So, I just moved into a new apartment/condo and it is in this incredibly old building. I live on the ground level, and there is hot water heat via pipes in my ceiling. I understood that the building was old and there would be creaks and moans and whistling noises; however, my Landlords failed to tell me that the pipes in the bedroom make this incredibly loud tapping noise all day and all night!

I am a heavy sleeper and can sleep through just about anything, but I wake up to this noise and It keeps me from falling asleep. It sounds as if someone is drumming their nails (very loudly) at various speeds in the wall. It's excessively loud.

I contacted my landlord. They said they didn't think there was anything they could do to fix it, although I doubt they checked into it. I contacted the building manager, she said I would just have to get used to it and get ear plugs. Is there anything that they can do to muffle this sound or get rid of it?
I know its cold outside and when the summer comes I probably won't have to deal with this noise, but it is so loud I end up sleeping in the living room most nights and barely getting any sleep. Not sure I can deal with that for a year - and also I feel like my landlord should have made me aware of the excessive noise before moving in.

Thanks for your help! Sorry for the long post!

This basically sounds like there is air in the lines. The automatic air releasing device could have failed. This could be located at the highest point on the riser and/or at the boiler.

As you boil water, you release air that's entrapped, It's lighter than air, so it rises to the top of the system where it should be removed.

What's happening is that your pumping a big air bubble around in the system. Air is compressable. Water is not.