- Messages
- 4,858
There's no plant room on the floor you're on with a pump in is there ?
Welcome to the forum. Although you can post in any forum, the USA forum is here in case of local regs or laws
Discuss Vibration in floor...boiler/water heater? in the Boilers area at Plumbers Forums
- Status
- Messages
- 4,858
Plant room has things in like boilers, pumps, water heaters etc so on and so on.
It was Just a thought.
You really need to ask the neighbours point blank if it's them.
I would suggest asking if they can have a night where the hot water is off.
There's a point. Does this happen when they're on holiday ?
It was Just a thought.
You really need to ask the neighbours point blank if it's them.
I would suggest asking if they can have a night where the hot water is off.
There's a point. Does this happen when they're on holiday ?
Last edited:
Thanks Last Plumber
My neighbour to theside on my level has not been away at all in the last year since it'sbeen going on.
The downstairsneighbour is away a few times a week but it still happens (but thecopper pipe is coming out of her flat, or appears to be, that said Icannot see any pipes coming out of the side neighbour's flat). Shedid say that the night water heater is on even if she's away as she'sbeen told to leave it like that.
I can ask them to leavethe water heater off but before I make a nuisance of myself I wantedto try and get as clear as possible where it might be coming from,because both neighbour's are convinced it's not coming from them. Ofcourse it's coming from somewhere.
I don't know if this is relevant at all but around 00.08 every night I hear a 'knock' sound (just one) coming from downstairs and then about 3 mins later the vibration starts.
Speaking to a plumber this week. The landlady from downstairs has conceded to speaking to this plumber too, though she mainly seemed to want to run me down and tell me it's not happening when she met with me, despite me saying that I merely wanted to rule her boiler out as a possible source.
Speaking to a plumber this week. The landlady from downstairs has conceded to speaking to this plumber too, though she mainly seemed to want to run me down and tell me it's not happening when she met with me, despite me saying that I merely wanted to rule her boiler out as a possible source.
As I said I am no plumber but if the 'knock' happens that regularly it would seem logical it is caused by either a timer going on or off. So your neighbours should be able to confirm quite easily tell you if their central heating or water heaters go on or off at about midnight. So you might not need a plumber to find out which appliance is causing the vibrations.
One question, when the clocks went back did the timing of the knock and vibration change?
As for your landlady not being too happy it's probably because she doesn't want to have to pay money out to fix something. It might be worth telling the landlady that if you can't get to the bottom of the noise you will have to look for somewhere else to live. You moving out will cost her, be that the time it takes to get a new tenant and loss of rent or an agents new tenant fees. Obviously don't say it in a threatening manner, 'you really don't want to move but you cant sleep so it is effecting your life', so can she help you stay there? So that way it is in her interest to help you resolve the issue.
Really hope you can get to the bottom of things and get it resolved.
One question, when the clocks went back did the timing of the knock and vibration change?
As for your landlady not being too happy it's probably because she doesn't want to have to pay money out to fix something. It might be worth telling the landlady that if you can't get to the bottom of the noise you will have to look for somewhere else to live. You moving out will cost her, be that the time it takes to get a new tenant and loss of rent or an agents new tenant fees. Obviously don't say it in a threatening manner, 'you really don't want to move but you cant sleep so it is effecting your life', so can she help you stay there? So that way it is in her interest to help you resolve the issue.
Really hope you can get to the bottom of things and get it resolved.
Last edited:
I think the knock sound did go back an hour with the clocks, it was happening at around 8 mins past 1am. But it's not consistent enough, like not every night. It was at the start of the year but not now.
I'm still reeling from the meeting I had with the landlady for downstairs! She's not the same as my own landlady (who is concerned about this but is waiting for a plumber to get back to her, one that she has used for years and years), it's a different landlady for the tenant downstairs.
But thanks for the advice John999uk, you make a good point there.
Sadly the landlady for downstairs met with me but didn't seem to want to be friendly in any way, was patronising and disbelieving about the whole thing and also told me not to speak to her tenant anymore (confusing since the tenant had actually told me she'd be willing to help in any way she could). This landlady has not responded to any of my communication over the past year.
Everyone keeps suggesting that I just get people to turn stuff off, etc, and test it....you wouldn't believe how hard it is. The guy next door doesn't respond when you make any requests and/or changes the subject and clearly doesn't want to help in any way for some reason and the girl downstairs talks so fast and wraps the conversation up in minutes (which seems deliberate) that nothing is done thoroughly and hence the full checks have not been done.
I called out a plumber today and paid for it myself, while I wait for my landlady to get her own plumber in. He said that if the pipe I mentioned is leaking water, then, from the look of the building, etc, it does appear to be the result of a pressure relief valve that he would think is coming from downstairs. However he was unsure about why there were no pipes for the side neighbours (so did theirs feed into mine and downstairs internally?).....and my intuition cannot rule out the side neighbours as it often seems to happen when they're in and not when they're out.
Anyway that's where I'm at with my quest to get more sleep and feel at home again, lol. The plumber was like 'ask your neighbour this' and that, etc, and I said I can't, it's crazy but I can't.
I'm still reeling from the meeting I had with the landlady for downstairs! She's not the same as my own landlady (who is concerned about this but is waiting for a plumber to get back to her, one that she has used for years and years), it's a different landlady for the tenant downstairs.
But thanks for the advice John999uk, you make a good point there.
Sadly the landlady for downstairs met with me but didn't seem to want to be friendly in any way, was patronising and disbelieving about the whole thing and also told me not to speak to her tenant anymore (confusing since the tenant had actually told me she'd be willing to help in any way she could). This landlady has not responded to any of my communication over the past year.
Everyone keeps suggesting that I just get people to turn stuff off, etc, and test it....you wouldn't believe how hard it is. The guy next door doesn't respond when you make any requests and/or changes the subject and clearly doesn't want to help in any way for some reason and the girl downstairs talks so fast and wraps the conversation up in minutes (which seems deliberate) that nothing is done thoroughly and hence the full checks have not been done.
I called out a plumber today and paid for it myself, while I wait for my landlady to get her own plumber in. He said that if the pipe I mentioned is leaking water, then, from the look of the building, etc, it does appear to be the result of a pressure relief valve that he would think is coming from downstairs. However he was unsure about why there were no pipes for the side neighbours (so did theirs feed into mine and downstairs internally?).....and my intuition cannot rule out the side neighbours as it often seems to happen when they're in and not when they're out.
Anyway that's where I'm at with my quest to get more sleep and feel at home again, lol. The plumber was like 'ask your neighbour this' and that, etc, and I said I can't, it's crazy but I can't.
Last edited:
on a slightly more positive note, the landlady for downstairs has conceded that a plumber can check her boiler if he thinks it necessary, so we'll see what happens. It may have nothing to do with downstairs, but the leaking pipe suggests a fault in any case (but it's a mystery that there are no outside pipes for the side flats....)
Dorset.
I've noticed the pipe is leaking more now the weather's got colder, and the vibration is worse during the night and at weekends when people are home.
Still a bit vague! Where in Dorset?
Because I've only been reading this thread fer about two days and it's irritating me as much as I imagine it's irritating you, I'm currently working 7 days a week but willing to come down Sunday to look and sort it, if Yer interested I will pm you my phone number
Thanks, but my landlady has now asked me to contact a specific plumber, I'm tied by her choices. Appreciate the offer. The problem is getting neighbour cooperation as it's clear it's not coming from my own water heater, I needed to have a valid reason to approach any neighbour's. I'll not post anymore unless I have a tangible update. I appreciate everyone's help so far, it has actually made a difference.
Last edited:
Ok bud, but the offer stands, even if Yer not satisfied with the plumber she sends out, if you want my number, I will pm it to Yer and please keep us updated
D
Dotty
Hi Rachiex
We never ask for a full location, just a general area, Croydon for example.
Then any of the chaps who cover that area would contact you via PM.
We don't want your personal details plastered over t'interweb either.
Get me down there I will break someone's boiler!
LOL.
Well an update. A plumber has come to have a look at the situation. We've discovered that there ARE separate pipes coming from the two side flats (that is my next door neighbour on the first floor and the person beneath him), as well as from my flat and the person's flat beneath me.
Tonight the vibration started but by the time the plumber got here it had stopped. There was water coming out of the downstairs pipe from the side (not underneath me), but not loads and it was cool.
However before the plumber arrived, about 45 mins before, a mirror on the wall near that pipe had really steamed up. This suggests that hot water was coming out of the pipe. I explained to the plumber that I couldn't go and check because it's right under a person's kitchen window and it would look like I was snooping, there are bushes and everything, it would look odd for me to be looking in there.
The plumber thinks it could possibly be overheating of the water heater for the downstairs property on the side, but unsure at the moment.
I asked how that would affect my floor vibrating because I'm not directly above that property, I'm up and next door. So water would have to run up somehow and then turn at a right angle to go across my floor (and both bedroom and living room floors at that). He said it wasn't out of the question, but that it would be the cold water, or something....
He asked if we can get the plans for the property as it would be interesting what is running under my floor.
Another thing he wondered is whether it's to do with the cold water tank. Interestingly I have sometimes felt a milder vibration outside near the drain that he said was to do with this....but I thought that might have been my imagination as I couldn't make any sense of it. He thinks it's possible I might have done.
Anyway he has suggested that the management company insist that all adjoining flats are checked for starters, but the problem is I don't think the management company will do anything.
Just posting this update in the hope it brings on a lightbulb moment for someone else...at a loss here and can't concentrate at work through lack of sleep.
Well an update. A plumber has come to have a look at the situation. We've discovered that there ARE separate pipes coming from the two side flats (that is my next door neighbour on the first floor and the person beneath him), as well as from my flat and the person's flat beneath me.
Tonight the vibration started but by the time the plumber got here it had stopped. There was water coming out of the downstairs pipe from the side (not underneath me), but not loads and it was cool.
However before the plumber arrived, about 45 mins before, a mirror on the wall near that pipe had really steamed up. This suggests that hot water was coming out of the pipe. I explained to the plumber that I couldn't go and check because it's right under a person's kitchen window and it would look like I was snooping, there are bushes and everything, it would look odd for me to be looking in there.
The plumber thinks it could possibly be overheating of the water heater for the downstairs property on the side, but unsure at the moment.
I asked how that would affect my floor vibrating because I'm not directly above that property, I'm up and next door. So water would have to run up somehow and then turn at a right angle to go across my floor (and both bedroom and living room floors at that). He said it wasn't out of the question, but that it would be the cold water, or something....
He asked if we can get the plans for the property as it would be interesting what is running under my floor.
Another thing he wondered is whether it's to do with the cold water tank. Interestingly I have sometimes felt a milder vibration outside near the drain that he said was to do with this....but I thought that might have been my imagination as I couldn't make any sense of it. He thinks it's possible I might have done.
Anyway he has suggested that the management company insist that all adjoining flats are checked for starters, but the problem is I don't think the management company will do anything.
Just posting this update in the hope it brings on a lightbulb moment for someone else...at a loss here and can't concentrate at work through lack of sleep.
- Messages
- 4,858
I know this may already have been asked. Has anyone apart from you, felt this vibration ?
Yes, a visitor felt it on the rare occasion it happened during the day (a saturday when more people are home, there may be a clue) and the previous tenant downstairs used to tell me about a vibration in her living room, it didn't disturb her in the bedroom, only the living room, but she was always curious about it. One day when I was sat with her I felt it in the living room and we remarked on it, that it was a mystery. She was glad I felt it as she said no one has believed her. But at the time it was disturbing no one and I didn't feel anything in my flat upstairs then.
I don't know if its the same (ie something's got worse) or not though.
But yes, a visitor to my flat has felt it, it's definitely real. Also if I stay away at someone else's house I feel nothing, so I know it's not my inner ear or anything like that, if you were here you'd just know, like I do, it's real.
It happens more at the weekends and during the night when people are home, that's the only solid clue I have.
Last edited:
The plumber last night also saw the photo I took of the steamed up mirror next to the pipe that I mentioned two posts up.
It's really frustrating because never in my life before have any of my experiences been questioned. I can imagine that my landlady will speak to the management company for the flats and they will say that they can't insist on a check of everyone's appliances until we know where it's coming from.......but we're not going to know until appliances are switched on in people's flats.....and the only way people will know that it's not imagined is when I finally move out (which is close to happening) and the next tenant complains that they can't get any sleep due to it.
It's really frustrating because never in my life before have any of my experiences been questioned. I can imagine that my landlady will speak to the management company for the flats and they will say that they can't insist on a check of everyone's appliances until we know where it's coming from.......but we're not going to know until appliances are switched on in people's flats.....and the only way people will know that it's not imagined is when I finally move out (which is close to happening) and the next tenant complains that they can't get any sleep due to it.
Last edited:
Something tangible to update you with and a question.
Firstly a person from a flat opposite has experienced this type of vibration before and it turned out to be their pressure regulator valve which was located under their bath. They are on the ground floor.
I'm on the other side of the block and on the first floor, but the flat that exactly mirrors their in structure and layout is next door to me and down one floor. I'm often woken in the early hours by my floor seeming to 'move' and vibrate and it comes through the bed and wakes me up. When I check outside, this flat is lit up, kitchen and bathroom lights on and the person leaves very early for work.
So wondering if it's the pressure regulator valve of this downstairs flat and somehow the vibration is running up the party wall and across my floor? Any thoughts on this one? Thanks
Firstly a person from a flat opposite has experienced this type of vibration before and it turned out to be their pressure regulator valve which was located under their bath. They are on the ground floor.
I'm on the other side of the block and on the first floor, but the flat that exactly mirrors their in structure and layout is next door to me and down one floor. I'm often woken in the early hours by my floor seeming to 'move' and vibrate and it comes through the bed and wakes me up. When I check outside, this flat is lit up, kitchen and bathroom lights on and the person leaves very early for work.
So wondering if it's the pressure regulator valve of this downstairs flat and somehow the vibration is running up the party wall and across my floor? Any thoughts on this one? Thanks
Update: Somehow got locked out of here, now found my way back in. I posted this (below) on another similar thread - posting here to continue on here:
"
The vibration happens mainly at night at random times but particularly between 11pm and 2.30am, then again any time from 4.30am to 8am. Been two years, hoping to move but this is dragging me down. I have 2 adjoining neighbours as I live in a first floor flat, one underneath and one next door (who has someone underneath them). Underneath have vacated and I'm assuming their water heater is off. Next door gets up at the crack of dawn, sometimes at 4.30 and often the vibration coincides with his morning activities and then calms down when he leaves (that said, it also happens at lower levels even when he's out, which makes me wonder if it's something to do with the water entering the flat beneath him or something like that).
Today I noticed that his outflow pipe from his bathroom is dripping, slowly, but steadily all day.
I'm assuming from my description that the ball valve in my toilet cistern is not the problem? Too much of a pattern to the vibration.
I don't know if there's a tank in the loft, how would you know (I'm a tenant but I have a feeling my landlady won't know this).
Nothing happens in relation to my taps, and according to the neighbours nothing is happening in their flats either, but it's a nightmare and very real. My brain wouldn't conjure up such an annoying hallucination to stop me sleeping, lol"
Anyone any thoughts on the leaking outflow pipe from my neighbour's bathroom?
"
The vibration happens mainly at night at random times but particularly between 11pm and 2.30am, then again any time from 4.30am to 8am. Been two years, hoping to move but this is dragging me down. I have 2 adjoining neighbours as I live in a first floor flat, one underneath and one next door (who has someone underneath them). Underneath have vacated and I'm assuming their water heater is off. Next door gets up at the crack of dawn, sometimes at 4.30 and often the vibration coincides with his morning activities and then calms down when he leaves (that said, it also happens at lower levels even when he's out, which makes me wonder if it's something to do with the water entering the flat beneath him or something like that).
Today I noticed that his outflow pipe from his bathroom is dripping, slowly, but steadily all day.
I'm assuming from my description that the ball valve in my toilet cistern is not the problem? Too much of a pattern to the vibration.
I don't know if there's a tank in the loft, how would you know (I'm a tenant but I have a feeling my landlady won't know this).
Nothing happens in relation to my taps, and according to the neighbours nothing is happening in their flats either, but it's a nightmare and very real. My brain wouldn't conjure up such an annoying hallucination to stop me sleeping, lol"
Anyone any thoughts on the leaking outflow pipe from my neighbour's bathroom?
- Messages
- 34,702
- Solutions
- 1
I would say get your toilet fixed and go from there
- Status
Similar plumbing topics
- Question
Hi, the problems been ongoing since we moved...
- Tabby123
- UK Plumbers Forums
- 4
- 952
- Latest:
- Tabby123
Be aware that you’ll likely require a gas pipe...
Whereabouts are you? Nearest town?
Can a combi be vented through a flat roof the...
A lot (possibly all, I've not checked...