It can be alarming when your pipes start making strange noises – the high-pitched whistles or banging sounds can become loud and frequent. You may feel like something is seriously wrong, but it turns out having noisy pipes isn’t necessarily something to be overly concerned about. Our top plumber has some insights into what might be causing the strange sounds in your pipes, and best of all, it may be something you can fix yourself!
Water Hammer
One of the more common causes of loud pipe noises is something called the “water hammer.” This refers to a sudden jolt of pressure that occurs in the pipes when a faucet or valve is shut off too quickly. It causes a banging or thudding sound as a result of the sudden change in pressure.
The best way to prevent this is to install something called a water hammer arrestor. This device is attached to the side of the pipe, and it helps to absorb the shock of quickly-changing water pressure. It can be a fairly easy fix to make on your own, but if it’s something you’re not comfortable tackling, you can call up our plumber for assistance.
Structural Movements
Another common cause of loud pipe noises is structural movements. For example, if the pipe runs through something like a wall or a floorboard, it can be subjected to pressure when that structure shifts. This could be an issue of settling in a new building, or it could be caused by vibrations from nearby sources — for instance, if your water heater or washing machine is particularly loud, it could be causing the pipes to shake slightly.
In this case, the long-term solution usually involves some sort of bracing or padding around the pipe to reduce the amount of pressure it feels when the structure around it moves. If the vibrations are coming from a particular appliance, try to get it repaired or replaced as quickly as possible.
You can use a wrench to tighten any loose fittings
Loose Fittings
In some cases, the noise could actually be coming from a loose fitting. If there’s a joint that isn’t tightened properly, it may be vibrating slightly, creating a whistling noise in the pipes. Thankfully, this is a fairly easy fix. You can use a wrench to tighten any loose fittings — but if you’re not confident in your DIY skills, our professional plumbers can lend a helping hand.
In Summary
Noisy pipes don’t always mean there’s something seriously wrong — often, it’s caused by something like water hammer or structural shifts. Our head plumber can help you identify the problem and provide advice on how to fix it, but in many cases, it may be something that you can do yourself. A little bit of plumbing knowledge can go a long way towards quieting those noisy pipes for good.