[kellypelly]

Hi, I live in a ground floor flat in a converted house. Whenever upstairs use their water supply i.e, flush loo, run shower, tap, my pipes in the bath click and contract loudly for up to an hour at times. It does it in the night so am constantly getting broken sleep. I was told it was a plumbing issue but have now been told it could be upstairs heating?

[smoothy]

Are these galvanized pipes in a solid masonary wall as is very common outside the USA and Canada.

I'm taking a guess you are in the UK... because of the term "Flat"

[kellypelly]

Hi there,
Thanks for the reply. Yes I am from UK. The pipes run down and under the bath. I think there just copper. Its also a Tin bath. Have checked the pipes underneath all seem fine. Nothing loose or to close together.

[Stratmando]

They have Air Chambers(Dampers) that absorb shock, Sometimes they fill with water and can be remedied by Turning off the Supply, then open all faucets to allow them to drain, leaving air in the chamber. This is what a Plumber told me long ago, no reason to doubt it. Did this just start happening, do you use dampers over there.