Domestic Noises by Decibel Levels

You might be aware that noise is measured by decibels and the higher up the scale they are, the louder the sound will be. Some objects around your home are louder than others, find out how noisy they are, and it should give you some idea of how much sound you inflict on the neighbouring properties.

With effective soundproofing in place you’ll have nothing to worry about. Without it, any of these noises could be driving your neighbours up the wall. 

Refrigerator 

The gentle humming of your fridge produces more noise than you think.  Under normal operating conditions a refrigerator produces 40 decibels of sound, which is noticeable but shouldn’t really cause any reason for complaints from your neighbours. Make sure the machine is located on a firm setting to prevent rattles or nuisance noise reverberating along the floor.

Washing Machine

Washing machines produce nearly double the sound of fridges, especially when they are going through their spin cycle. At the peak of their power they emit around 78 decibels, causing the floor to shake as they cause vibrations on the ground. Think carefully about when you use the washing machine. This is especially important if you live in an apartment with a property directly below.

Vacuum Cleaner

Be careful what time you decide to hoover your home. Vacuum operated cleaners produce around 80 decibels of noise and that sound can permeate through walls.  Neighbours won’t be happy with you if you decide to vacuum your bedroom carpet at 7.00am on a Sunday morning and they are trying to have a lie in.

Lawn Mower

Slightly louder than a vacuum cleaner, a lawn mower produces an average of 90 decibels. This shouldn’t be a problem as long as you are thoughtful about when you use the mower. Cut your lawn just as your neighbour hosts a garden party and don’t be too surprised if they start banging on your door.

Human Snore!

Jenny Chapman hit the headlines a few years ago as one of Britain’s loudest snorers. Her snores were recorded at an ear-numbing 111.6 decibels, they used to wake her up, and force her husband to sleep in the spare bedroom.

Loud snores can be one of the largest nuisance noises in the home. If your snores top the decibel scale, you should definitely have soundproofing in place.

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