As a homeowner, you are familiar with the everyday sounds associated with your home. A certain floorboard that creaks, the whir of a ceiling fan, the purr of the water heater; these are all normal sounds around your home. However, if you hear banging and rattling from the pipes in your home when you turn on or off water that is not a normal sound. This type of sound is a warning that something needs your attention.
A Creak Or Cracking Sound
Most often this creaking pipe sound occurs when the water pipes expand and contract. When hot water runs through the pipe, it will heat the pipe which then causes the pipe to expand slightly. When the water stops flowing, the pipe will then cool thereby causing the metal to contract which will result in a creaking or sometimes cracking sound. You can fix this by placing insulation around the pipe. If you notice that the pipe is running through a tightly fitting hole, you can cut a notch in the wood framing which will allow the pipe to expand and contract without making a sound.
Rattling Water Pipes
The rattling pipe sound is caused by water pressure which runs through a loosely attached pipe thereby causing it to vibrate and rattle. Again you can use some insulation to cushion the pipe and keep it from vibrating and rattling.
Whistling Pipes
Whistling pipes happens when water flow is restricted through a section of the plumbing. The blockage could be sediment in the pipe or perhaps a defective washer or even a valve. If you notice the whistling happening with a particular faucet then likely that is where the problem lies.
You may need to replace the washer or repair the valve seat. However, if the whistling sound happens when any faucet is turned on, this indicates the issue is in the main water supply valve. You will need to adjust the water pressure at the main water valve to dislodge any possible blockage in the pipe. Or you may need to replace the water valve.
Banging Pipes
The banging water pipe noise that occurs when you shut off water flow is known as water hammer. This is a relatively common issue especially in older homes. Water flowing through pipes contains energy. When the flow is stopped abruptly, the energy causes the banging sound. Your home’s plumbing system was constructed with short pieces of pipe. These pieces filled with air acting as air cushions, absorbing the energy of the water as the flow is stopped. Over time this air has leaked out. This means there is no longer an air cushion left to absorb this energy.
You can remedy banging pipes by turning off the main water supply. Next open all the faucets in the house, which will drain the system. Then turn the water supply back on and begin to work your way up through the house. Turn off the faucets as water flows through them. This will trap air into the air chamber, once again providing the cushioning effect. If you find this still doesn’t work, you can also purchase a water hammer arrestor. This device attaches directly to the water supply pipe right where the water hammer originates.
If after all of that your pipes are still noisy then Contact Wentworth Plumbing today and we’ll fix that noise in your pipes as soon as we can. We serve the Hamilton, Burlington, Oakville and Brantford are for all your residential, commercial and industrial plumbing needs.