noise travelling through wall from neighbours house

[HelloBoys]

This will sound really stupid - anyway I live in a converted Victorian flat (mortgaged), the ground floor and part of upstairs (huge house) is mine. we're in a terrace.

Next door we had new neighbours move in during the summer. I don't know if they've got a new shower or something but the noise in my bedroom from 5.30am is really loud - it must come through the walls or something. the dad gets up then and then the mum, it sounds like a particularly strong pump.

I know I have noise sensitivity sometimes but I can hear this even with gel earplugs and I don't get up until 7.30am.

what can I do? I can't ask them to not get up/shower. I think I was spoiled as previous neighbours worked away during part of the week and the partner of previous neighbour got up 8am so not a problem.

[struggling100]

Oh, you poor thing! It is really nice of you to be so reasonable about it in the circumstances.

It might be worth just having a word with your neighbours and seeing if there is a solution to the pump issue - it may be something on the blink that they haven't got around to fixing. If not, you could think about adding new layers of drywall and insulation, or even installing specialist soundproofing insulation to cut down on noise transmission. At a guess, I'd say either of those solutions would cost a few hundred quid.

It can help to increase the amount of fabric and soft furnishings in the room too! Good luck.

[HelloBoys]

what was weird was last time the old neighbours had a pond which had a fountain and pump, this was loud, I did get used to that and could close the windows.

Yes, I will see if it's a pump issue. I just don't want to sound like a Moaning Minnie. The thing which makes me laugh, the other week they went away for half term (wife is a teacher) and it was silence...

So I know it can't be me being sensitive... I think I may look into sound stuff first though. I just feel awful knocking on their door and going "oh I can hear something in your bathroom" - they don't have a lot of money as it is, I know because they've told me.

[struggling100]

You sound like a lovely person, and I completely understand your worries about talking to them regarding this. It's horrible to feel like you're going around to raise a problem!! However, I am sure you'll do it really tactfully, which means they should be understanding (if not, it's emphatically their problem, not yours). Sometimes when I have had to deal with similar problems I have taken a present (chocolates, wine) as a gift to make it clear that I'm not being aggressive - though this didn't work with one set of very angry, antisocial neighbours!!

You never know, sometimes these things work out - they may turn around and say 'We've been meaning to fix that, but we haven't got around to it, but we'll try to do it asap now'. In which case, problem solved! Good luck!

[HelloBoys]

What I'll do is do the earplugs for a bit and see if that helps I was using 1 gel plug and 1 cotton wall ball as I hadn't found the other ear plug at stupid o'clock this morning!

With me sometimes after say a few weeks I get attuned to new noises so will try earplugs and without before I see them.

I just don't want to come across as a complaining neighbour after so little time. If say in a month or 2 it's still noticeably waking me then I will knock and bring chocs.

I'm staggered at how little I heard this before so maybe it's a new pump or something.

[ToddleWaddle]

Ear plugs have been life changing for me. I am a really light sleeper and noise sensitive. Have been driven insane by partying student neighbours and a young family.
Have traveled quite extensively and slept awfully but at least now sleep a lot better with ear plugs. Can even tolerate DH "breathing"!
Stick with the ear plugs. Well worthwhile.

[50shadesofmeh]

Well ask them to stop pumping then :-)

[HelloBoys]

Toddle waddle lol yes ex bf of mine until i got used to him I did the eye mask and ear plugs as I heard his breathing!

With me it's about relaxing too, he had light curtains (I hate those) but once I was relaxed they didn't faze me.

[specialsubject]

relatives of mine have a shower pump like this, shakes the entire house. Fortunately they live in a detached! Apparently nothing can be done, although I doubt it - I'm sure these pumps can be fitted so that they don't vibrate and can be insulated to reduce the noise.

The only thing to do is invite them round for coffee, explain that there is a problem, you don't expect them to change their routine but something needs to be done, and that you are prepared to contribute to the cost.

[thenicknameiwantedisgone]

Specialsubject - why should she be prepared to contribute to the cost?

I'd guess they have a new shower pump and don't realise how loud it is. Our old one was very loud but we're detached so it didn't matter thankfully.

[bigbrick]

I'd go round and explain and let them put on the shower & come round to yours to hear the sound. It could be a problem with the pump or even something broken in the wall that is making the sound worse. This needs to be checked. If there are no problems with the pump or wall then ses what could be done to minimise the sound. Normally a good neighbour will check on this and sort the problem out

[RedHelenB]

Could you swap your bedroom?

[greyvix]

Our neighbours complained about our pump and we agreed that DS would not have a shower after 9pm, when the DCs next door went to bed. He forgot once after a late football match, and they banged on the wall; it was quite scary. I do not advise you do that, but you should tell them so that they are aware.
Our pump WAS very noisy; we have replaced it with a quieter, but less effective one.

[HelloBoys]

No not really. I have a downstairs and upstairs area (sort of maisonette) in large house. 1 box room which is 2nd bedroom

Also why should I swap rooms round?

[specialsubject]

my suggestion of contributing to the cost is in the interests of neighbourly relations. Hopefully they will then take some action to sort out the problem, perhaps getting back the installer to do the job properly. I find it incredible that a pump this loud can be installed in a semi, or indeed anywhere!

[SpecialJK]

Our neighbours got a noisy pump installed next to his boiler. We spoke to him and he put it on a sound reducing plate thing and put insulation around it and it did help

[RedHelenB]

Because you find the noise of next door annoying? BUT they are only having a shower & getting ready for work so it may be you that needs to find a solution.

[HelloBoys]

What I've decided to do is put carpets (Kilims etc) on a wall which is bare.

I'm also having decorating done in January so will see sound installation company at same time.

Used earplugs last night but don't want to use every night.

RedHelen - I find it strange I hear the noise now so either they've got a stronger pump or something's wrong with their pump.

There could also be a generator noise due to building work but I don't think it's that!

Their noisy pond with fountain broke and flooded soon after they moved in too so maybe they've either got new pumps or don't know if this ones has broken?

[PrimalLass]

You could think about fitted wardrobes with sound proofing stuff behind them.

[HelloBoys]

Primal lass that's a good idea. My current wardrobe is wood but bulky and I've thought of fitted or even sound proofing in or behind them.

It's a classic small double large single room but can fit double bed, wardrobe, large chest of drawers, bookshelf (large) etc so am sure I can work something out and maximise my space and floorspace.

[PrimalLass]

Ikea do two heights. If you could fit them right up to the ceiling and across the whole wall they would store so much.

[HelloBoys]

PrimalLass - that is such a good idea. Last time when I was in Ikea (about 2 years ago) I don't think they had those. The only question is do I need more storage space for rubbish or not?!

[PrimalLass]

It's the Pax fitted wardrobes. They come in two heights.

[HelloBoys]

ah lovely thanks!

[PigletJohn]

The only question is do I need more storage space for rubbish or not?

Rubbish expands to fill the space available.