Rattling window problem

[avaserfi]

A couple nights ago I was watching Apocalypto at near reference levels and during high SPL/ low frequency scenes a window in my living room was rattling rather loudly. I have noticed it before, but because of the higher than average SPL the rattling was far more pronounced and took away from scenes greatly. I currently live in a rather old apartment and was wondering if anyone had suggestions about how to tame this rattling. If needed I can try to post pictures of the window, but a description should work: The window is wooden framed and slides up on another window similar to the one found here , but two solid pieces of glass one for the sliding portion and one for the upper.

Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

[majorloser]

Old double-hung windows with the weights in the sash are a PITA.

You can use small shims in the corners to snug them up in the frame when the window is closed. They also used make retro-fit kits that can convert the window to a "friction fit" and remove the weights. But if it's a rental apartment, why bother.

One of the best bets would be some very heavy curtains (like a blanket) in front of the window to absorb some of the bass. That along with the shims will stop the noise. Not much you can do about the old weights in the casement if it's one of those windows. They're just hanging by chain or cord.

 

[avaserfi]

The windows currently hang via a spring on both the left and right sides of the frame. I always have the windows down when I watch movies or listen to music and the wood frame sits snuggly where it is supposed to.

Guess I will look into shims any suggestions on where to look or is the local Lowe's good enough?

 

[Johnd]

Identify the source first: is it the glass, the sash or the weights?

Glass: use clear silicone.
Sash: use butterfly wings (like $0.59 at the hardware store) that gets nailed to the slide and creats a friction fit.
Weights: Remove them and use the butterfly wings as a counterbalance.

 

[j_garcia]

I had to caluk the windows in my living room too. They are basically just sitting in a wood frame with no gasket!! And they are like 30yrs old... As soon as I fired up my sub the first time, the glass was rattling like crazy. After some clear RTV, they mostly stopped rattling, but a few extreme scenes here and there still give me some noise.

 

[avaserfi]

I had to caluk the windows in my living room too. They are basically just sitting in a wood frame with no gasket!! And they are like 30yrs old... As soon as I fired up my sub the first time, the glass was rattling like crazy. After some clear RTV, they mostly stopped rattling, but a few extreme scenes here and there still give me some noise.

As sad as it is I think you just nailed the problem on the head. I can't quiet remember but I think your idea is what my first step will be since after you reading your post I could swear I don't remember any gasket on my windows as well. The apartments I am in are probably about 35-45 years old.

 

[j_garcia]

My real problem is, the glass is extremely large single pane. One is about 6'x4', 8 ft up (above the front door all the way to the ceiling) the second is about 4'x4' tall and angled and the other is about 3ft tall and angled. The 6ft one doesn't rattle thankfully, because that would be a pain to get up there and calk.

 

[Savant]

avaserfi: Any chance the landlord/landlady would be willing to upgrade the windows? If they're single-pane glass, they're probably letting the heat/cool leak out relative to newer, better-insulating glass windows. Could save you/them on utility costs as well as solve your rattling problem.

Just a thought...

 

[avaserfi]

avaserfi: Any chance the landlord/landlady would be willing to upgrade the windows? If they're single-pane glass, they're probably letting the heat/cool leak out relative to newer, better-insulating glass windows. Could save you/them on utility costs as well as solve your rattling problem.

Just a thought...

I wish. He is fairly cheap and would only have to worry about heat leaking out (I would paid for my air conditioning if I had it while he pays heat and I crank it to counteract the window problem), but doesn't seem to think of the long term. He might buy me some supplies but, spending the money to completely replace the windows. Any other suggestions?

 

[Johnd]

Any other suggestions?

Yeah. Quit whining and buy your own pad.

I'm not trying to be mean, but ahhh, you signed on for this place with all of it's maladies....right? So you rented a cheap place from a cheap landlord. We got it. Stop with the insults and fix it yourself. It's not exactly brain surgery. Geeesh.

 

[Savant]

Ah, c'mon, John. We don't know all the details.

I rented a "cheap" place from a "cheap" landlady once. I thought it was going to be a problem getting things done. However, I found that as soon as I offered to take care of a problem - I replaced the dishwasher, replaced a ceiling fan, repaired the A/C, etc. - she was more than willing to "reimburse" me with rent "discounts". She was very reasonable; she even took my time into account when coming up with a "discount" figure.

However, I may simply have lucked out...

Nonetheless, if avaserfi thinks it's worth it (and, sadly, I wouldn't be surprised if it's not), it couldn't hurt to get some quotes for new windows (i.e., all the windows in the apartment; not just in the HT room) and see if the landlord will waive a the rent for a few months in exchange for taking care of the problem for him. Win/win. Double-win for the landlord if he benefits from lower heating bills and a tax write-off for improved insulation.

Of course, get it in writing.

Then again, maybe some folded-up cardboard shoved between the sash and the frame will solve the rattling...

 

[mtrycrafts]

The apartments I am in are probably about 35-45 years old.

Are these stand alone apartments? At near reference levels and still living there? WOW

 

[Johnd]

Ah, c'mon, John. We don't know all the details.

I rented a "cheap" place from a "cheap" landlady once. I thought it was going to be a problem getting things done. However, I found that as soon as I offered to take care of a problem - I replaced the dishwasher, replaced a ceiling fan, repaired the A/C, etc. - she was more than willing to "reimburse" me with rent "discounts". She was very reasonable; she even took my time into account when coming up with a "discount" figure.

However, I may simply have lucked out...

Nonetheless, if avaserfi thinks it's worth it (and, sadly, I wouldn't be surprised if it's not), it couldn't hurt to get some quotes for new windows (i.e., all the windows in the apartment; not just in the HT room) and see if the landlord will waive a the rent for a few months in exchange for taking care of the problem for him. Win/win. Double-win for the landlord if he benefits from lower heating bills and a tax write-off for improved insulation.

Of course, get it in writing.

Then again, maybe some folded-up cardboard shoved between the sash and the frame will solve the rattling...

I'm with you savant. I'm just a little "punchy" tonight, and tire easily of blaming "the other guy"...in this case, the Landlord. Particularly when avas ostensibly negotiated for this unit. You get what you pay (or bargain) for. But carry on...I'm over my angst...and will try to remain positive and helpful. And thanks for the check savant. Cheers.

 

[majorloser]

I still say to pick up a bundle of cheap wooden shims at the hardware store and jam one in each corner between the window pain and the sash frame to basically lock the window in tight. Cheap and easy to remove if you want to open the window. If it's the glass that vibrating in a loose pane, juat add a little silcone caulk around the glazing.

It's not your place. Don't waste your money fixing things up yourself. Besides, how much LFE can you get away with in the apartment?

Granted, when I was living in an apartment and one of the neighbors had their radio or TV up too loud, I'd turn on only the subs and crank some deep bass test tones. Nothing like shaking the whole building and nobody knowing where it came from

 

[avaserfi]

No offense taken John don't worry. My landlord has reimbursed me for various projects around the apartment from replacing sinks and counter tops to painting the place thats not a big deal. I was just looking for an easier fix. This weekend I will be caulking the window down and then shimming it into place and hopefully that should take care of the problem.

As to how loud can I get it...well, last time I had the spl meter out I was hitting 95db easy and have yet to have a complaint. It is a mix of many aspects that allow me to do this:

1. My living room is very far from all four bedrooms that surround my apartment.
2. I carefully placed my speakers and mixed them with proper acoustic treatments to help this situation and keep my neighbors apartments quieter.
3. I almost never complain when my neighbors are loud .
4. Its a college town.
5. Who knows, but I don't care!

 

[MDS]

Caulk may well be all you need to solve the problem but let me say this from experience: If you ever may need to remove it, DO NOT use silicon caulk! Nothing sticks to silicon, not even silicon itself. There is one and only one way to remove that crap - hour upon hour of scraping.

That is not likely a problem in an apartment, but let me tell you I regret using silicon caulk on my AC enclosure. Took me weeks to get rid of it and there are still some small remnants. Oh...and since nothing sticks to it, you cannot paint it, stain it, or add more caulk over the old. Ok...rant off.

 

[bpape]

If it's really the glass in the frames, the real way to deal with it is to remove the old glazing, put in new stays, and reglaze it. It's a PITA but it will fix the problem and stay fixed for a long time.

Bryan

 

[Dolby CP-200]

Easy take a piece of cardboard open the window place the cardboard on the inside of the frame close to the bottom than close the window down until it’s tight! That should hopefully clear up the rattle or any other vibrations.

This is a common situation now you should play some sine waves use sound generator to produce the tones and play them on each loudspeaker and sub bass at different sound pressure levels to see what buzzes rattles or vibrates under controlled conditions, be certain as to not curse an speaker damage due to the test and it will take you hours if not days to perform.

 

[hyghwayman]

Lmao

Granted, when I was living in an apartment and one of the neighbors had their radio or TV up too loud, I'd turn on only the subs and crank some deep bass test tones. Nothing like shaking the whole building and nobody knowing where it came from

LoL, now that's funny!

Thanks for the Laugh!

hyghwayman

 

[j_garcia]

I adjusted my system settings the other day and cranked up Titan AE. The window I had previously caulked required another complete coating because during the lowest scenes (ice field) it was rattling like crazy again...