Single-pane windows and poorly sealed gaps around doors are common entry points for external noise. Soundproofing windows with double or triple-pane glass and installing soundproofing doors can help. Using heavy drapes or soundproof curtains adds another layer of protection.
Seems like the sound waves are diffracting as the pass through your window and the neighbor's window. Basically, the sound waves's path bends as it passes by the window frame, so that it effectively radiates in all directions from your neighbor's window and bends around your window frame to enter your apartment.
External noises are a common occurrence, and they can be caused by various factors such as wildlife, weather, or neighborhood activities. Ensuring your home is adequately insulated and possibly using white noise machines can help minimize these disturbances.
The noises you're hearing could be wild animals moving through the undergrowth close to the house, outside your window. These noises could indicate the presence of pests like squirrels or foxes in the garden. There are dozens of ways that pests create strange noises after dark.
Windows and Doors
Single-pane windows and poorly sealed gaps around doors are common entry points for external noise. Soundproofing windows with double or triple-pane glass and installing soundproofing doors can help.
There are a number of reasons why rats may be making scratching noises. They could be trying to get from one area of the house to another, they could be trying to access food or they may be gathering nesting materials. Rats tend to move pretty quickly so you're likely to hear scurrying noises.
Soundproof windows average $900 but vary between $300 and $1,500. A soundproofing contractor can provide an estimate and help turn the volume down on outside noise.
You may have hyperacusis if some everyday sounds seem much louder than they should. It can sometimes be painful. You may be affected by sounds like: jingling coins.
There are different sleep stages during a sleep cycle and the brain is actually more alert than you think during these stages. Although we lose conscious awareness of our surroundings while asleep, our brains still process sounds. This even includes hearing and processing external sound!
Exterior walls that have no insulation can transport noise. Exterior vents can carry sound. Vents and ducting offer a direct channel for sound to move into your living space. Uninsulated floors, walls and ceilings can deliver noise.
Gaps Require Sealing
You can have the thickest and sturdiest windows in the world, but if there are gaps between your window frame and the interior wall, you're still going to struggle with outside noise entering your home. A simple method of dealing with this is to go around the gaps in question with acoustic caulk.
When you hear tapping on your window at night, your first thoughts are probably quite eerie. But it's likely that your windows weren't installed correctly or that their temperature is fluctuating, causing normal contractions.
While there's no such thing as a soundproof window, there are windows that effectively reduce sound. Material and insulation both play a role in reducing sound, but the glass construction has the greatest influence on a window's ability to dampen noise.
As with anything, a soundproofing window insert's effectiveness depends on the product's quality. However, if we're talking about the PrivacyShield® Window Seal Kit — definitely. In fact, the PrivacyShield® Window Seal Kit reduces sound by as much as 80% and has an STC (Sound Transmission Class) rating as high as 49.
The Takeaway
So, as you can see, soundproofing is, indeed, worth the money. It can help you relax, focus, improve your mental health, and even protect your hearing from noise pollution.
Soundproofing a window, in this case, requires caulking — specifically with acoustical caulk. This caulk is a noise-proofing, latex-based product that helps reduce outside noises. The caulk bonds with most window frame and wall materials and is more flexible than regular silicone caulk.
1 Use earplugs or hearing protection earmuffs. 2 Invest in noise-canceling headphones. 3 Turn on a fan or white noise generator. 4 Play nature sounds or ambient music.
Keep your windows closed - it will limit noise from outside. Then add a few rugs to your bedroom and thick curtains to your windows. This will help soften noise from outside and the rest of the house. Also, be sure to turn off all electronics before you turn in for the night to avoid any sounds.
Peppermint may be the most pleasant and effective in the rat removal process among the smells that rats hate. Peppermint provides a non-toxic odor that rats will not want to stay around.
Noises you are likely to hear include scratching, squeaking, gnawing and the sound of falling debris as they travel up and down a wall cavity. Sometimes you will get strong odours within a building from rat urine, droppings and the dead bodies of perished rodents, followed by a short-lived plague of flies!
The strong scent of peppermint is overwhelming to mice. Similarly, essential oils such as eucalyptus oil, bergamot oil, clove oil, and cinnamon oil are potent in keeping mice at bay. One study noted that eucalyptus oil applied once a day was more effective as a rat repellant than once a week.