[BobC]

So, this isnt for my listening room...but rather a soon-to-be nursery.  We've got another one coming and her room will be immediately adjacent to our bathroom.  Whenever we run the sink or flush the toilet, it's pretty noisy in the nursery.

So, any tips on how to quiet the plumbing?

I do not think the walls, which are interior, are insulated.  Will simply stuffing a bunch of batt help?  Or should I squirt in a bunch of foam?  I'd try to get a kind that doesnt expand with too much force to avoid cracking the drywall.  There is a DOW "Big Gap Filler" which I think looks promising.

I called a foam insul contractor and the minimum bob was $750, so thats a non-starter.

Suggestions?


Thanks, Bob

[Big Red Machine]

My last house, I insulated all the interior walls and 2nd floor walls, and especially toilets and tub drains.  I used pink Owens and it worked very well.  You have an after-the-fact issue to deal with so not so easy.  The canned spray foam will never expand enough to fill your wall space and it will likely just attach itself and transmit the sound more efficiently.

Blowing in the insulation is very easy to do but it would require a top and bottom hole so the air vents out.  Then put up another sheet of drywall, maybe with some greenglue, and you'd have a much improved situation.

If you could get to the pipe, then something very solid, or heavy, like putty or vinyl wrap would really help, but probably not realistic now.

[jk@home]

If you have PVC drain pipes, that can be replaced with cast iron which are quieter. The supply water lines can be wrapped with foam insulation tubing (get the pre-slit stuff with adhesive already on it). You can buy batts of insulation made specifically for sound blockage to stuff in the walls.

If you really want to get serious, you could add a second sound proofing wall in the bedroom, in front of the existing one, with a gap in between, and insulate both walls . And you could finish the second wall with "QuietRock drywall, or something similar ($$$... ).

[rajacat]

If it's accessible enough, maybe coating the pipe with canned spray foam would work. It's very sticky stuff.

[bpape]

If you will open the walls, then get some Dynamat and wrap the pipes in it. Then insulate the walls with standard fluffy insulation.  Or just open the part with the pipes and do the dynamat, then patch that and cut a hole in the top of each stud cavity on in the shared wall and blow in insulation. I would not use the foam. 

A 2nd layer of drywall on the bedroom side will also help in addition to the above.

Bryan

[Big Red Machine]

If you will open the walls, then get some Dynamat and wrap the pipes in it. Then insulate the walls with standard fluffy insulation.  Or just open the part with the pipes and do the dynamat, then patch that and cut a hole in the top of each stud cavity on in the shared wall and blow in insulation. I would not use the foam. 

A 2nd layer of drywall on the bedroom side will also help in addition to the above.

Bryan

great minds think alike!  (You taught me well Obiwankanobe)

[bpape]

 

[BobC]

Id rather not tear huge holes in the wall.  I'd need total access to wrap with dynamat, no?

[Big Red Machine]

Id rather not tear huge holes in the wall.  I'd need total access to wrap with dynamat, no?

Yes.  You have some hard decisions to make Bob.  Can you access the wall via the attic?  You could always blow the insulation in from the top plate if it were accessible.  Still need a vent hole.

[BobC]

Just wont flush the toilet while napping.  Temporary solution, for a few years!   

[rodge827]

If you will open the walls, then get some Dynamat and wrap the pipes in it. Then insulate the walls with standard fluffy insulation.  Or just open the part with the pipes and do the dynamat, then patch that and cut a hole in the top of each stud cavity on in the shared wall and blow in insulation. I would not use the foam. 

A 2nd layer of drywall on the bedroom side will also help in addition to the above.

Bryan

If you open the wall use Roxul Sound Absorbent Stone Wool and your new child will sleep very nicely. 

It's priced very reasonable and can be purchased at H-Depot

Good luck   

http://www.roxul.com/stone+wool/sound-absorbent

[bpape]

Id rather not tear huge holes in the wall.  I'd need total access to wrap with dynamat, no?

Unfortunately, yes.  The pipe should be damped for the length.  For the top to blow it in, just a round hole large enough to stick the blower hose in.  Easily patched.

Bryan

[Ericus Rex]

Just wont flush the toilet while napping.  Temporary solution, for a few years!   

A big Mexican lunch may put a dent in that plan!   

Your easiest solution is to put a noise maker in the nursery.  We have a box fan in ours and run it during nap time.  The bathroom noise won't be an issue.  Heck, I've even hammered in door and window trim in the room right next to our son's room without him waking.  It'll cost you about $20 and require 3 minutes to take out of the box and install.

[django11]

You won't get much foam out of a little can even if it is "big gap" filler.  I recently used 25 cans in my bedroom and that was just to seal in sheets of insulation...  You can get larger foam kits to spray in existing walls but it will be pricey:http://fomofoam.com/existing_homes.htm

I'd try the white noise...

[Atlplasma]

You could use Green Glue and add an extra layer of drywall on the nursery/bath wall. Or you could put resilient tracks on the wall and a double layer of drywall with Green Glue.

[jriggy]

And heres another page found in django's given link:
http://fomofoam.com/Soundproofing.htm#Existing

[BobC]

And heres another page found in django's given link:
http://fomofoam.com/Soundproofing.htm#Existing

Thanks, but its outside of my budget. I may just cut a hole and try to reach in and hand pack a bunch if batt.

[BobC]

I could use a new toilet. Wondering if a new one may be quieter?  Wouldn't do anything for the sound of water rushing through the pipes.

[ctviggen]

I wouldn't get too concerned about noises like that.  I hammered off the drywall from a closet located immediately adjacent to my child's bedroom, and she slept through that with no problems.  I also did tons of drilling (to run electrical cable) in that closet and in the closet one floor down while she was sleeping with no problems.  I've done projects like this for both kids and they both slept through it. 

On the other hand, every fall when the baseboard heaters begin to creak, both kids say "what's that noise"?  When they're young, though, they don't know enough to be afraid.  It's when the fears kick in that you have to tell them what's going on and perhaps rearrange things (my oldest still covers her ears when she goes to the bathroom when we're out).

[Vapor Audio]

I just pee in the yard ... pipes stay dead quiet