Mains water pressure, central heating causing vibrations?

[Fisher73]

Our property is an ex-council 1950’s Three-Storey Terraced House. For the last six months neighbour has been renovating the property. The builder has installed new electrics, removed and replaced the chimney, added a storage loft and updated the Central Heating system. Unfortunately in the last few weeks, since the builder installed new pipework, an additional power-shower, and boilers, the low frequency vibrations at specific times usually at lunch, when showering and especially throughout the night been atrocious. Also we’ve noticed when there is little to no noise, an identifiable mechanical hum can be heard throughout our property. I’ve politely spoken to the builder, and the homeowner, highlighting the issue but without much success.

What is worrying is that the builder stated that the previous installer from the early Nineties had installed and plumbed the system the wrong way round. Originally the properties used a gravity fed system with a Iron tank, and back-boiler, then moved to a combi-boiler system but since then as he’s installed new boilers, pipework but kept the pump, radiators and tank in the loft.

Secondly we contact the local Water company, and their sub-contractors – Clancy Docwra which have admitted that external readings of the water pressure was very high being 6 BAR but are reluctant to adjust the outside stop valve. Instead they’ve adjusted only our internal stock-cock to reduce the pressure. Although they’ve suggested our neighbour contacted them.

I’ve searched the internet for answers for mains water pressure for outside suggesting 45 -65 PSI or 3 to 3.9 bar maximum, but any help would be appreciated for recommended water pressure levels for both inside and outside the house.

Other than high mains water pressure what would cause the vibrations? *Our other neighbour had to call in a Gas Safe engineer to fix their combi-boiler in past but it’s the other side that is doing the renovations that is the real concern. With the noise could it be the central heating (water)?

If anyone has ideas or suggestion it would be appreciated.

(*PS Thanks to DIYNot - JohnD a previous issue was resolved)

 

[ianmcd]

Clancy Docwra which have admitted that external readings of the water pressure was very high being 6 BAR but are reluctant to adjust the outside stop valve. Instead they’ve adjusted only our internal stock-cock to reduce the pressure. Although they’ve suggested our neighbour contacted them.

you can not alter water pressure by adjusting a stop cock, it will not make an iota of difference, you would have to install a pressure reducing valve, you are mixing up pressure and flow rate , they are not the same.

 

[Fisher73]

Sorry Ian, my mistake. My expertise is in a completely different subject, so leave any plumbing, carpentry and electrics to the accredited or skilled personnel. Thus the request for assistance or help to ensure that when attempting to deal with the Water company, or local authority they'll resolve or solve the issue.

 

[ianmcd]

water pressure is measured when nothing is being drawn or used and is just a figure that doesnt really mean anything, when you open outlets, taps etc then you get what we call working pressure and then you measure how much water is passing through the pipes, this is called flow rate, the standing pressure with nothing working means didly squat unless it is higher than any fittings or pipework is designed to with hold

 

[Fisher73]

Ian Thank You. I've spoken to a couple of neighbours, those with older pipework are suffering from rattling while others are complaining that their cold water is like a jet coming out forcefully. In the last few weeks Clancy Docwra had installed new water meters, when it further worsened. Prior to this situation in June a mains burst had knocked out the supply for the hundreds of home, including ours. Also two years ago they relayed all the pipework for all the town as well. So the concern about the pressure, and indirectly affecting water flow. Whether our properties have already a pressure reducing valve it's very doubtful, so I'll investigate getting one installed by a certified plumber if the Water Company doesn't prove helpful.

The reason for the initial request is that we're hearing resonating background humming, low frequency noise and vibrations from our neighbours central heating system. So we're trying to remove all possibilities, before going to the Council. So if any gas-safe engineer or plumber have any ideas what the cause of this problem or ways to resolve this issue, then I'd be grateful.

 

[ianmcd]

there are a few problems with central heating noise that has nothing to do with water supply, if it is a modern condensing boiler it could simply be a combustion setting, easy way to find out if it is the CH , when you hear the noise ask your neighbour to switch their boiler off and see if the noise stops. And make sure you switch yours off too as it might be coming from your system