Next door water noises

I'm in an old (1860) semi-detached cottage and hear when the neighbour has water running in the bathroom - I think it is when the cistern is refilling. It is quite annoying at 2am.

The water pipe from the mains is shared but I'm not conscious of similar sounds during the day when I guess the kitchen taps must be in use.

Anything to be done? Is it likely that I'm hearing the sound direct or through our water pipes? How do I ascertain?

Thanks

Reply to
AnthonyL
Loading thread data ...

The sound is probably going straight up through their ceiling, reflecting off the roof and down into your bedroom. Made worse by the night quiet.

Is there a solid dividing wall in the roof space, or is it open as was popular at the time of building?

(Assuming all are on the upper floor)

Reply to
EricP

In message , AnthonyL writes

IME (we have two mains incomers, separated by maybe10-15 m of underground pipe). We get noise in the pipe of one, when the is draw on the other one (but not the other way round)

If it coming through the pipe it's more a hissing/water in pipes kind of noise as opposed to actually hearing water trickling if you are hearing the sound directly.

If is a tricking/running water sound it is maybe coiming through the rood space - or some sort of gap in the wall?

Reply to
Chris French

Ask your neighbour if they mind you fitting a low noise filling device to their attic tank such as

Reply to
Peter Parry

The roof space (tiles) was open but the last owner got it bricked up though I wouldn't say to sound proofing standards. Both bathrooms are upstairs though mine is on the outer wall and hers is on the inner wall adjacent to the spare bedroom.

I'm not too sure of their exact plumbing - I know the last neighbour put in a header tank for the shower, mine is mains fed, but there has always been some noise even before that which I'm fairly sure arises after the toilet has been flushed.

Reply to
AnthonyL

I'm fairly sure the noise is associated with the mains fed toilet cistern in the upstairs bathroom so I don't think the attic comes into it. Does this device just fit at the inlet and not play any part in the cistern action?

Reply to
AnthonyL

It's a hissing/white noise type of thing we seems to slowly taper off in the time scale that one expects a toilet cistern to fill.

It feels as if the sound is being carried through our own water pipes. I don't know if our sounds are reciprocated and unfortunately I don't get on with said neighbour (f) who seems to attract men friends who need the loo half the night.

Reply to
AnthonyL

If it were me I would spend some time trying to hear where the sound is com ing from. Does it come though the wall (perhaps from pipes that are clamp ed to the wall) or does it come in with the water supply to the OP's house . During the day it will be hard to hear it so you'll need to get up at n ight when someone has flushed the loo next door.

presumably it has always done this, it's just that now it is annoying becau se it happens at night.

if it is turbulence noise that is being conducted through all the pipework you might able to fix it with one of those tiny accumulators designed to st op waterhammer. They are easy to fit - you'd put it on theincoming water m ain.

If the sound is conducted through the bathroom wall you could add a sound p roof that wall (by adding a stud wall next to, but not touching, the party wall.

Robert

Reply to
RobertL

I've tried - it is very indeterminable. We only have a two up two down + upstairs bathroom and when it is quiet the noise can be heard from any room.

I think it got worse when the last neighbour replaced their old clogged up mains inlet tap.

I just would have expected to be more conscious of kitchen taps/washing machine noises if that was the case. (ah there it goes just as I write - and I'm downstairs ~ 90secs).

The rooms are small enough as it is. :(

Reply to
AnthonyL

I have similar. I believe the neighbouring bathroom is next to the party wall and the pipes attached to that wall. Probably more noticeable at

2am because there is less background noise and also higher water pressure as less is being used.
Reply to
DJC

Does the toilet fill from the loft tank or from mains water? I know mine is fed from the loft, and has the wrong size valve hole so it trickles for about a quarter of an hour and sounds just like some kind of babbling brook. I know fit the correct valve... Brian

Reply to
Brian-Gaff

DJC wrote in news:mj25o6$n36$ snipped-for-privacy@dont-email.me:

I have a very noisy toilet since I fitted a Isolation Valve. I guess I should have bought a full-bore one.

Reply to
DerbyBorn

AnthonyL explained on 14/05/2015 :

A stick, rod, long screwdriver or similar, pushed against your ear and the cold water pipe, would let you know if the pipe were generating the noise.

Listening in your loft space would tell you if it were the splashing from the tank itself, you could hear. If it is, you could maybe ask your neighbour to fit a contraption to silence the filling splash.

Reply to
Harry Bloomfield

Given all the constraints you have mentioned, it would seem a realistic solution for you is earplugs.

It would be the cheapest and most convenient solution given the sporadic nature of the problem.

You only have to put them in when the noise occurs.

--- news://freenews.netfront.net/ - complaints: snipped-for-privacy@netfront.net ---

Reply to
Ash Burton

Could it be that since they replaced their clogged main inlet tap the water flow rates have increased and are not choked at the loo inlet, leading to turbulence there.

Sneak out in the night and secretly turn down their inlet tap to reduce the flow (assuming it's in the street). Maybe they won't notice.

Robert

Reply to
RobertL

HomeOwnersHub website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.