Floor Vibration

[Randy S]

New links, sorry for the delay.

http://www.supersoundproofingsales.com/Mass-Loaded-Vinyl-48W-w_Closed-Cell-per-foot/productinfo/09-00005CC-54F/

http://www.supersoundproofingsales.com/SSP-Dimpled-Vibration-Isolation-Pads-3-1_2x3-1_2-SET-OF-4/productinfo/09-4-SET+OF+4-DIMPLE/

Randy S.

[jfreidin]

I am having an identical issue as the original poster- subtle yet incredibly maddening vibrations coming from my floor. I feel it throughout my apartment (a open floor plan artist loft). There is really no space or insulation between my old hardwood floor, and my downstairs neighbor's ceiling. I think the vibrations are coming from his heating system- if his is like mine, which I think it probably is, there is a fan unit attached to his ceiling and large piping that blows the air the length of his unit.

I'm wondering if you have any more great suggestions like before on how to deal with these vibrations throughout the studio, and not just in one central area. I've got tabs open on my browser for the floor covering and pads you suggested, but hoping there may be more I can do?? Thank you so much!

[Randy S]

Since you have a similar situation you would have to cover the entire floor with our Mass loaded vinyl w/closed cell foam sealed airtight to the walls.
Followed by carpet and padding.

http://www.supersoundproofingsales.com/Mass-Loaded-Vinyl-48W-w_Closed-Cell-30-Roll/productinfo/09-00005CC-54R/

Randy S.

[Fraconian]

I don't know how similar my problem is to Ivan's.  However, since last May, I have also been dealing with on and off floor vibrations throughout my carpeted apartment.  I had to practically beg my apt. manager to do an inspection of the  second-floor apartment below me.  (I am on the top floor, i.e. third floor apartment in the building).  He finally did early last summer and said he "found nothing unusual".  Further, he said, "I suspect a faulty AC unit".  An HVAC technician came last summer and made some adjustments in the ACs or HVAC system over my rooftop and there was indeed a declension in the overall vibrations.  At one point they were so bad I could not even play the piano without it feeling almost "electrified" from the intense rolling floor vibrations.

When the vibrations are particularly strong, there is nowhere I can lye or sleep in my apartment without experiencing the vibrational currents.  They presently seem to be worse from 10 PM to 12:30 AM in the evening with the rolling, "percolating" type of vibrations, with an intensity of "4"on a 1-10 scale.  But very annoying when trying to rest, lying on the couch. 

Actually there are three type of vibrations I am experiencing.  (1) There is the magic finger type of a more rapid frequency and lower intensity, as if sitting in a massage armchair.  (2) There is the erratic, percolating type, as if off on a lake on an air mattress with a feeling of erratic jolting of currents from beneath oneself.  (3) And finally, when it is at its worst the floor vibrations are  of a pulsing nature, with regular jolting vibrations, and this type is of the strongest intensity.  Fortunately I haven't noticed the pulsing vibrations recently, but were much more frequent last summer. 

The HVAC technician explained something about  #3 type as having to do with the AC units on the rooftop over my apartment that are dinosaurs, and explained that when they are low on Freon they need to kick in harder and that the parts are old in these units, causing these currents to transmit downward to my apartment.  Buy strangely I do not feel them on the walls; but then again, it is not as if I am  lying on the walls for long stretches of time as if in bed or on the couch.  I can only feel the walls with my hands for seconds at a time, and I do not sense the bothersome vibrations through the walls.  So evidently, somehow the currents are being transmitted downward and through the joists of the floors.  (The neighbors below me in the second floor apartment say they do not feel the vibrations).

Randy, do you know if there is anything I can do on my part to mitigate these most annoying floor vibrations?   It had gotten to the point last year that I actually had to start looking for another apartment, because I could not stand feeling the unwanted vibrations in bed at night.  Would it do any good to get  the 4" anti-vibration pads and put one under each of the legs of my bed?  Thank you much!

[Fraconian]

I don't know how similar my problem is to Ivan's.  However, since last May, I have also been dealing with on and off floor vibrations throughout my carpeted apartment.  I had to practically beg my apt. manager to do an inspection of the  second-floor apartment below me.  (I am on the top floor, i.e. third floor apartment in the building).  He finally did early last summer and said he "found nothing unusual".  Further, he said, "I suspect a faulty AC unit".  An HVAC technician came last summer and made some adjustments in the ACs or HVAC system over my rooftop and there was hence a declension in the overall vibrations.  At one point they were so bad I could not even play the piano without it feeling almost "electrified" from the intense rolling floor vibrations.

When the vibrations are particularly strong, there is nowhere I can lye or sleep in my apartment without experiencing the vibrational currents, mainly via my lower limbs.  They presently seem to be worse from 10 PM to 12:30 AM in the evening with the rolling, "percolating" type of vibrations, with an intensity of "4"on a 1-10 scale.  But very annoying when trying to rest, lying on the couch. 

Actually there are three type of vibrations I am experiencing.  (1) There is the magic fingers type of a more rapid frequency and lower intensity, as if sitting in a massage armchair.  (2) There is the erratic, percolating type, as if off on a lake on an air mattress with a feeling of erratic jolting of currents from beneath oneself.  (3) And finally, when it is at its worst the floor vibrations are  of a pulsing nature, with regular jolting vibrations, and this type is of the strongest intensity.  Fortunately the pulsing vibrations have subsided since the cooler weather set in, but these were much more frequent last summer, when multiple rooftop ACs were ratcheted up.   

The HVAC technician explained something about  #3 type as having to do with the AC units on the rooftop over my apartment that are dinosaurs, and explained that when they are low on Freon they need to kick in harder and that the parts are old in these units, causing these currents to transmit downward to my apartment.  Buy strangely I do not feel them on the walls; but then again, it is not as if I am  lying on the walls for long stretches of time as if in bed or on the couch.  I can only feel the walls with my hands for seconds at a time, and I do not sense the disturbing vibrations through the walls.  So evidently, somehow the currents are being transmitted downward and through the joists of the floors.  (The neighbors below me in the second floor apartment say they do not feel the vibrations).

Randy, do you know if there is anything I can do on my part to mitigate these most disturbing floor vibrations?   It had gotten to the point last year that I actually had to start looking for another apartment, because I could not stand feeling the unwanted vibrations in bed at night.  Would it do any good to get  the 4" anti-vibration pads and put one under each of the legs of my bed?  Thank you much!

[Randy S]

Franconian,

What year was this building built???

There is no doubt that HVAC unit in clusters above a unit could cause such a problem especially if they are old dinosaurs. Are there any anti vibration pads under the units?

Advise,

Randy S.

[Fraconian]

Randy, thanks for your quick reply.  It seems whenever there is a significant change in the weather, either colder or hotter, there is a change in the nature and intensity  of the vibrations.  Like presently we had a slight warm-up in Michigan that quickly changed with a cold front setting in tonight.  Ergo, all day I've been feeling what I refer to as the #2 vibrations---that is the rolling, erratic vibrations that can be felt throughout the floors of my apartment, both throughout the carpeted  floors, as well as the vinyl floor in the kitchen.  Even with my stocking feet, as I set here and type this message, I can feel the rolling currents through my carpeted bedroom floor.

The building was built in 1968 if my memory serves.  For sure it was build in the 1960s; this building is a three-floor, 30 apartment building.  I am on the third floor.  When the Manager sent over the HVAC technician to explain the situation to me last summer, that "the parts are very worn out" in the AC units, I just replied, "God, I hope he (the Manager) replaces them."  I am trying to "adjust" myself to these unsettling and disconcerting vibrations, but it is not easy, particularly when the pulsing was so rad last summer.  I don't think these are acceptable living conditions @ $850 per month.  I guess, Jim, the Manager just expects me to put up with it.

Late summer at the height of the ordeal, I sent Jim some information from this site, I believe---on possible short-term remedies to the vibrations.  He said he had also had complaints in the other (front) building.  And it looked like an AC company came and put in a new AC unit on the rooftop of the front building, though I am not sure because I did not ask. 

I don't know what they did, if anything, as far as sound proofing the units over my apartment rooftop.  What would you recommend?  Do you think it would make sense for me to at least purchase anti-vibration pads for my bed?  I tried the folded washcloth method, and it did not work; the vibrations still broke through.

Thanks once again, for your time and help!   ~Franco

[Randy S]

Franco,

If the wash cloth test did not work..Do not buy anti vibration pads...The test should have shown some improvement to justify the purchase...

In order to soundproof the ceiling it would require complete ceiling removal and installation of a decoupled ceiling system...

If they replaced the units in the front of the building did those tenants experience a decent reduction?

Do you have access to the roof ? I need to see some pictures of the units.

Randy@soundproofing.org


Advise

Randy S.

[Fraconian]

Randy,  I'm not sure about the front building.  I will ask Manager, Jim about it.   I know the rooftops of both buildings were tarred about seven years ago.

 I've also been wanting to ask him if I could take a look on the rooftop to see exactly where the HVAC contraptions are.  I believe there is a compressor setting right over my bedroom.  When I get up there I will take a few pictures and send them to you.

Thanks again for your input.

[Fraconian]

Randy,  I'm not sure about the front building.  I will ask Manager, Jim about it.   I know the rooftops of both buildings were tarred about seven years ago.

 I've also been wanting to ask him if I could take a look on the rooftop to see exactly where the HVAC clusters are.  I believe there is a compressor setting right over my bedroom.  When I get up there I will take a few pictures and send them to you.

Thanks again for your input.

6 AM update:  fairly bad vibrations in the bed again tonight, keeping me up.  However, I am not sensing the rhythmic waves throughout the floors of my apartment, as I often do.   And I never sense the vibrations emanating from the walls.   Strange.  I know that a metal bed can be a conductor of vibrations like my bed with a metal frame and metal  box springs, picking up every nuance from the floor.

Is there nothing I can do as a temporary remedy of these vibrations?  Nothing short of moving out of here?

[Randy S]

The wash cloth test did nothing..with that being said we have to really do some homework before I can  make a recommendation...

I do not want to have you spend money and it do nothing to reduce the problem

We will see when you get me some pics of the roof top units.

Randy S.