Help me sleep better at night!

[Galsia]

I'm a pretty light sleeper. Combining this with a housemate that works different shifts and is generally noisy at night and I tend to get woken up a lot.

He is otherwise a great housemate but he just can't seem to remember to close his bedroom door without first turning the handle or brush his teeth without leaving the tap running at full blast while he does it. My bedroom is next to the bathroom and the tap is about a foot away from my head.

The best thing to do at this point is to try and fix these things myself because complaining isn't getting me anywhere.

First of all, the door. This is the kind of catch it has:





Ideally I want to replace the mechanism so that it releases much more slowly to it doesn't make a loud clicking when it is closed without turning the handle.

Secondly, the tap:



It doesn't make the most relaxing noise at 3am. Is there anyway to reduce this horrible noise or reduce the flow of the water? I'm talking about the loud hissing sounds that starts at 7 seconds in!

Okay, I know that I've written a post about doors and taps but this noise at night is driving me crazy! Any ideas would be much appreciated!

[FunkyGibbon]

from

http://www.britishsnoring.co.uk/shop/snore_calm_fo...

may be a cheap an effective solution!

[Galsia]

I've actually got those exact same earplugs. The worry is that I won't be able to hear my alarm in the morning either. I also suffer from tinnitus so the silence can be deafening.

I'd be prepared to do it if I could guarantee that I would wake up at the right time...

[Mojooo]

we had a new sink installed and the tapes made a RACKET

I got opions from multiple plumbers and they siggested multiple issies - with the new pipework and with the flow rate

i lwoered the flow rate but it didnt help

i nthe end we foudn out it was just the taps that were really cheap and crap - in the end i bought a new apir for soemthing like 35 quid and they work perfectly fine with little noise

[Ricky_M]

Could you replace the mechanism on the door with a roller ball type, they tend to be quieter. Also try lining where the door meets the frame with some foam padding to stop wood hitting wood.

The tap, does it have an isolation valve on it? Like this......



If so try closing it slightly and see if that makes and difference to the noise.

Edited by Ricky_M on Thursday 7th October 20:21

[Simpo Two]

I fear you'll need a new housemate.

I'm a light sleeper too, and have trouble choosing crew for boating holidays because they all snore like grizzly bears!

[Piglet]

Galsia said:

I've actually got those exact same earplugs. The worry is that I won't be able to hear my alarm in the morning either. I also suffer from tinnitus so the silence can be deafening.

I sleep in earplugs whenever I travel, 'm a really heavy sleeper and I've never not woken up to an alarm. If you're worried, set your phone alarm and stick the phone under your pillow.

You'll be fine with earplugs (can't comment on the tinnitus though!)

[Galsia]

Ricky_M said:

Could you replace the mechanism on the door with a roller ball type, they tend to be quieter. Also try lining where the door meets the frame with some foam padding to stop wood hitting wood.

The tap, does it have an isolation valve on it? Like this......



If so try closing it slightly and see if that makes and difference to the noise.

Edited by Ricky_M on Thursday 7th October 20:21

Yes the tap does have one of those and adjusting it does appear to have made a difference. I'm not quite sure how much, but it sounds quieter in my room. I'll have to see how quiet it is when he does it again. Thanks!

[filski666]

Galsia said:

Ricky_M said:

Could you replace the mechanism on the door with a roller ball type, they tend to be quieter. Also try lining where the door meets the frame with some foam padding to stop wood hitting wood.

The tap, does it have an isolation valve on it? Like this......



If so try closing it slightly and see if that makes and difference to the noise.

Edited by Ricky_M on Thursday 7th October 20:21

Yes the tap does have one of those and adjusting it does appear to have made a difference. I'm not quite sure how much, but it sounds quieter in my room. I'll have to see how quiet it is when he does it again. Thanks!

Close it all the way and it'll be really REALLY quiet!

[tenohfive]

A bit of WD40 on everything that moves on the door handle make any difference as a short term solution?

[E36GUY]

[lewes]

Ear plugs and a vibrating alarm clock.

You can get them from the RNID and you have a normal type clock with a vibrating pad under the pillow.

My dad and a mate have them with no problems.

[andy43]

Galsia said:

Ricky_M said:

Could you replace the mechanism on the door with a roller ball type, they tend to be quieter. Also try lining where the door meets the frame with some foam padding to stop wood hitting wood.

The tap, does it have an isolation valve on it? Like this......



If so try closing it slightly and see if that makes and difference to the noise.

Edited by Ricky_M on Thursday 7th October 20:21

Yes the tap does have one of those and adjusting it does appear to have made a difference. I'm not quite sure how much, but it sounds quieter in my room. I'll have to see how quiet it is when he does it again. Thanks!

These valves reduce flow, not noise - shut down by 50% they actually increase noise as the water passes through them, so if the valve's anywhere near where you're sleeping it might be a waste of time. Just nail the bathroom door shut.

[Globulator]

Ricky_M said:

The tap, does it have an isolation valve on it? Like this......



If so try closing it slightly and see if that makes and difference to the noise.

If this doesn't help then the tap is causing internal turbulence (from poor/lazy design) so your best bet is to change the tap. If that doesn't help (and if the cold feed is at full mains pressure) you can try a pressure value to reduce the pressure, and hence turbulence in the tap.

The valve above will reduce flow rate (and add noise at all rates) but at low flow rates you will still get turbulence (noise), you need to reduce the pressure: i.e. buy a water pressure regulator.