Acoustical / Sound Science - Mystery Noise

RealGem

Hi,

I am being kept awake by a mystery sound that lasts all night long and sounds like a TV or radio.

The weird thing is; I can only hear it from my bedroom which is furthest away from the next door house which is attached (I live in a first floor flat in a semi-detached house. The ground floor flat is empty, and there's defintely no sound coming from in there).

There is a gas-fire/chimney in the living room and I can hear the traffic through that. Also the boiler is in a cupboard in that room. The living room is directly next to next door, and I can only JUST hear the sound from in there, and only when I listen to the floor (when you're kept awake, you do crazy things, ok?!!) I'm not able to get to the wall to listen, as there are fitted cupboards all along.

I can also hear the traffic but no mystery TV sound from in the kitchen (also attached to next door) so if the sound is coming from the adjoining house, the noise of the traffic must be drowning out the noise or some other mysterious factor is in place.

I am reluctant to ask them next door if they have a TV or radio on all night, as they might not be the culprit, and I only want to mention it if I'm 100% certain it is them.

The other option is next door the other side, but that house is not attached to mine. I even went outside, but with the light wind and traffic, I could not hear a thing. I know she is old and does have her TV on loud during the day. But if I could not hear anything from standing outside, it seems doubtful it could be her. But who knows?

Last night I was kept awake past 4am and when I put earplugs in, the noise got WORSE, because it is a bass type sound, and it drowned out all other ambient treble sounds.

My sleep machine that produces white noise had the same effect. I had to put an industrial sized fan on, that produces a partly bass noise itself, to try to drown the sound out.

I am stumped because although I never hear human voices coming from the immediate next door, I can hear odd things like their bathroom light being switched on and off - Go figure!

Also, many years ago, I banged on the wall in an old flat, only to find out later it was next-door-but-ONE who was the guilty party! So next door had very noisy neighbours on one side, and another crazy neighbour banging on the wall on the other side! Poor sod!

So where are these mystery gremlin noises coming from? Anyone know?

thanks

kwikbreaks

Lots of reports similar to - http://www.caregivershome.com/columns/index.cfm?UID=25119

May be an urban myth though. Only you can decide if it's a possibility in your case.

S0litaire

Try turning the mains power off (or unplug EVERTHING except the fridge / freezer)

Sometimes electrical can give out a high pitch whine (like those noise deterrents to keep kids away from shop fronts!)

Or it might just be all in your head >_< Which is a whole other kettle of fishsticks.... +>_<+

RealGem

Thanks guys, I did try turning everything electrical off including the fridge freezer for a few seconds, as my FF is very noisy. But the noise continued. Also the "TV" noise is a bass noise, so not like high pitched electrical noises.

OMG the dental story was scary! Thankfully I can rule that out. Another reason to only accept white fillings!

I'm convinced it's my neighbour's TV, but it probably would not bother most people as I can only just hear it. I'm just sensitive to bass noise. I heard it again last night but as I was a lot more tired, I got to sleep ok. I will just have to exercise and tire myself out every day.

Yes it could just be in my head! - I don't think so, but then even if it was, I wouldn't think so would I?!

thanks