My neighbor has an incredibly loud alarm clock. What to do?

In My Humble Opinion
1

I’m at wits end and I don’t know what to do.

I’ve been living in an apartment for the past 3 years. There are apartments on either side of me. My bedroom wall is shared with the next door neighbors bedroom wall. About a year ago, an older couple moved in to this apartment. Other than saying “hello” to them once or twice, I have never spoken to them. They keep very odd hours.

About two months after they moved in, I was awakened at around 3am by them having sex. It was just a lot of loud groaning and their bed bumping up against the wall. It was all over in about 2 minutes, and it never happened again. Or if it did, I was too sleepy and it didn’t wake me up. And every so often, I’ll hear hetero porn movie sounds, but this also only lasts for about two minutes, so it’s not a huge problem for me.

Then, about 6 months ago, the problem started. Each morning at 5:15am, their alarm clock goes off. The walls are so thin that it wakes me up. It sounds like one of those alarm clocks from the 80’s, a shrill electronic tone, unlike mine, which starts low and gets louder. So, the guy (I’m pretty sure it’s the guy) lets the alarm sound for at least a minute, then silences it. Then, 10 minutes later, it starts all over again. He hits the snooze button every 10 minutes for an HOUR! Sometimes the alarm will sound for up to 2 minutes before this lazy ass hits the snooze button again.

I try to be a good neighbor. I bought some earplugs and they help most of the time, but sometimes they fall out in the middle of the night and their alarm wakes me up. A few times, I’ve gotten so pissed that I pound on the wall, really hard. The first time I did this, the alarm was silenced almost immediately and subsequent mornings, I could still hear the alarm, but it seemed to be muffled. But a week or two later, the alarm will be back, full force. I’ve pounded on the wall several times over the last few months and it helps, but only for a few weeks.

I never see these people. As I said, they keep odd hours. I’m pretty sure the wife works nights. This man gets home late at night, I can hear him pull up into the driveway most nights at around 1 or 2am. And when I get home at 5:30pm, they’re never at home, otherwise I’d knock on their door and attempt to have a polite discussion about the early morning noise pollution. What should I do? Should I print out an order form for a humane alarm clock and tape it to their door? Should I sacrifice an hours worth of sleep and march over there at 5:15am and pound on their front door to confront him? I don’t want to cause a scene, but I’m also pretty pissed off because I’m losing much needed sleep. I mean, why set your alarm for 5:15am if you have no intention of actually getting out of bed until 6;30am(ish)??

2

The landlord may be willing to intercede. The noise may even violate some ordinance, though I’d be reluctant to involve the police.

You could slip a note under their door.

I wonder if relocating your bed would help.

I’ve found silicone ear plugs to be remarkably effective, and mine don’t fall out unless I use them too many times.

3

Move the bed to another wall. Chances are good your head is only 5 inches from his head and alarm.

Or sleep the other direction. Feet towards the wall.

4

It’s no ones fault both parties are living in an appartment complex with paper thin walls. I’ve lived in one of these places, as mentioned move your bed, or have a talk. I’d stop banging on the walls if I were you, you’ll have more credibility when you talk to them in person. If they’re never there leave a note.

Good thing you don’t have me as a neighbour, I have a really bad snoring problem apparently my neighbours want me to rearrange my sleeping schedule or stop breathing in order that they can better enjoy the urban experience. They used to buzz my appartment to wake me, they did that a couple of times until one night when they did that, they discovered I usually play bass with head phones on but not that early morning.

Want me awake ? I’m awake enjoy.

5

Two words: Box fan. Seriously, the best investment for apartment living. It may take a few days to get used to it, but it drowns out 99% of the noise around me. Plus, move your bed to the opposite wall.

6

I’d definitely leave a polite note. There’s probably no reason they can’t get a quieter alarm clock, and stop having it go off for such a long time. That’s a lot different than noise you might not be able to control, like snoring.

If the note doesn’t work, for me the next step would probably be complaining to the landlord.

7

Move your bed and get a source of white noise. Box fan or white noise machines are great.

You could TRY asking the guy to use a new alarm clock sound, but there’s nothing that requires him to do so.

8

Hang a few pictures on that wall around 5 am. Or pretend to.

9

I use Howard Leight Laser Lite earplugs in combination with a box fan. Those are the best earplugs I have found, and together they work great.

10

My air filter also makes white noise; two birds with one stone: cleaner air and less intrusive sounds.

11

Start working nights?

12

Set your alarm for 5:15 too, and don’t hit snooze when he does.

13

If you were a spiteful bastard, you could sleep in another room for a while, set your own alarm for 3:30 am and put it next to the wall, and just let it go (mine turns off after an hour anyway).
Otherwise, just move your bed, get a white noise generator, or leave a note.