funny problem need help please

Our townhouses have single level on the ends and two story in the middle. I live on the end 2 bed 1 bath the two stories are 3 bd 2 ba with two beds upstairs. Ok now I recently got a new neighbor which is my fault I never went over to meet. I would be sitting alone late at night on the computer and out of the blue there would be three loud bangs on the wall next door. After this happened a few times I got mad and banged on the wall back to let them know I can hear them. I remember one night at three in the morning I got up to use the bathroom and bang it sounded like Arnold Schwarzenegger was trying to come through my bathroom wall and the mirror sounded like it was ready to break. A few weeks later as I was going out the door I got stopped by my new neighbor and she said she wanted to see if we could work this out with out complaining to whoever. This woman is a little old lady about 4 feet high and weighing about 95 pounds wet and she said she was the one banging on the wall. Anyhow her complaint was that the sound of the water running through the pipes in the wall were noisy. I am a night owl so four in the morning is my prime time to do things and the night she sounded like Arnold was because I flushed the toilet. I told her I can not help any bathroom habits nor will I hold it till morning but I would quit washing clothes after 10 pm. I am now finding that this is a real pain for me and my schedule but I hate to be mean so does anyone have any suggestions on how to tell her deal with it. I don't have the option to go to the bedroom upstairs and no neighbor has ever complained before. Is there a way to quiet down the water running through the pipes or should I just tell her I can't help her anymore. Is there any noise laws I should know about I believe making good neighbors makes for a good life. Ann Landers where are you.

Mindy,

You neighbor might not be complaining about all running water but only about the water running through the pipes in that one wall (her bedroom perhaps). I would suggest talking to her and do a couple of tests to see what appliance she is hearing the water on. If the main pipe is in that wall it could be everything. If it's just one or two things you may be able to work a compromise (only run water until midnight, etc.).

The only way I know of minimizing the noise is through insulation. No matter what type of insulation you use, you will have to do some damage and repair to the wall. several small holes for spray on insulation to the entire sheet of drywall for batt insulation or pipe wrap. You might also want to suggest that your neighbor runs a fan or other appliance to help mask the sound. Perhaps you could buy a white noise machine for her on the holidays.

This is all the ideas I have. Hope it helps,

Tim

Just a thought: what about not flushing the toilet until say 7 or 8 AM? And, what about doing laundry during the day?

I live in a ranch style condo/townhome on the 2nd level and out of my concern for my neighbor below, hold off on flushing toilet until morning, and do not do laundry until after 9 AM and before 9 PM. BTW, she has never complained, but I know that the water in the pipes can be heard due to their placement.

Could you not make some compromise with your neighbor?

Bonnie

Mindy,

You may want to speak to a plumber about the noisy pipes. Ask him about insulating them as Tim has suggested. The last thing I would want to do is NOT flush the toilet immediately and I certainly hope your neighbor would not expect you to hold off from doing this. I know that sleeping is a problem with many elderly people so any little noise may be offensive to her. Hopefully the two of you can amicably work something out. Perhaps you can invite her over for a morning cup of tea and go from there.

In our HOA - noisy pipes - no.

But, yes - for things that can be controlled (running a washing machine in the middle of the night or loud TV/stereo....).

The piping should have been insulated BEFORE attachment to the structural members.
(so that no piping is in direct contact with structure)

It is very very very difficult to 'silence' improperly installed piping (even though code compliant to MINIMUM specs) after the fact.

Enjoy your minimally habitable (ie. code compliant) home.

This is the perfect example of why architects write SPECIFICATIONS as opposed to developers 'pawning off' minimal construction.

YUGO or CHEVY ? ... which do you prefer ?

CAVEAT EMPTOR

Next time she bangs on the wall in the middle of the night, call 911 and play the concerned neighbor, your elderly next door neighbor must have fallen or be unable to use the phone to get help.

Mindy,

I'm in Glendale and have APS. We are on the same plan -- off-peak = 9AM to 9PM weekdays and all day Sat and Sun. So, you could do the laundry on the weekend; we do ours every Sat AM.

I agree with you about the flushing; roommate or not!

As I suggested earlier, invite the lady over for a cup of tea and talk about it. You may find that she is very accommodating and willing to work things out.