Noisy Plumbing Pipes
Noisy pipes can be a huge nuisance in any household. The sounds can range from squeaking to whistling to clanging and may be either quiet or loud, but all of them become irritating to listen to over time.
Many times, these noises are more than just an annoying distraction in your home: they can indicate a problem with the plumbing. Usually, the type of noise you hear will give you a hint at the cause.
Clanging noises coming from the water pipes are often caused by water hammer. When you turn off a faucet, the water that rushes through the pipes comes to an abrupt halt. Many plumbing systems have air chambers attached to the pipes that absorb the shock when the water halts.
However, over time the air can be lost, which leads to water hammer. If the air cushion can't absorb the shock from the water halting, your pipes will shake or rattle. Sometimes this can be fixed or minimized just by turning the water on and off more slowly.
However, if the noise is more severe, you will probably need to have a professional plumber take care of the problem. A plumber may install air chambers if your plumbing system doesn't already have them. Plumbers can also install automatically controlled valves that only close once the water ceases flowing, which should stop the clanging sounds.
Sometimes rattling noises are caused by pipes that vibrate against other pipes or objects. If a pipe is vibrating against another pipe, you can solder the two together to stop the rattling sounds. You can also use straps to secure the pipe and prevent it from moving or put cushioning around the pipe.
People often place pieces of rubber between pipes to prevent them from vibrating against each other. Rattling also sometimes occurs when the water pressure is too high. If this is the case, reducing the water pressure is an easy solution.
Whistling noises coming from plumbing pipes is also a common problem. Whistling usually occurs when a faucet is turned on or after flushing a toilet. It's likely caused by water flowing past an obstruction in the pipe, often when a washer is loose or worn out.
You can fix this by listening to each faucet individually to discover which one causes the noise. Then, shut off the water to the house, take apart the faucet, and replace the washer and the screw. You can also hire a plumber to find the source of the whistling noise and fix the problem.
Popping sounds are sometimes caused by a buildup of minerals along the inside of the pipes. This buildup causes air bubbles to form. When the water heats up, these air bubbles burst, resulting in popping noises. You can prevent the mineral buildup by flushing your water heater occasionally.
Professionals recommend flushing the water heater once every one to three years. If the water heater hasn't been flushed for a long time, the pipes can become too clogged and almost impossible to clean. In this situation, you may need to have the pipes replaced.
Sometimes you can fix noisy plumbing pipes yourself with a little troubleshooting. If the problem isn't serious or the noise isn't too loud, you may be able to find an easy, do-it-yourself solution. However, it is usually best to hire a licensed professional plumber to take a look at the issue.
Plumbing problems can be serious and can worsen over time if they're not dealt with properly. It's important to pay close attention to any sounds you hear, as noise coming from the pipes in your home can be a clear sign that something is wrong with the plumbing.