Brian Gaff submitted this idea :
A couple of years ago they had a new one fitted, but in my downstairs sitting
room the pump can be heard through some kind of structure borne vibration. I
know she has had the m fix this several times but eventually it starts again.
Sounds like a grinding noise through the wall. In her house you can hear a
low hum but when it fires up it sounds a bit like Cape Canaveral, and she was
told this is normal. I am beginning to wonder if they just never test for
anything like this, sure it works well, but really inside a house joined to
others its a bit rich when you consider what these installations cost.

Our pump is in the airing cupboard first floor. It is completely
inaudible, even if you go up there and open the cupboard door, even
then, I have to look at its 'pump running' LED. There is absolutely no
vibration on the pipes at all. The pump is just mounted in the copper
pipes. The only noise is the clicking of the pipes as the system heats
the radiators and as they cool. So I would suggest that pump of your
neighbour has a fault, is worn out, needs replacing..

The boiler has just been replaced, an Ideal swapped for a Vaillant.
Both in the kitchen, in their own wall cupboard. The Ideal was somewhat
quieter than the new Vaillant boiler in operation. The Vaillant is
supposed to have awards for its quietness. I had to open the cupboard
door to check the Ideal was burning, but not now with the Vaillant, but
it is not that noisy.