Problem with shower when neighbours washing machine is on

[Cjrf60]

Hi,

We moved to a 1950s semi in Dec last year. We’ve noticed over the months that’s the electric shower will randomly have episodes whereby it starts to go hot and cold for no apparent reason. Same has just happened now and I thought my partner was running water downstairs but he wasn’t and we’ve no appliances on.

However, I have noticed we can hear whenever next door run water and we have old shared drains here and there’s no separate for rainwater v wastewater so I have wondered if that’s why.

Anyway we couldn’t hear them running water this time but their garage door is open and we can see a washing machine which sounds like it’s running. Is it right that if their washing machine is on this should be affecting our water in our house?

I have had showers fine when I know they’ve been running water in their house as you hear it in the pipes clearly when you’re in our bathroom but today I couldn’t hear anything and am now suspecting it is something to do with this washing machine but it just seems wrong that their appliances should be affecting our water so just wanted to please ask for advice.

Thank you!

 

[snowhead]

It's quite possible that you both have a shared water supply from the street and if it is, it's likely a small bore lead pipe.
Not uncommon in the past for former local authority properties or properties built for a single landlord.
Old Terraced houses can be found with 5 or 6 (or more) houses on the same single street supply.

However it may be a fault with the shower, or a restriction in your supply or a low pressure issue with the main supply in the street.