Noise Source Checklist

Inspection Checklist for Sources of Sound and Noise

Here is a quick checklist that should help you identify possible locations where sound or noise may enter a house, condominium or an apartment. Use this when inspecting a property to purchase or rent. It should help you as you are often distracted by visual stimulation rather than audio interference!

Exterior Windows and Doors:

• Is the weatherstripping in good shape?
• Do you feel drafts?
• Do you hear outside noise or people talking?
• Do you hear remote noise like distant trains or highway noise when the windows are closed?
• If in an apartment or condo building are entrance doors offset or opposite one another? Offset doors are better.

Plumbing System

• If apartment or condo, ask adjacent residents or agent showing unit to run water in adjacent units or flush toilets in those units. Can you hear their water while you stand in your unit?
• Flush toilets with bathroom door closed. Listen in other rooms for water noise.
• Turn on shower water - hot and cold - go to other rooms to listen for sound.
• Run hot water for 5 minutes. Listen for drain pipe expansion popping. Listen for water heater popping noises as it operates.

Appliances

• Operate dishwasher and listen for noise from adjacent rooms.
• Operate heating or air conditioning system and listen for pops, cracks, or whistles.
• Listen for noise generated by outdoor AC condensing unit. If multi-family, listen for noise from other units.
• Operate washer and dryer if present. Listen for pounding or rhythmic noise caused by washing machine agitator.

Electrical and Lighting

• Observe recessed fixtures. They are excellent pathways for noise from rooms above.
• Listen to fluorescent fixtures. Old ones can buzz.
• If multi-family, remove random outlet and switch cover plates on party walls and check for oversized holes around electrical boxes. These spaces let noise in and out.

Flooring

• Look for cracks that might allow noise to travel from one floor to another.
• Hard surfaces like tile and hardwood create noise easily. If multi-family, are all units like the model unit?
• Do you hear people walking around above or below?

Elevators / Stairways / Multi-Family

• If unit is multi-family is it adjacent to elevator shafts or stairways? Are these places noisy?
• Is unit adjacent to a mechanical equipment room?
• Is unit entrance door near central core so that all residents walk or pass by your entry door?
• Do you hear elevator bell?
• Do you hear stairway doors bang shut?
• Do you hear other resident doors shut?
• Do you hear outdoor noise from common areas through sliding glass doors?
• Do you hear city noise if it is an urban high rise?

Stereo - TV Noise

• Do you hear stereo or TV noise from adjacent houses or units? Visit house or unit after hours when nearby residents are home!
• Knock on doors of current residents and ask if there are noise problems within the building or neighborhood. Ask for a description of the noise to see if it is one or more persons or things causing the problem.

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