Annoying hum from neighbouring school

[LorenzoCalzone]

Name change as I've whinged about this in real life!

I live opposite a school. The block directly opposite me is windowless toilets so they require mechanical ventilation. The ventilation makes a humming noise like a constant tumble dryer.

It first happened a couple of years ago. I complained to the school, but it was school hols so I complained to the council. When the term started the ventilation was turned off.

A few months later it started up again so I went over to speak to the school. The facilities person apologised and went to turn it off. Peace!

Recently it started up again but just from 6pm to 8pm. Fine, a 2 hour window wasn't too bad.

However it's started up again from 6am to 6pm. It's the first thing I hear in the morning. I have to have a fan on at home to mask it. I got in touch with the school and they said they need it on or the toilets smell. They said their contractor says the noise is normal but they plan to replace the fan and clean it, and this might help reduce the noise.

My problem is I'm very sensitive to noise. I can't have ticking clocks, unexplained hums etc give me the rage. It's misophonia. So it could well be that the venitlation isn't a formal nuisance it's just me being sensitive. Visitors don't notice it until I point it out to them.

What should I do? Its making me stressed. I can't afford to move house and walking around with noise cancelling earplugs 12 hours a day is a crap way to live.

I used to live nextdoor to a pub and a hospital both had air compressors which hummed all day long. It was horrible being about to hear all the time. I moved house again and prioritised being somewhere totally residential.

Home heat pumps make the same noise.

Nightmare. The rise of the heat pump makes it think I need to fix myself as the world is just getting hummier

You have my sympathy.

We have a noise nuisance here. It is awful. If you were visiting you might think it's just a temporary noise. It affects dozens of properties but very few felt obligated to report it. It is a statutory noise nuisance inside some homes which in theory should make it easier to resolve.

The environmental health staff are excellent and will be helpful.

The tinnitus strategy upthread does work. Over time our brains get used to anything we perceive as "safe" so convincing your brain that it is a safe noise is an important step. Ear plugs can help your brain relax and switch off from being alert - not only do they block out the sound but they give reassurance to your brain that it will not be troubled by it.

Noise complaints are only upheld if "a typical person" would be disturbed by the noise, so while your misophonia is highly relevant from your point of view I wouldn't push the point in your dealings with the school. Maybe ask if they could switch it to 8am though.

We live under a flight path and when we moved in I seriously worried that I would never sleep properly again! But your brain really does adapt if you can convince it you're not bothered.

There is a very good therapist that specialises in misophonia. Check his website out mindblocks.co.uk. Nothing but 5* reviews from hundreds of people and my SD has personally used him & benefited massively.

I have misophonia, so you have my sympathy. Personally I'd move. Not entirely practical, but for peace of mind, the only answer. I find myself triggered by even anticipating the noise starting.

But... I have also developed tinnitus, which to me has been an absolute godsend. When I am bothered by a misophonia trigger (beeping, squeaking, fan, repetitive noises) , I can focus hard on my tinnitus, which as pp have said, makes it louder and all encompassing, moving me off my trigger. So tinnitus is not always bad.

I also have misophonia and I really feel for you.

Wearing earplugs non-stop would drive me nuts, but I find having a fan on or white noise machine works very well. I don’t notice it after a bit (presumably because it’s something I’m controlling) and blocks hums perfectly.

I have to have an air purifier on in my bedroom whenever I’m in there as we have a neighbour whose TV is never off. It would be intolerable without it, but with it there is no disturbance at all.

I’m dreading the rise of heat pumps as I fear they will be more intrusive and higher pitched (especially if cheap or not maintained) but currently taking a head in the sand approach there!

Honestly they have been accommodating and are trying to fix the issue…what else do you want? Defo not much more you can get…you can move. Not next to a school…

Go back your local Council and get something in writing from them and the school about this noise. And what they plan to do about it.

Keep a time diary of when the noise happens.

Find out if you can, if this noise also annoys your neighbours?

Get a recording of the noise at different times of the day on your mobile phone with a date stamp

Good Luck.

It really is. I have developed an unfirtunate habit of scratching my arm when I am subjected to a trigger noise. It takes the edge off and stops me going mental, but now I have a patch on my arm that is scarred. I always go for the same patch. I do not do it consciously and really want to stop! I often only notice when it is very painful, which is usually when I actually break the skin. It is a curse.

I sympathise, as I’m the same. I don’t understand people who need “white noise” to sleep. When I’m away if there a hum anywhere I won’t sleep. I like total quiet.

It isn't like that though. Misophonia is not just not liking noise. Loads of noises are fine, but trigger noises are felt in the body. I would honestly rather soneone punch me than be subjected to my triggers, which unfortunately hapoens a lot, because are mostly mouth noises. I cannot go to the cinema, for example, because people eating popcorn physically pains me. I have left restaurants due to a person at the next table chewing with their mouth open. I simply cannot sit there, it triggeres fight or flight and I need to move or I would do violence to someone. Even though I am actually a very laid back person and would never, ever want to hurt anyone. It is a condition that is very limiting.

Though I can go to softplay, take my children to teamsports, go to concerts, all kinds of loud spaces. Just make mouth noises beside me, and I could kill you.

It’s bloody horrendous. It’s whistling for me. I experience it as a physical pain in my head. I do think shopping around for a corking pair of ear plugs is probably your own option for now, though, OP.

OP puts a fan on in her house though, to block out the noise of the school fan, according to her OP.

You bought a house on the same street as a school. I do t know what more to say large buildings come with noise. You chose to live there.

I just wanted to say that I really feel for you @LorenzoCalzone I have missiphonia too, it would really affect my quality of life to experience what you are describing. Sometimes I can’t get to sleep because I can hear the Hum and I know that’s unusual and not many people can hear it, so sympathy is lacking, but it is a very real thing to those of us that can hear droning frequencies. I would have to move house.

Omg yes! Currently sat in a hotel room listening to the buzz of electricity!! Glad it’s not just me 🤣

I sympathise op. I hate hums. I seem to be able to hear them when no one else can and have been known to roam the house on a night trying to locate a humming charger/plug or whatever.

A couple of years ago there was an electrical fault in the street across from us, and the electricity board installed a generator temporarily while they sorted it out. It was there for months, running 24/7. Drove me round the bend, but nobody else (Dh, dc, neighbours) seemed remotely bothered about it, which made me feel like I was going mad.

Can’t you ask them to reduce the hours to school hours? 9 to 4 or similar would affect you less and still mean that the toilets are ventilated when they are being used.

If you’re sensitive to noise how do you manage with the noise of the kids playing out 2/3 times a day? We have a school near us and I walked by at playtime the other day and couldn’t believe the noise. Just curious that a humming is upsetting but the playground noise isn’t?

Misophonia is also known as selective sound sensitivity syndrome. Emphasis is on the SELECTIVE not just on sensitivity to any sound.

Mine , in particular, includes clicky pens. If (as has happened) a lecturer/presenter, walks up and down holding a clicky pen then even the anticipation of them clicking it - even once - raises my fight or flight response beyond maximum. I feel utter rage inside, I start to go clammy and have to leave the room.
My heart is beating faster just typing about clicky pens, it is such a massive trigger to me. Stupid, I know, no yes, a bit life limiting.

I get the same with kids bouncing a basketball, yet they can run around screaming, playing cricket, football etc.

It is not just being a bit sensitive to noise.

Some of these posts from fellow sufferers have summed it up perfectly. Im really grateful for those posts that have a similar experience as it makes me feel less crazy.

I can go to a soft play and happily sit reading a book. Likewise I'd happily listen to kids in playground. But sit me beside a ticking clock in a library and I'll want to claw my skin off! Loud eaters or people chomping chewing gum cause the same reaction. I often find myself in hotel rooms right beside the bloody roof units and it ruins my stay, i pack earplugs and ear defenders! My brain tunes into the sound, waits for the next noise or the end of noise and I can't focus on anything else.

When I first moved into this house there was no issue. A few years passed and the school must have installed a new system and I now find the frequency goes right to my brain. I cant ignore it without masking it with something like a fan which has a different frequency.

I think its hard to understand if you don't have misophonia.

I'm exploring hypnosis therapy options. I can't afford to move. Second option is to reconfigure house and add a wall so that my living space is at the back of the house so I can't hear it (hopefully). I suppose I'm grateful it's not on 24/7 and has definitely taught me to never live beside a hospital etc that has similar venitlation.

I'm very noise sensitive but having unknowingly moved to a house with flight paths I would prefer the hum to the 100s of planes which fly over our house.