Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think it's anti-social to run the washing machine at 4am...

110 replies

LakieLady · 25/01/2023 07:26

... when you live in a semi-detached house and the water tanks are on the party wall?

I appreciate that my NDNs are doing this to save a bit of money on their electric bills (they're retired, so don't need to get it done before going to work), but I'm frankly sick of being woken at 4am (sometimes 2am) by the sound of gushing water a couple of feet from my head, that goes on for 2 whole HOURS. By the time it's finally stopped, it's 6am and followed by cars starting up as the people who have long commutes are leaving for work. My sleep is done for.

And I have no idea why a household of just 2 people need to do their washing 4 times a week, either.

I can't move my bed as there's only one wall that has an uninterrupted run long enough to accommodate a double bed and a bedside table. I'd move into the back room, but it's even louder in there.

I'm going half mad from lack of sleep. I'm going to have to start going to bed at 8pm, aren't I?

OP posts:
Gardenclems · 25/01/2023 07:27

Have you knocked and asked them to stop? They might have no idea how loud it is in your house

Flaunch · 25/01/2023 07:28

I presume you’ve discussed this with them?

KatherineJaneway · 25/01/2023 07:29

I live on my own and do more than 4 washes a week so you are be unreasonable on that point. However they should not be washing at that time in the morning. Maybe they are on something like Economy 7 do electricity is cheaper at night?

Nimbostratus100 · 25/01/2023 07:30

maybe just talk to them about it?

My main concern would be that washing machines should only be run when someone is awake and alert in the household, due to the fire risk

BruceAndNosh · 25/01/2023 07:30

I wouldn't assume my neighbour could hear my washing machine unless they told me

Zanatdy · 25/01/2023 07:30

You need to knock or put a note through. It’s not fair no to run a washer at that time. They might be on economy 7 and cheaper nightly electric but they have to consider the neighbours, that’s unreasonable at 4am

yousmellnice · 25/01/2023 07:32

I'd just speak to them. Ask if their washing machine is on that wall as you keep being woken by a noise.

yousmellnice · 25/01/2023 07:32

Nimbostratus100 · 25/01/2023 07:30

maybe just talk to them about it?

My main concern would be that washing machines should only be run when someone is awake and alert in the household, due to the fire risk

Yes could approach it from this angle. But they might be up at 4.

RayaRyder · 25/01/2023 07:32

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

Mouthfulofquiz · 25/01/2023 07:33

if you spoke to them about it they might change their habit! I would, if a neighbour spoke to me about something I was doing that negatively affected them.

yousmellnice · 25/01/2023 07:34

I'm not sure why you couldn't just speak to them. Even if we all said yeah it's reasonable if it's making you miserable why wouldn't you just have a chat

StopFeckingFaffing · 25/01/2023 07:35

Agree with @BruceAndNosh

They probably have no idea that it is causing a nuisance so you just need to tell them

autienotnaughty · 25/01/2023 07:37

KatherineJaneway · 25/01/2023 07:29

I live on my own and do more than 4 washes a week so you are be unreasonable on that point. However they should not be washing at that time in the morning. Maybe they are on something like Economy 7 do electricity is cheaper at night?

I do around 5 washes a week and there's three of us!!

DaveyJonesLocker · 25/01/2023 07:37

I doubt they even know you can hear it. Just ask them to wait till 8 or do it at night, I don't know when night rates are but if they did it at 9pm would that be better?

Original poster
LakieLady · 25/01/2023 07:38

I'm going to have to ask, aren't I?

I'm dreading it. The husband is vile man (abusive to his wife) and we've never had a civil conversation with him in the 30 years I've lived here. She's ok though, I'll have to try and catch her on her own. It'll be difficult, as Mr Nasty never seems to leave the house.

My other neighbour loves to pass on gossip, maybe if I moaned to her, she'd tell them!

It's not the machine I can hear @BruceAndNosh, it's the water tank filling and refilling. The machine itself is in their garage on the far side of the house. I don't know how they can sleep through it, it must be even louder on their side.

OP posts:
EarringsandLipstick · 25/01/2023 07:38

I'm trying to understand the set up. Is the machine not using water from the mains? Rather than the water tank?

And when you say 'party wall' do you mean the attic space occupied by the tank is immediately beside your wall?

If the machine itself was close to you, I can understand the disruption but the situation you describe sounds different to anything I've encountered.

BungleandGeorge · 25/01/2023 07:42

What’s going on with your plumbing? Washing machines should be mains fed. It does make a noise when they drain but my own machine isn’t that noisy when I’m right by it! Do you think they’ve plumbed it in wrong?

HinnyHoway · 25/01/2023 07:43

I’m very confused by the set up too.

Also, why are people getting hung up on the number of loads. This will obviously vary house to house depending on your washing machine capacity, your size (plus size clothes are bigger and take up more space in the wash), your type of clothing (bulky v thin). Let’s not turn this into typical MN competitive hygiene derailments.

WeAreTheHeroes · 25/01/2023 07:48

Have you tried earplugs before you speak with them? Also don't assume it's the washing machine, just say what you actually hear.

Beercrispsandnuts · 25/01/2023 07:51

I’m also confused, I e never heard of a washing machine that takes from the tank and not the mains, that’s a very unusual set up.

whataboutsecondbreakfast · 25/01/2023 07:51

BungleandGeorge · 25/01/2023 07:42

What’s going on with your plumbing? Washing machines should be mains fed. It does make a noise when they drain but my own machine isn’t that noisy when I’m right by it! Do you think they’ve plumbed it in wrong?

I was thinking this too.

I can't even tell my washing machine is running if I'm upstairs on in another room unless it's on spin for a few minutes.

How on earth are you hearing it through the wall?!

Original poster
LakieLady · 25/01/2023 07:51

EarringsandLipstick · 25/01/2023 07:38

I'm trying to understand the set up. Is the machine not using water from the mains? Rather than the water tank?

And when you say 'party wall' do you mean the attic space occupied by the tank is immediately beside your wall?

If the machine itself was close to you, I can understand the disruption but the situation you describe sounds different to anything I've encountered.

I don't think it can be using mains water, I wouldn't hear it if it was. The water main enters the house on the furthest (ie not attached) side from me, and that's where their washing machine is.

Their house is unmodernised and they don't have gas connected. Mine was the same when I moved in, and I had a hot water cylinder in an airing cupboard in the back bedroom, where the party wall and internal dividing walls meet, and a cold water tank in the loft, immediately above that cupboard. I think theirs must be same as mine was (but mirror image), I can't think of any other set up that would sound like Niagara Falls in my house. You can really hear it in the back bedroom when they run water during the day, but it doesn't bother me then, even when I was working in there during lockdown. It's so loud that my colleagues could hear it during Zoom meetings!

It's only in the last few months that they've started running loads of water during the night.

OP posts:
Beercrispsandnuts · 25/01/2023 07:52

Are you sure it’s the washing machine, maybe it’s someone having a bath?

GreenWheat · 25/01/2023 07:53

Nimbostratus100 · 25/01/2023 07:30

maybe just talk to them about it?

My main concern would be that washing machines should only be run when someone is awake and alert in the household, due to the fire risk

The fire risk is absolutely tiny and lots of people (myself included) think that the massive convenience of overnight washing far outweighs the tiny risk of fire. I have been washing overnight for 20 years without issue. I doubt the neighbours will care about her wrapping up her annoyance as faux concern. Not saying they should be doing it if it disturbs the neighbours, just saying that the fire angle is pretty thin.

ButterCrackers · 25/01/2023 07:54

BungleandGeorge · 25/01/2023 07:42

What’s going on with your plumbing? Washing machines should be mains fed. It does make a noise when they drain but my own machine isn’t that noisy when I’m right by it! Do you think they’ve plumbed it in wrong?

It’ll also be the sound of the machine just working. The filling sound, washing sound and spinning. My machine can be heard in action. I don’t have it next to a party wall but if I did I wouldn’t use it a night.