FHB Logo Facebook LinkedIn Email Pinterest Twitter X Instagram Tiktok YouTube Plus Icon Close Icon Navigation Search Icon Navigation Search Icon Arrow Down Icon Video Guide Icon Article Guide Icon Modal Close Icon Guide Search Icon Skip to content
Subscribe
Log In
  • How-To
  • Design
  • Tools & Materials
  • Restoration
  • Videos
  • Blogs
  • Forum
  • Magazine
  • Members
  • FHB House
  • Podcast
Log In

Discussion Forum

Discussion Forum

“Loud” bathroom

inperfectionist | Posted in General Discussion on December 13, 2008 03:59am

I’m working on a bathroom in a two story + daylight basement, four bed house (circa 1974).

The bath is on the second floor, over the kitchen.

The noise from normal use of this bath is easily heard in the whole house. Heck, it’s as if it’s amplified.

I’m guessing the sound is being transmitted through the ABS pipes.

I’m opening up parts of the floor to access the pipes (new closet flange, etc) next.

Looking for any suggestions for toning things down.

Many thanks, Harry

Reply

Replies

  1. calvin | Dec 13, 2008 05:53pm | #1

    Short of changing over to cast iron.

    I have pulled apart a couple jobs from teh 70/80's that used a dense sound mat-looked very similar to the old horsehair carpet pad.  I have not idea what or where to find this stuff.-might just have been older style carpet pad.

    An open chase magnifies the sound.  Dense pack blown in  insulation I imagine would help quite a bit.  I have packed tightly sound deadening fibreglass and this does help.

    More mass-layers of drywall should also deaden the sound.

    A Great Place for Information, Comraderie, and a Sucker Punch.

    Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.

    http://www.quittintime.com/

     

    1. Shoemaker1 | Dec 13, 2008 05:59pm | #2

      It could be the sheet metal duct work. See if there is a cold air return close by.
      In my house the sound will travel thru the air to air heat exchanger ducts from bathroom to bathroom and they all have home runs to a main manifold.
      I made a baffle to eliminate the direct noise with and opening on the upper side to let the air in, noise reduced dramaticly !

  2. User avater
    talkingdog | Dec 14, 2008 03:33am | #3

    Around here they use a special pipe soundproofing for plastic pipes. It's got a plastic wrapper and some sort of foam inside. I hear that there is something better made out of compressed glass fibers.

  3. sungod | Dec 15, 2008 07:01pm | #4

    Insulation does not work, sound easily goes thru it. Use pieces of drywall cut the width of the joist space. Suspend the drywall between the ceiling and drain pipe with insulation or nails into the sides of joist.

    1. klhoush | Dec 15, 2008 07:45pm | #5

      Sure, insulation is an acoustic barrier, that's why they can put it on the label. FG will help control high frequencies. Low frequency you need resilient channel or mass. Since you're apparently not opening the entire floor there's little chance of an effective solution.

      The flushing noise in ABS pipes is difficult to control so replacing those with cast is worthwhile.

      The entire bathroom noise issue would best be controlled from below with RC. Read up, it needs to be properly installed to work.

      Type "acoustic" in the search window at http://www.mcmaster.com/ . They have some cool product and info too.

      OB

      1. sungod | Dec 15, 2008 08:37pm | #7

        For ABS flushing/splashing noise Fiberglass and foam does not work. My cheap fix of drywall scraps DOES work. My method does not work for high heels and tap dancing.

        1. User avater
          BossHog | Dec 15, 2008 09:29pm | #10

          B&W line drawings are a LOT smaller sized than anything else.

          Saving it as a GIF took the file size from 460 kb to 4 kb.

          View Image

          If it wasn't for plumbers, you'd have no place to go.

  4. plumbbill | Dec 15, 2008 08:12pm | #6

    What type of sound?

    Use of plumbing fixture (water moving in the pipe) or general use ( walking, closing cabinet door et al)

     

    1. inperfectionist | Dec 15, 2008 08:37pm | #8

      Thanks everyone for the replies.I was working on the bath over the weekend.Come to find out the 3" waste pipe in routed directly into a soffet in the kitchen under the bath, runs horizontal a few feet, then down to the basement.There is also a heat duct in the same soffet.So it's really an acoustic nightmare.Plumbbill, most of the noise is water/waste/pipe related.Thanks, Harry

      1. plumbbill | Dec 15, 2008 09:23pm | #9

        Plumbbill, most of the noise is water/waste/pipe related.

        Only thing transmits sound better than ABS is copper ;-)

        So let's start with the water pipe. Isolate it from all wood structure & duct work.

        I'm going to venture a guess a say that replacing the ABS with cast iron is out of the question.

        So again isolate the ABS from the structure, use of foam tape inbetween the pipe & the hanger strap will help quite a bit.

        The main noise comes from vertical to horizontal change in flow.

        Insulating the pipe can help, but the main thing with insulating pipe for sound is density.

         

        1. User avater
          talkingdog | Dec 22, 2008 04:45am | #11

          For density, could you pack around the pipe with something like Structolite?

  5. DanH | Dec 22, 2008 05:10am | #12

    I'd wrap the pipes with something rubbery, like rubber flashing membrane material.

    The mark of the immature man is that he wants to die nobly for a cause, while the mark of a mature man is that he wants to live humbly for one. --Wilhelm Stekel
  6. User avater
    Jeff_Clarke | Dec 22, 2008 08:26am | #13

    Nothing will really help but mass.

    Change over to no-hub in the soffit at least.

    QuietRock works very well.  'Squishy' stuff won't help with sound transmission.

     

    Jeff

    1. DanH | Dec 22, 2008 03:29pm | #14

      Squishy stuff won't help with sound transmission, but visco-elastic stuff will.
      The mark of the immature man is that he wants to die nobly for a cause, while the mark of a mature man is that he wants to live humbly for one. --Wilhelm Stekel

  7. mike585 | Dec 22, 2008 05:05pm | #15

    http://www.soundown.com/AI.htm

    I was given some of this, left over from a marine application. I used it around plastic waste pipe. I suspect it's not cheap.

  8. mike_maines | Dec 22, 2008 08:27pm | #16

    A trick I learned on BT is to wrap the pipe with Ice and Water Shield.  Adds mass, worked well the one time I used it.

    1. DanH | Dec 22, 2008 08:32pm | #17

      Yep, viscoelastic materials. Even better would be a layer of the membrane, a layer of thin aluminum, and then another layer of the membrane.
      The mark of the immature man is that he wants to die nobly for a cause, while the mark of a mature man is that he wants to live humbly for one. --Wilhelm Stekel

      1. mike_maines | Dec 22, 2008 08:45pm | #18

        Viscoel...

        Viscelo...

        Bituethene

    2. inperfectionist | Dec 23, 2008 01:21am | #19

      Many thanks to everyone for all the ideas and thoughts.I think in this case, any effective approach is going to have to happen from the area under the bathroom. Even if I took the whole floor up, I would not be able cure all the problems.Talk about poor practices,,,,, How about installing a 3" (3 5/8" OD) pipe in a 2x4 wall,,, and scarfing out the back of the drywall to "make it fit".And I have seen this done on several other jobs I've worked on in this area over the past few years,,,,,, Good God!!Might as well put a microphone in the bathroom and run it thru the Hi Fi.Thanks again to everyone that posted.Harry

      1. DanH | Dec 23, 2008 01:24am | #20

        Another sound-deadening technique is to glue drywall scrap to the backside of the drywall. You don't have to have complete coverage and wouldn't even have to cover the area where the pipe is if there isn't clearance -- the extra weight/thickness keeps the drywall from acting like a drumhead and transmitting the sound.
        The mark of the immature man is that he wants to die nobly for a cause, while the mark of a mature man is that he wants to live humbly for one. --Wilhelm Stekel

Log in or create an account to post a comment.

Sign up Log in

Become a member and get full access to FineHomebuilding.com

Video Shorts

Categories

  • Business
  • Code Questions
  • Construction Techniques
  • Energy, Heating & Insulation
  • General Discussion
  • Help/Work Wanted
  • Photo Gallery
  • Reader Classified
  • Tools for Home Building

Discussion Forum

Recent Posts and Replies

  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
View More Create Post

Up Next

Video Shorts

Featured Story

FHB Podcast Segment: Finding Hazardous Materials in a Fixer-Upper

Look closely at these common locations for hazardous materials in older homes.

Featured Video

Builder’s Advocate: An Interview With Viewrail

Learn more about affordable, modern floating stairs, from design to manufacturing to installation.

Related Stories

  • Podcast Episode 693: Old-House Hazards, Building Larsen Trusses, AI in Construction
  • FHB Podcast Segment: Finding Hazardous Materials in a Fixer-Upper
  • A Classic Paint Sprayer Gets a Thoughtful Refresh
  • Podcast Episode 692: Introduction to Trade Work, Embodied Carbon, and Envelope Improvements

Highlights

Fine Homebuilding All Access
Fine Homebuilding Podcast
Tool Tech
Plus, get an extra 20% off with code GIFT20

"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

Fine Homebuilding Magazine

  • Issue 332 - July 2025
    • Custom Built-ins With Job-Site Tools
    • Fight House Fires Through Design
    • Making the Move to Multifamily
  • Issue 331 - June 2025
    • A More Resilient Roof
    • Tool Test: You Need a Drywall Sander
    • Ducted vs. Ductless Heat Pumps
  • Issue 330 - April/May 2025
    • Deck Details for Durability
    • FAQs on HPWHs
    • 10 Tips for a Long-Lasting Paint Job
  • Issue 329 - Feb/Mar 2025
    • Smart Foundation for a Small Addition
    • A Kominka Comes West
    • Making Small Kitchens Work
  • Issue 328 - Dec/Jan 2025
    • How a Pro Replaces Columns
    • Passive House 3.0
    • Tool Test: Compact Line Lasers

Fine Home Building

Newsletter Sign-up

  • Fine Homebuilding

    Home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox.

  • Green Building Advisor

    Building science and energy efficiency advice, plus special offers, in your inbox.

  • Old House Journal

    Repair, renovation, and restoration tips, plus special offers, in your inbox.

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters

Follow

  • Fine Homebuilding

    Dig into cutting-edge approaches and decades of proven solutions with total access to our experts and tradespeople.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X
    • LinkedIn
  • GBA Prime

    Get instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
  • Old House Journal

    Learn how to restore, repair, update, and decorate your home.

    Subscribe Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X
  • Fine Homebuilding

    Dig into cutting-edge approaches and decades of proven solutions with total access to our experts and tradespeople.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X
    • LinkedIn
  • GBA Prime

    Get instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
  • Old House Journal

    Learn how to restore, repair, update, and decorate your home.

    Subscribe Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X

Membership & Magazine

  • Online Archive
  • Start Free Trial
  • Magazine Subscription
  • Magazine Renewal
  • Gift a Subscription
  • Customer Support
  • Privacy Preferences
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Careers
  • Terms of Use
  • Site Map
  • Do not sell or share my information
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility
  • California Privacy Rights

© 2025 Active Interest Media. All rights reserved.

Fine Homebuilding receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

X
X
This is a dialog window which overlays the main content of the page. The modal window is a 'site map' of the most critical areas of the site. Pressing the Escape (ESC) button will close the modal and bring you back to where you were on the page.

Main Menu

  • How-To
  • Design
  • Tools & Materials
  • Video
  • Blogs
  • Forum
  • Project Guides
  • Reader Projects
  • Magazine
  • Members
  • FHB House

Podcasts

  • FHB Podcast
  • ProTalk

Webinars

  • Upcoming and On-Demand

Podcasts

  • FHB Podcast
  • ProTalk

Webinars

  • Upcoming and On-Demand

Popular Topics

  • Kitchens
  • Business
  • Bedrooms
  • Roofs
  • Architecture and Design
  • Green Building
  • Decks
  • Framing
  • Safety
  • Remodeling
  • Bathrooms
  • Windows
  • Tilework
  • Ceilings
  • HVAC

Magazine

  • Current Issue
  • Past Issues
  • Magazine Index
  • Subscribe
  • Online Archive
  • Author Guidelines

All Access

  • Member Home
  • Start Free Trial
  • Gift Membership

Online Learning

  • Courses
  • Project Guides
  • Reader Projects
  • Podcast

More

  • FHB Ambassadors
  • FHB House
  • Customer Support

Account

  • Log In
  • Join

Newsletter

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

Follow

  • X
  • YouTube
  • instagram
  • facebook
  • pinterest
  • Tiktok

Join All Access

Become a member and get instant access to thousands of videos, how-tos, tool reviews, and design features.

Start Your Free Trial

Subscribe

FHB Magazine

Start your subscription today and save up to 70%

Subscribe

We hope you’ve enjoyed your free articles. To keep reading, become a member today.

Get complete site access to expert advice, how-to videos, Code Check, and more, plus the print magazine.

Start your FREE trial

Already a member? Log in