What is this noise? Should I ask neighbours to stop

[User7257543]

Hello,

We moved into our flat as tenants about 5-6 weeks ago. We have a youngish guy and girl above us but haven't met them yet, they are also tenants. Recently we keep getting woken up at around 4am to this sound which we think is their washing machine. We heard it in the day this week so went up to ask what it is and if they could keep the noise to daytime hours but they wouldn't answer the door! Thinking I might need to put a note through the door but want to be sure it is a washing machine.

I'm aware with the energy costs it might be more economical for them to run it through the night but I'm really struggling to get back to sleep once woken up at 4am so can I ask them not to do this?

Recorded the noise and you can listen here:
soundcloud.app.goo.gl/kHRQ7reCLtxqbsd67

Hi.

This noise sounds identical to an issue I had and it was NOT an appliance.

Its the radiators or the pipes. Its something to do with the valves/ and the water coming into contact with a change in temperature.

If you google radiator tapping noise you will see many examples of it.

Mine was at 4 am as well as this is when the system was starting up.

It was incredibly loud through the walls as was the radiator that was next to my window.

Here is something off you tube that is similar

It may even be your own pipes if you have them under the floor.

I would talk to your neighbours but also get a plumber/heating engineer round.

Maybe your neighbours work shifts and need to wash during the night.

Send a pack of these to your neighbour.

www.amazon.co.uk/Universal-Vibration-Absorber-Cancelling-Dishwasher/dp/B099JD4DD3/ref=asc_df_B099JD4DD3/?hvlocphy=1007901&linkCode=df0&hvptwo&psc=1&hvnetw=g&hvadid=535835709087&hvpone&hvlocint&hvpos&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl&hvqmt&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&hvtargid=pla-1595509277192&hvrand=344384134865005108

www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/bills/article-3505060/Using-washing-machine-night-cost-life-Firefighters-warn-plan-charge-different-rates-different-times-day.html

@YellowAndGreenToBeSeen

Hmmm. It’s tricky - I set my machine to be finished when I wake up. Means I can hang the washing out during the day and it’s dry when I get home. I’d be loathe to change that I’m afraid. I work very long hours, often leaving the house at 7am and not getting back till 8 or 9pm. My time to do laundry is limited.

I'm a busy bee too but as a flat dweller, am keen not to be an anti-social arse who sets my neighbours against me and/or receives complaints from the noise squad at the local council.

As such, I'd never dream of running my appliances in the middle of the night.

If something is tricky, it should be tricky for ME to handle. Not something I get to make into other people's problems.

In my old flat the lease said no washing machine after 9pm and before 7am. It depends what kind of flat you live in but they are most likely breaking the lease by having it on at 4am. If they are not answering the door contact the managing agents.

@YellowAndGreenToBeSeen

Hmmm. It’s tricky - I set my machine to be finished when I wake up. Means I can hang the washing out during the day and it’s dry when I get home. I’d be loathe to change that I’m afraid. I work very long hours, often leaving the house at 7am and not getting back till 8 or 9pm. My time to do laundry is limited.

Really?

None of that is anything to do with any neighbours. You'd have to be incredibly selfish to continue if someone came and told you it was waking them.

Definitely sounds like a washing machine with a squeaky drum. I could maybe live with the water swishing, but the squeaking would drive me mad at 4 a.m. Get hold of them and play them your recording. At least they could get their washing machine serviced. Also a good idea to check whether there is any time constraint on the use of appliances in the building, as suggested by pp.

Definitely a washing machine or dishwasher. For what it's worth, over time you will tune it out. However, as others habe suggested, asking then to put it on blocks or a sound deadening mat might help.

It sounds like a tumble dryer to me. That is really noisy!

No , you tune out a newborn baby crying or someone going for a pee at 2am , someone coming home from a shift or a night out

You shouldn't have to tune out selfish neighbours and their noise .

It sounds just like our tumble dryer. The pauses are when it changes direction. With a washing machine you would hear the spin cycle at some point.

It is NOT "definitely a washing machine with a squeaky drum "
it sounds exactly like my noise did -
just google radiators with loud tapping / knocking noises.

@YellowAndGreenToBeSeen

Hmmm. It’s tricky - I set my machine to be finished when I wake up. Means I can hang the washing out during the day and it’s dry when I get home. I’d be loathe to change that I’m afraid. I work very long hours, often leaving the house at 7am and not getting back till 8 or 9pm. My time to do laundry is limited.

Yes but you don’t live in a flat presumably. I do and I work similarly long hours, so I set my machine to run when I’m at work, and hang it out when I get home to finish drying overnight. It might be slightly more expensive but it’s not tricky.

Check the conditions of the building OP - it’s usually no excessive noise in night hours. Then try and talk to them face to face, following up with a letter. If that doesn’t work you will have to go via your landlord.

I was going to post some thing similar to Strictlyfanoftenyears It is risky to run washing machines etc. when the household is asleep.

Get some ear plugs op.

Knock when it's not on, during the day. (Maybe didn't hear you due to the noise 😁). If they answer, take a very friendly approach - it's not like it's the umpteenth time you've had to speak to them. If no response, don't take it personally, they might not answer to anyone. My next step would be a friendly note. If that is ignored, I'd hammer on the door at 4am/when it's happening. Do they work nights? Just wondered, with being at home in the day. YADNBU. I don't think it is obvious, unless you've lived under a flat, how noisy everyday things are. My relative had a neighbour, whose child came at weekends and pushed a welled toy around. You'd think you were living under the stage of Starlight Express.

@YellowAndGreenToBeSeen

I did live in a flat and used my machine at that time, yes. No one ever complained.

I lived in a flat for a year, my upstairs neighbours did that and I damn well did complain, including at 1.30 am on one occasion.

Their kitchen was above my bedroom, and it was a (not very well) converted Victorian house, so no soundproofing worth speaking of.
They were doing it to take advantage of Economy 7 electricity.

The property was owned by our employers, who used it as temp accommodation for staff who were relocating. The property manager wrote and told them to stop, and they did.

Wheeled.

Those who set a timer during the early hours so you can hang washing out at 7am, why on earth not do the wash the evening before? No harm is going to come of the clothes sitting damp for a few hours, either still in the drum or shaken out and folded in a basket waiting to be hung.

Unless using e7 overnight rates, of course.

@chickenfried

It is NOT "definitely a washing machine with a squeaky drum " it sounds exactly like my noise did - just google radiators with loud tapping / knocking noises.

If you’re quoting me please don’t redact what I said, to strengthen the point you’re hoping to make. I actually said:

Definitely sounds like a washing machine with a squeaky drum.

You missed out sounds like. Subtle difference. Maybe too subtle? That’s my opinion, to which I am entitled. I did not say definitely is, as I am not standing in the neighbour’s flat, and neither are you.

Sounds more like a tumble dryer to me,possibly the belts slipping slightly to make the squeaky/ whiney noise. Either way it would drive me batty in the quiet early hours.

@chickenfried

It is NOT "definitely a washing machine with a squeaky drum " it sounds exactly like my noise did - just google radiators with loud tapping / knocking noises.

@chickenfried it is not radiators - this is an electric only building - we all have storage heaters.

@Lightning020

Get some ear plugs op.

I wear earplugs every night and have done for a long time. It wakes me up with them in.

it happens in electric radiators.

@chickenfried

it happens in electric radiators.

I understand this has happened to you, but I am positive it isn't radiators due to my experience of how long it goes on for, the way it pauses and the different times of day it occurs. Sometimes it doesn't happen for many days.