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Post by smoothpete on Aug 25, 2021 16:55:52 GMT
I don't think we have a thread yet.
We have a weird issue where every now and again there's a odd thump noise that sounds like it's inside the ceiling. It sounds like a bit like it's a window being shut. I assume it's the pipes? I ran the heating yesterday and bled the radiators but it's still happening. I don't know what else it could be... We have had rodent issues over the years but it's too loud for that.
Because it's intermittent and seemingly random, it's super hard to pin down where its coming from.
Any bright ideas?
I had this in my house - it'll most likely be the heating pipes moving, possibly from the pump but more likely just from temperature expansion / contraction. You'll probably have a run of pipe going along a joist and then turning a corner to go into another room or something, and they'll have cut notches in the joists to run the pipes across them. Sometimes they'll have cut a hole through the joist instead but in my experience that's more an electrician thing. They'll have banged a nail at an angle to stop the pipes moving and it's probably worked loose over the years. The reason it sounds so loud is because the void between the joists is empty and the whole ceiling acts a bit like a drum. I just wrapped the pipes with insulation where they went over the joist and screwed a clip in to hold them in place - nice and quiet now! You can lay some mineral wool in between the joists if you want to stop the drum effect, but just insulation / stopping the pipes moving will make a huge difference.
Thanks for the sensible answer! Hope you're still taking excellent photos. I'm on a bit of a hiatus, I'll come back to it though.
Overall update - It's definitely coming from the corner of the main loft on the side of the house that joins onto the neighbours. I went up in the loft again but that corner has like 40cm of insulation and I'm not inclined to rip it up just yet. There are signs of rats but I think its old and from the last time we had a problem, nothing looks fresh. I also got up onto the roof of the extension and had a look at the outside of that part of the main roof and there's nothing out of place. If it continues I'll take up the insulation and investigate further. I put some rat traps up there just in case it's rat cunts (I don't see how they could make that kind of noise)
It does sound like a noise caused by a change in temperature of something or other material.
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Post by elstoof on Aug 25, 2021 17:06:34 GMT
Squirrels
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Post by khanivor on Aug 25, 2021 17:08:43 GMT
I think your best bet is to learn to ignore it.
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Post by henroben on Aug 25, 2021 21:20:47 GMT
I had this in my house - it'll most likely be the heating pipes moving, possibly from the pump but more likely just from temperature expansion / contraction. You'll probably have a run of pipe going along a joist and then turning a corner to go into another room or something, and they'll have cut notches in the joists to run the pipes across them. Sometimes they'll have cut a hole through the joist instead but in my experience that's more an electrician thing. They'll have banged a nail at an angle to stop the pipes moving and it's probably worked loose over the years. The reason it sounds so loud is because the void between the joists is empty and the whole ceiling acts a bit like a drum. I just wrapped the pipes with insulation where they went over the joist and screwed a clip in to hold them in place - nice and quiet now! You can lay some mineral wool in between the joists if you want to stop the drum effect, but just insulation / stopping the pipes moving will make a huge difference.
Thanks for the sensible answer! Hope you're still taking excellent photos. I'm on a bit of a hiatus, I'll come back to it though.
Overall update - It's definitely coming from the corner of the main loft on the side of the house that joins onto the neighbours. I went up in the loft again but that corner has like 40cm of insulation and I'm not inclined to rip it up just yet. There are signs of rats but I think its old and from the last time we had a problem, nothing looks fresh. I also got up onto the roof of the extension and had a look at the outside of that part of the main roof and there's nothing out of place. If it continues I'll take up the insulation and investigate further. I put some rat traps up there just in case it's rat cunts (I don't see how they could make that kind of noise)
It does sound like a noise caused by a change in temperature of something or other material.
Sadly haven't had the camera out for years! Rather lost my mojo and now can't find the charger... ;-) Seems unlikely to be heating related if it's in the loft tbh, might be feed to a cold water header tank up there if you've got a gravity system? If it's just normal fibreglass / mineral wool insulation I'd suggest you pull it up and have a good look! Not sure it'd be rats, they tend to make more of a scrabbling noise in my experience, rather than thumps etc. |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 29, 2021 7:56:21 GMT
Tackled the cupboard under the stairs yesterday. It's been a right mess since we moved in. Holes in the walls, scuffs and marks and a grotty carpet.
I got all the wall plugs out and then got to work with filler and sandpaper. I filled in some gaps around the ceiling with expanding foam. Then applied a few layers of paint and decided to rip up the carpet when I saw it had stained floorboards underneath (and a newspaper from 1982). I need to touch up the skirting boards this morning, but it looks so so much better. I will replace the light with either a more recessed one or a spot and I'm going to fit some pine shelving. I cleaned up the floorboards yesterday and polished then a bit and it looks very smart. Almost tempted to lift up other carpets in the house to see if they have similar under them.
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mrpon
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Post by mrpon on Aug 29, 2021 10:41:21 GMT
Demolished a shed and now I'm breaking up planks and burning it in a incinerator.
Feel manly.
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Post by elstoof on Aug 29, 2021 10:54:18 GMT
Did you intend to demolish the shed or was it a booboo
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nexus6
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Post by nexus6 on Aug 30, 2021 15:41:46 GMT
Fucking pricks next door painting their gutters - not even a knock at the door to say anything. Now my cills and garden furniture are covered in old paint scrapings and other shite. Said to the guy to put a sheet down but oh he's only got enough for the customers bit. Prick.
This is in addition to the paint that the owner got on the table and the cills and the glass when him and his idiot son painted the house last year...
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Post by Deleted on Aug 30, 2021 18:49:54 GMT
I finished my shelves and all the painting etc and my "grotty cupboard under the stairs" is now a really decent looking pantry. Really chuffed, but also really knackered. I need to change the light in there still, but that will have to wait. Cost about £60 and a couple of days of effort (not full days). First shelf took a while until I figured out how to make them so they were level with just me working on it (bought some brackets and wood).
Smacked my head a few times, whacked my knee hard and took the skin off one of my vertebrae... oh and my hair is magnolia now. Aside from that it was a success.
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Post by gammonbanter on Sept 1, 2021 18:12:13 GMT
I had this in my house - it'll most likely be the heating pipes moving, possibly from the pump but more likely just from temperature expansion / contraction. You'll probably have a run of pipe going along a joist and then turning a corner to go into another room or something, and they'll have cut notches in the joists to run the pipes across them. Sometimes they'll have cut a hole through the joist instead but in my experience that's more an electrician thing. They'll have banged a nail at an angle to stop the pipes moving and it's probably worked loose over the years. The reason it sounds so loud is because the void between the joists is empty and the whole ceiling acts a bit like a drum. I just wrapped the pipes with insulation where they went over the joist and screwed a clip in to hold them in place - nice and quiet now! You can lay some mineral wool in between the joists if you want to stop the drum effect, but just insulation / stopping the pipes moving will make a huge difference.
Thanks for the sensible answer! Hope you're still taking excellent photos. I'm on a bit of a hiatus, I'll come back to it though.
Overall update - It's definitely coming from the corner of the main loft on the side of the house that joins onto the neighbours. I went up in the loft again but that corner has like 40cm of insulation and I'm not inclined to rip it up just yet. There are signs of rats but I think its old and from the last time we had a problem, nothing looks fresh. I also got up onto the roof of the extension and had a look at the outside of that part of the main roof and there's nothing out of place. If it continues I'll take up the insulation and investigate further. I put some rat traps up there just in case it's rat cunts (I don't see how they could make that kind of noise)
It does sound like a noise caused by a change in temperature of something or other material.
It might be water hammer (look it up), I have it in the kitchen when I run the washing machine, you can buy an 'arrestor' for £25 and get a plumber to fit it. |
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Post by puddleduck on Sept 1, 2021 21:44:13 GMT
Good work Witchking! Sounds like you're rightfully pleased with the outcome  |
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Post by brokenkey on Sept 7, 2021 8:31:47 GMT
Changed the lock barrel on a garage door at the weekend - somone had snapped the key off inside it rendering it unlockable. 4 screws and a trip to Toolstation, easy peasy.
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nazo
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Post by nazo on Sept 7, 2021 9:12:51 GMT
I need to hang a heavyish mirror over the fireplace in our front room. Having read up on fixtures and fittings I'm none the wiser on what kind of wall plug(?) to use, what kind of wall we have or even if my puny drill will be good enough for the job. Should I admit that I'm a failure of a man and get someone in to do it or persevere and risk killing the cats when it inevitably falls down?
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nexus6
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Post by nexus6 on Sept 7, 2021 9:21:36 GMT
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nazo
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Post by nazo on Sept 7, 2021 9:30:24 GMT
I suspect it's probably plaster over brick, which brings me back to my drill problem as it doesn't have a hammer setting.
Or are you saying just hammering the picture hooks into the plaster would be strong enough? The mirror is about 15kg I think.
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nexus6
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Post by nexus6 on Sept 7, 2021 10:04:55 GMT
I have some big pictures on my hall wall - 1.1m square. They might not weigh 15kg but i have them up on just 1 heavy duty hook each and they are solid. If you put 2 hooks up level and spaced a good bit apart I would reckon it would be fine.
It's only 7 years if it isn't fine
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Post by smoothpete on Sept 7, 2021 10:24:18 GMT
15kg is going to need a screw into the brick for sure
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nexus6
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Post by nexus6 on Sept 7, 2021 11:09:22 GMT
Second opinion always useful!
How much is 15kg anyway? Useless imagining weights me.
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Post by elstoof on Sept 7, 2021 11:20:32 GMT
A medium sized dog is about 15kg
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Post by elstoof on Sept 7, 2021 11:22:54 GMT
If it’s above the fireplace you can almost guarantee it’ll be brick. You might have issues lighting a fire with a stud and plasterboard chimney breast. Get hold of an sds drill and use a rawlplug
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nexus6
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Post by nexus6 on Sept 7, 2021 11:31:47 GMT
true. might be a plasterboard framing over the brick. depends on what works been done before.
if its solid plaster and sounds solid then yeah probably on brick
The hook link i sent is rated to 45kg which would be adequate
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Post by Deleted on Sept 7, 2021 11:44:00 GMT
I've a heavy mirror over my fireplace and I used a heavy duty hook and screws. Even then, I was nervous hanging the thing up. No way I'd have tried nails 🙂
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nazo
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Post by nazo on Sept 7, 2021 12:31:09 GMT
I think I'll just pay someone who knows what they are doing and quiz them for future reference.
The cats sleep in this room so if something bad happens it'll be more than 7 years bad luck for me.
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Post by elstoof on Sept 7, 2021 12:38:06 GMT
It’s not difficult, a corded hammer drill isn’t expensive, get a packet of rawlplugs, they don’t have to be very big, the red or brown will suffice. They’ll tell you on the packet what size bit is required, probably 6 or 7mm so get the appropriate masonry bit and drill a hole before pushing the plug in
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nazo
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Post by nazo on Sept 7, 2021 12:47:25 GMT
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Post by elstoof on Sept 7, 2021 13:03:30 GMT
That’ll work, best in mind a SDS only accepts square drive bits so mainly for heavy duty stuff but it’ll eat through drilling hole jobs. A regular corded hammer drill might be cheaper and more versatile, can use on wood etc
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Post by elstoof on Sept 7, 2021 13:04:30 GMT
A battery powered drill driver will sometimes have a hammer action but won’t usually be up to the task of drilling into brick
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Post by Dougs on Sept 7, 2021 13:21:42 GMT
Yeah, it depends on the wall in my old house, but usually need to use my corded - especially for heavy items. Although I'd go for an 8mm bit and some lengthy screws - that'll hold it no bother.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 7, 2021 13:33:58 GMT
Shelves I just put up use brackets rated for 45kg each. I used 8mm screws for them, so agree with Doug.
Just use a pencil or marker pen through the hook holes, then a centre punch, then a pilot hole and then the 8mm. Put some tape on your bits that show the depth that you want to go to and double check once drilled with the screws, as getting out plugs that won't go all the way in is a bugger.
Don't forget the internet. I've never put up shelves that I made myself, but there's stuff for everything online. Who knew that materials had sag indexes?
Lastly, measure and measure again. You can do it and it'll be cheaper than getting someone in and the next time you've got the drill.
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Post by smoothpete on Sept 7, 2021 13:40:54 GMT
I put up a pair of parallel floating shelves years ago but did it wonky so to solve the issue I placed larger items at one end and smaller ones at the other to create an optical illusion of straight shelves.
Also, get a basic, powerful, corded hammer drill. Always useful.
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