With my neighbours strange problem!?

[killerjane]

So I've lived in my semi detached house for just under 2 years; friends with the houses across the road and to my right, but my actual direct neighbours (an older-ish couple) have always avoided eye contact and ignored my 'hellos'

We don't really hear much from them, apart from their little dogs incessantly barking and very occasionally they BLAST their music (though more through poor hearing than trying to be anti-social I think?!).

Anyway, to my surprise, before the weekend, the lady came round and said that for the past few months there's been a deafening vibrating/machinery sound coming from my house that 'shakes the wall' and causes their dogs to fuss. I was shocked and completely clueless as to what could be the issue as I work from home in a little room at the opposite side of the house and the most noise is our tele on an evening.

Our adjoining wall on my side is a long living room/dining room and upstairs master and spare bedroom. The only electrical items plugged in at all are the TV (and currently Christmas tree), neither of which emit any noise whatsoever. There's no plumbing, radiators or anything else that's powered plugged in on that side.

She said sometimes it was so loud they had to turn the tele up and she'd heard it after 1am the night prior. I explained there's nothing electrical along that side of the house and that the only thing plugged in was the tele. I also told her at 1am, we'd have been in bed for hours ha! I said she'd just have to let me know next time she heard it and I'd investigate with her.

I panicked it might be our wood burner or attached fan however it couldn't be at that time and we hadn't even had a fire on the occasions she'd mentioned.

I ended up having a slight run in with them today, on a blasting music occasion as I was working from home and couldn't hear myself think. She brought it up again and said her son had visited the previous evening (who cares about lock down eh!) and had mentioned it too. I asked why she hadn't come and said something as I couldn't help her if I didn't understand. She said she would this weekend...

What the heck could it be?! And is it my responsibility to sort it out?! Neither me or my partner have noticed any noise of that sort (she likened it to an engine speeding up, or a sewing machine) and I'd consider us good neighbours as we're considerate and quiet, but she's convinced it's our problem!?

Gaaah!

@AccidentalScientist

I've had to join MN after 7 years of lurking for the sole purpose of this thread. *@killerjane* *when you say "Halton Hum", would that be in Buckinghamshire? I grew up near there and was never been able to work out what the humming noise at night was! Moved out over 10 years ago and when I stay with my parents I still sometimes hear it. Nobody I've ever mentioned it to knows what I'm on about!

Aaaah I feel like I’m bursting your bubble but it’s Halton Leeds unfortunately!!

@Bargebill19

That’s your answer then. I wonder if you plotted the houses which hear the noise, on a map, if it would lead you to the source?

Oh it’s a whole big thing, environmental health are apparently relying on as many people reporting it as possible so they can try and triangulate where it’s coming from. Lots of wild assumptions of course although funnily enough I can actually hear it this evening (or maybe I’m going crazy...)

A friend had a neighbour who claimed for months she could hear banging and clanking. Like you, my friend tried to work it what it was. However, when the neighbour started saying she knew my friend was minting £1 coins and that's what the noise was it became very apparent neighbour had dementia.

I am now using my second call centre example of the day

We had a woman call fairly regularly complaining that one of the sites had some equipment that was making such a huge amount of racket that she couldn't sleep - claiming it was some sort of machinery.

Anyway she actually had tinnitus. Could there be something similar happening here?

Maybe her son has not really been listening when she asked and just agreed.

I vote train

I could be wrong but I'm sure I recall seeing something about 'the hum' in relation to the incinerator in Cross Green? Odd that's it's only a recent thing though.
I live near a busy road and sometimes they do maintenance at 2am the sound travels differently in the middle of the night.

@DiscustinHunAmFummin

I could be wrong but I'm sure I recall seeing something about 'the hum' in relation to the incinerator in Cross Green? Odd that's it's only a recent thing though. I live near a busy road and sometimes they do maintenance at 2am the sound travels differently in the middle of the night.

Yes so a lot of people are saying it’s that, but an equal number of people same to be saying it isn’t. People have commented to say it’s been going on for months, which is also what my neighbour says. I just wonder if she has a hearing aid, or can hear a different frequency, it’s effecting her a lot and not us!

She did say she’d come and let us know this weekend when it happened, so hopefully I’ll have an update for you all!

Most likely it is her own boiler. They can make quite a noise. Ours seems noisy particularly at night, though it does not bother anyone else as the house is on its own. Also apparently they can cause a knocking sound and vibrations when underfloor pipes running to and from the boiler if they have not been attached properly to floor joists. It could be worth getting a plumber to check these out in yours and'or her house.

OP it simply has to be what you've recently discovered on your local page - she hasn't mentioned it before I take it? Only recent last few months? Also - I'll bet she still hears it if you're away from home for the night or on hols?

Just to say, I hope you get to the bottom of this OP, you sound like a lovely person and neighbour and would do your best to sort out the problem if it was coming from your house.
It does seem like it’s to do with this local hum! Could you set the alarm to get up around 1am a couple of times to see if you hear anything yourselves? I know it’s interrupting your sleep but it might help resolve the issue! Plus you could then add your report in to environmental health if you do hear it.

I remember years ago watching a program following an environmental health officer following up noise complaints. He went to one house where the occupants were complaining about the noise from next door. They were a middle aged couple with a secondary school aged child. They claimed that the neighbours deliberately made a noise using their bathroom extractor fan to wind them up. They had logged it and complained etc.
The guy went round to listen and when they heard it it barely registered on his equipment. It was just a regular fan that was going on and off as the neighbours used the bathroom.

He spoke to the neighbours and asked them to make sure it was off at night.
The thing was that this family has allowed the noise of this fan to wind them up so much when in reality it wasn’t worth the worry.

As it is it seems your problem might be solved.

I have heard the hum myself before, but it definitely doesn’t even register unless I listen for it (e.g middle of the night wee 🤣). I just put it down to...the sound of a living in the suburbs!?

Yesterday the weather was really dire and it was the first time, probably elevated by this situation, that I really did hear it quite loudly. Again, not annoying or debilitating but maybe if she/they have hearing aids, it might be worse. Plus according to the FB posts, some people find it unbearable!

No visit today, although admittedly we were out and about most of the day, see if there’s anything tomorrow!

@killerjane the only thing to do now, is to tell both neighbours (and son when you see him next) that you've now heard it for yourself and have found some local community discussions about it - show them the thread on FB.