loud, like a neighbor

May 5, 2011 7:02 AM

I am moving in to a new apartment, and have discovered that my across the hall neighbor is kind of loud. The noise seems to be carrying through the air conditioner vent. Is there anything I can do to muffle this?

I need solutions that range from free to very, very cheap.

posted by Sara Anne to Home & Garden (10 answers total)

Have you tried talking to him/her yet?
posted by k8t at 7:11 AM on May 5, 2011

Since you're just moving in, I'd mention this to the landlord instead of the neighbor, in terms of "I'm hearing a lot of noise from other apartments through my vent. Is there anything you can do about this?"
posted by hermitosis at 7:15 AM on May 5, 2011

Response by poster: I just moved in, and have not had the chance to talk yet. It was not late at night, and neighbor was not doing anything inappropriate. I'd just like it to be quieter in my apartment.
posted by Sara Anne at 7:16 AM on May 5, 2011

White noise will mask the sounds from other apartments - run a fan.
posted by lizbunny at 7:23 AM on May 5, 2011 [1 favorite]

Put a pillow over the vent?
posted by anaelith at 7:30 AM on May 5, 2011

They make vent fans - you can easily replace the vent cover with one of these fans.
It will give the vent a boost, giving you more AC - plus it will mask noise coming from the vent.
posted by Flood at 7:40 AM on May 5, 2011

If it's during normal hours (between 9am and 11pm, say), you don't have much recourse for complaint. I suggest a white noise machine, a fan, or maybe playing some background music.
posted by Sara C. at 8:12 AM on May 5, 2011

Cover the vent with a towel when you're not using it? My bathroom at my old place had a vent that let in the cigarette smell of another tenant, so I just closed it off with packing tape.
posted by Slinga at 8:55 AM on May 5, 2011

Can you get an air filter that fits inside the vent?
posted by Mr. Yuck at 3:06 PM on May 5, 2011

I'm not sure how cheap is "very, very cheap," but I use a white noise machine and it blocks almost all noise for me. I've used it in Boston, where my bedroom faced a surprisingly active parking lot and in a college town where the people next door have ragers every couple weeks. It's amazing. I have this one but I also have a cheap humidifier, which does the same noise-masking job. You can also get a box fan or a standing rotating fan even cheaper. If you are seriously strapped for cash, there's a white noise i-phone app.
posted by mrfuga0 at 6:10 PM on May 5, 2011