Common Causes of Noisy Water Pipes

Your home should be a place for relaxation, but when you hear annoying noises coming from your water pipes, relaxing your mind will be quite a challenge. The good news is that noisy water pipes can be easily addressed.

You just need to make sure that you are aware of the source of the problem. By calling a Frisco plumber, your plumbing will be able to receive a thorough inspection to find out the source of the problem. Here are the common causes:

Main shut off valve

If you have squealing water pipes, the source of the problem could be your main shut off valve. One way to tell that this is where the noise is coming from is when the squealing sound seems to resonate through your house. When it comes to fixing your main house valve, you need to call a professional plumber to either replace or repair it. Be sure to turn off the water before repairing the valve. The reducer manifold might also cause the problem so you need to check it as well.

Worn out Washer

If you have a worn-out washer in your valve or faucet, your water pipes will also cause a whistling sound. The source of the issue might come from the valves which are connected to the washing machine. If this is the case, you need to shut off the valve first. Check your washers in the house and if they are worn out or have cracks, you need to replace them.

If wear or cracks are not the main cause of the problem, you should also shut off the house water, as it might be your faucet that is causing the problem. The washer of your faucet might be worn or the valve seat might need replacement. When either of these two is not in good shape, the water will enter through a smaller opening, causing pipes to produce noise.

Loose pipes

Your pipes also tend to be noisy if the pipes located under your house are loose. The loose pipes cause the water to move rapidly when it is flushed in larger volume. Since the water sways the pipe, it produces a rattling effect. When fixing loose pipes, it is important that you stabilize them.

Fixing loose pipes will mean crawling under your house using a flashlight to determine the source of the problem. By entrusting this matter to a plumbing expert, you will be able to save yourself the trouble. Plumbers have the skills and tools to accurately pinpoint the source of the problem. You do not need to have someone flush the toilet or address the problem yourself.

Toilets

Another reason your pipes become noisy is when you hear rattling or banging sound from your toilet after you flush it. The problem might be due to the ballcock assembly, which is responsible for controlling the filling process. When it is worn, it will produce the sound causing pipes to be noisy. When fixing the ballcock assembly, you need to take its style into consideration. While you might still be able to repair it, you can restore its efficiency by considering replacing it.

Water Hammer

The water hammer can also cause your pipes to be noisy. The normal process that takes place when water rushes from your faucet is that it moves with force and speed. Once you shut off the faucet, the water flow will also stop, but the energy needs to go somewhere. The energy usually goes behind the faucet where the air chamber is located. It is soldered vertically and measures 10 inches.

Once the rushing of water stops, it will push up the pipe where the pipe’s cushion of air will be hit. There are also commercial cushions which are connected to the pipe. They can be found in the same place and shares the same function as the vertical pipe. Hammering will take place once you lose the air in the vertical pipe. When the vertical pipe’s air is lost, the cushioning effect will be lost as well.

You can eliminate water hammering by shutting the main water first. Then, you should open all your faucets and make sure that you drain the whole house starting with your lowest faucet. Once you restore water, the air will be pushed again into the vertical riser, which in turn, prevents water hammering.