing the Indow Widnow inserts was so easy. They sent the measuring information and it had great instructions. The inserts were delivered by UPS was crushed on one corner, but the company had packed them well, so there was no damage. We installed them the same day. It works best if you have two people completing the installation. We felt the results immediately and are glad we spent the money to make our home just a little more efficient.

Posted 8 months ago

Barry B

The insert fits like a glove and insulates the window! No more frost and condensation on the interior of the window! Thank you for an easy, effective and attractive fix!

Posted 8 months ago

Susan A

The support during the entire process was wonderful, thank you so much for the extra quiet space!

Posted 9 months ago

Volodymyr R

Very good good quality. Overall very satisfied with this product and service. Thanks

Posted 9 months ago

Jane H

Our home was built in 1913 and has beautiful old wavy glass single-paned windows. I’m so glad we were told about Indows and didn’t have to replace the original windows. We live in Canada but had no difficulty placing the order and were very impressed by how accurately the company met its deadlines, including cross border delivery. The Indows inserts blend in perfectly with our home and the existing window frames. You don’t see them unless you’re actually looking for them. But what we did notice was how much warmer the rooms feel the minute the inserts were installed! I can’t speak to any heating bill savings because they just went in this week, but our home feels much, much cozier. Our contractor who took all the measurements and installed the Indows says: “Excellent instructional videos: clear and informative. Very impressed with the design and the product. Overall, the ease of installation is quite impressive. Working with all the staff at the company was great – everyone was very helpful.” I’m already recommending this company to any of my friends who live in drafty older homes and want to reduce their heating/cooling bills and do some good for the environment.

Posted 9 months ago

Anonymous

Don't be afraid of buying an older home with single pane windows. This company has you covered. Their inserts are super high quality and fit well thanks to the laser measuring kit they send. Highly recommended!

Posted 9 months ago