problem with sound of water behind wall in bedroom

A

asterix

Registered User
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19
Have a problem and am getting nowhere with management agency.
I live in an apartment with just a penthouse above me.
In the last few months I have been woken on a regular basis (neighbour is an early riser) to the delightful sound of water gushing just inches from my head behind the plasterboard that forms one of the walls in the bedroom.
It seems there is an outflow pipe for a bath/shower running from penthouse down behind the wall of my bedroom.

This wasn't a problem until a few months ago so I'm guessing that neighbour has just started to use hitherto unused bathroom facilities as opposed to inserting outflow pipes down the back of my bedroom wall when I wasn't looking.

After an exchange of e-mails the management agency got back to "confirm" that the builder/developer would "not be wasting man hours" investigating a non-issue in circumstances where "water will always find the path of least resistance".

It doesn't help that there is no bell/direct access to the penthouse or that the occupant is related to the developer of the complex. Although it should be said that I don't think it would be helpful to try and get in touch with the relevant neighbour until I know what, if any, leg I have to stand on.

I tried to do some on-line research into building regs but can't come up with anything. Does anyone have any suggestions as to what approach I might take? I know it's not a major league problem but it's a real pain in the ass to have your sleep interrupted by the sound of someone else's bath water.
I'm wondering are there specific design regs. I could rely on in arguing that the pipe shouldn't run where it does? Would it be a major job to redirect the pipe? If not, would there be any difficulties getting a plumber and plasterer to do the job given that it isn't my outflow pipe? And just who owns the space behind the plasterboard in my bedroom?!
Bit of a random one, but would welcome any insights..
 
bite the bullet. Small risk that it will not solve problem, but get a can or two or three of expanding foam. Drill some holes and fill the void.
 
ps if when drilling holes you find fibre glass on drill bit end dont put the foam in and go to plan b
 
Just to clarify I was advocating that the OP drill holes and fill the void around the waste pipe work to dampen (hopefully) and cancel out the sound of the water - not block the pipe.
 
asterix said:
"water will always find the path of least resistance".
Click to expand...

The path of least resistance is a man made object installed by the builders in this case. Bad design IMHO.

davidoco said:
Just to clarify I was advocating that the OP drill holes and fill the void around the waste pipe work to dampen (hopefully) and cancel out the sound of the water - not block the pipe.
Click to expand...

Not too sure if this would work. Also, expanding foam is incredibly messy, not something you want on the walls of a finished bedroom.

If the wall behind your room is an external wall, then the pipe could conceivably be turned out through the wall and allowed to run down the outside of the wall. All other apts. would also have to reconnect into this new pipe to complete the job satisfactorily.
 
thanks for your thoughts.
i'm afraid it's not an external wall. There's another apartment behind the wall. It mirrors the design of my apt. so it's a similar sized bedroom. However, that apt. is in a separate block and is accessed through a separate door than the one to my block.

I'm fairly confident that the order of things is:
-my bedroom with plasterboard wall
-space (containing the offending outflow pipe/s!)
-solid brick wall
-space
-bedroom of next door apt. with plasterboard wall

Thankfully, there's never a sound to be heard from the apt. next door and I doubt they are experiencing the problem I am having, as the outflow pipe/s appear to run my side of the "solid brick wall".

The irritating thing is that all apts. in two adjoining blocks are stacked one on the other, so outflow pipes presumably all flow down from one bathroom to the next except, apparently, for the penthouse which runs across the top of the two blocks and has god knows how many bathrooms dotted all over it, with outflow pipes running down wherever is convenient.

I agree that is a bad design problem but am afraid that there's nothing I can do about it.

The expanding foam (potential) solution is not one I'd have had any reason to think of. I guess it's one I could run by a plumber if I feel I have to get one in. Or maybe I will just pump the stuff into the pipe myself (only joking)
 
I would absolutely love that as I love the sound of rushing water. I have a CD with waterfall sound effects and it gets me off to sleep every night. I'd be lost with out it.

Could you move your bed?
 
UptheDeise said:
I would absolutely love that as I love the sound of rushing water. I have a CD with waterfall sound effects and it gets me off to sleep every night. I'd be lost with out it.
Click to expand...

Might be different if it was a waste water pipe from a toilet. The gushing sound of water might be nice but when interspersed with the odd 'kerdunk', it may lose its appeal.
 
A major pain. the least you would expect in that situation is that the service shaft is heavily insulated.

Building Regs 1997 Tech Doc E makes interesting reading regarding noise: http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/DevelopmentandHousing/BuildingStandards/FileDownLoad,1646,en.pdf

It may be worth looking over part B of the regs, dealing with fire safety and how service shaft was fire proofed.

All Docs can be found here: http://www.environ.ie/en/TGD/

your best bet is to open partation and sound proof.
 
Do you by any chance have... a water bed... ?!



If they don't have a bell, slip a note in under the door asking them to visit you, arrange a meeting or give you a call. Do they have a phone number listed?
 
UptheDeise said:
I would absolutely love that as I love the sound of rushing water. I have a CD with waterfall sound effects and it gets me off to sleep every night. I'd be lost with out it.

Could you move your bed?
Click to expand...

I'd laugh at this, only I'm afraid if I started it would lead to crying.
It sounds like Niagara Falls as it is, so a bit of furniture rearranging won't do the trick.

baldyman27 said:
Might be different if it was a waste water pipe from a toilet. The gushing sound of water might be nice but when interspersed with the odd 'kerdunk', it may lose its appeal.
Click to expand...

Thankfully I haven't been exposed to any "kerdunk" noises yet
The current experience involves emerging from a deep sleep, to dreams involving streams, waterfalls and any other water flow that takes your fancy, to wide awake "it's 6.30am and there's dirty shower water running two inches from my head":mad:

DavyJones said:
All Docs can be found here: http://www.environ.ie/en/TGD/


your best bet is to open partation and sound proof.
Click to expand...

May well end up doing this. Thanks for the advice.
 
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