You expect your pipes to provide hot and cold water at all times when you are at home. Water supply is crucial to your daily life.
These pipes don’t always work perfectly. You may find your pipes making noise when water is turned on or you may have noisy water pipes all the time. You might be a bit scared by these seemingly random sounds.
Even worse, noisy water pipes could be a sign of a problem with your plumbing system. Such plumbing issues can lead to serious consequences if left unresolved.
Let’s look at some of the common pipe noises and the causes of noisy water pipes. There are many possible causes for noisy water pipes.
Read below to discover what is causing those horrible noises in your water pipes, and how you can fix the problem.
What is causing that banging noise?
Banging noises are the most frequent complaint homeowners have about their noisy pipes. This is a sign that you have a problem with high water pressure or water flow. Professionals refer to it as a “water hammer”.
Water hammers occur when your valve or faucet is promptly shut off. The water moving down the pipe to the exit point, such as a faucet, has of energy behind it so it may produce a loud banging sound when it hits the close off valve-point.
A water hammer may sometimes occur in smaller, more subtle ways in plumbing pipes that have shutoff valves. It’s worth having a professional plumber inspect the problem to find out exactly what it is.
A plumber may simply place some water hammer arrestors with a spring loaded shock absorber in the correct vertical pipe position. After a faucet is shut off, these devices redirect the water’s “hammer”.
A second solution to a water hammer is to turn off the entire house’s water supply. This involves closing the primary shutoff valve and draining the whole system.
Another source of loud banging sounds is trapped oxygen inside an air chamber. Water line issues can cause air to get stuck in pipes. The banging sound in pipes can be caused by trapped air. However, you may also hear bubbling as air flows up and down.
What is causing my water pipes to rattle and shake?
Most piping is hidden behind walls, floors and ceilings, but some must be attached with fasteners. The pipe may start to move or vibrate if one of the fasteners is damaged.
Copper pipes are especially susceptible to expansion when warm water flows across the metal, particularly if it is hot.
Copper pipes that carry hot water may enlarge but, when they eventually shrink in size, it causes them to scrape against the house’s walls or joists.
You may hear a rattling or shaking sound in your walls if this occurs with copper pipes. It is usually caused by a loose pipe. However, it should be repaired quickly to prevent further damage.
If you feel the floorboards or ceiling shake, call your trusted plumber to fix it before the noise becomes unbearable.
Why is my plumbing system making a humming noise?
Your pipes could vibrate if the pressure inside your homes plumbing is too high. This can happen just like when a car speeds down an open road. You might hear your pipes hum when the water is flowing.
This can happen to any home, regardless of its size or type. However, vibrating pipes are more likely to occur if the home is fed by well water. You should check your water tank for any signs of vibration. It shouldn’t exceed 55 PSI (pounds per square inch).
If you do not have access to the water pressure meter on your tank have a plumber can come to inspect. To get rid of the annoying hum, they can modify your system.
Why is my plumbing system making a high-pitched whining noise?
Each house is equipped with a complete system of valves and a piping system that relies on many small pieces to make it work. As with any piece of hardware that is worn out or loose, washers and nuts (and many other parts) may become noisy over time.
The whistling sound, or sometimes a squealing sound, you hear is usually caused by a broken piece of hardware located near a washer, dryer, dishwasher or washing machine.
Because these appliances create a lot of movement, they can cause significant damage to the nuts and bolts.
This can be fixed quickly by contacting a plumber to replace or tighten the hardware yourself.
What is the reason drains make gurgling sounds?
Plumbing systems can sometimes have problems draining excess water and waste. When this happens, you might hear gurgling sounds.
A clogged passage within a pipe can also cause gurgling or a bubbling noise. It could be a piece of material or an object that fell down the drain, or simple soap buildup.
Plumbing professionals are able to clean up any debris and scum build up quickly, which makes it less likely that your drains will make gurgling sounds all the time.
Other pipe noises and their causes
Copper pipes that have not been properly insulated can also make a squeaking or rubbing sound. When hot water passes through copper pipes, they heat up and expand. They then rub against the house’s structural elements. Most supply pipes are dry walled so homeowners won’t want to remove any material to pad them. You can reduce the temperature of your hot water heater to help.
A dripping or a ticking sound is cause for alarm. You should call a professional plumber to diagnose and fix the problem.
Conclusion
Although there are many causes for noisy water pipes the list above covers the most common causes.
If you need assistance with any type noisy pipe problem and would like a consultation, inspection or repair, please contact us. Our certified professional plumbers are always ready to assist you with all your plumbing problems. In addition, we are happy to perform routine maintenance so that you can avoid future issues and excessive wear on your home’s plumbing system.
