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karleneb · Apr 10, 2014, 01:26 AM

Hello,

I am new to this site and desperate need of help and advice.

We live in a 1st Floor apartment. We have a neighbour above and shop underneath (which sells carpets). We have no direct side neighbours. Our spare room and bathroom has a wall which separates them from the communal stairwell.

Over the past 2-3 months during most evenings from about 8.30pm until gone 9am the next morning a noise starts up like a humming/winding noise. It gets faster and faster ands winds up so much it then suddenly stops. Then follows a twang like noise.. This goes on all night every 45 minutes approx. Some nights is quieter than others but has caused us so many sleepless nights. The noise is much louder this end of the flat and the electrician checked electric boxes and they seems OK. They also said it is not upstairs fan. I have Googled and lots of similar sounding issues relate to water pipes. I have no idea what runs where. Also why is is only going at night and on some sort of timer? I tried to record the sound which is hard on a mobile but if you listen with headphones and turn the volume loud you can hear it. Especially when it suddenly stops. Then a few seconds after it stops you hear the 'twang' noise. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WH2bqWp9-c4

Anyone know what this could be?

We are getting desperate...

Thanks in advance for any help or advice :)

speedball1 · Apr 10, 2014, 05:29 AM

Smells and noise complaints are the hardest things we have to track down without being on-site. Had you got access to the building so that you can locate the source of the noise? What does your landlord have to say about this? Would your landlord you willing to work with you at night when the noise begins to go through the building and try to locate the source of the noise? Back to you, Tom

karleneb · Apr 10, 2014, 05:38 AM

I have not got access to the electrical cupboard. We own the apartment but the communal areas are managed by the management company. The maintenance guy is not willing to work late at the hours it starts and have left it back with us to sort out. Upstairs only hear a slight hum but it seems we are the only ones suffering.

We are pretty certain it has to be coming from something in the wall/ceiling in the far corner of the spare room which runs alongside the communal staircase. Our flat is above the electrical cupboard area which has been given the all clear. I am unsure where exactly the water meter is but I wonder if there is such thing as a pump for getting hot water to the apartments which may run at night? I believe the water meter would be somewhere down our end of the building. I am unsure what would be on a timer through the night and that would sound like this.

Thank you for your reply.

speedball1 · Apr 10, 2014, 06:29 AM

I wonder if there is such thing as a pump for getting hot water to the apartments which may run at night?

A recirculating pump was all the time and not just at night. You have a valid complaint. Bring management in on this. If the source of the noise is located in a common area then management bears the expense. Good luck, Tom

karleneb · Apr 10, 2014, 06:50 AM

Thanks Tom.

Could there be anything else plumbing wise that may work on a timer overnight that could be located in walls/ceilings?

I have asked the builders for a plan of the pipes to see if this could shed any light at all.

speedball1 · Apr 10, 2014, 07:13 AM

I have asked the builders for a plan of the pipes to see if this could shed any light at all

We use a set of "As Built" plans showing the drainage. But we do not show where the water pipes are in the walls. I can think of nothing in plumbing that was on the title at night. Could it be an appliance from the shop below? Can you get management to work with you on this? Good luck, Tom