What to Do About Noisy Pipes

Article Written By: Wesley Holm2

If your pipes are making loud bangs when the water is running in your home, there are two possible causes. One, the flow of water could be causing the pipe to move and actually knock into something. Turn on the water, listen for the banging noise, and try to track it down. If you're lucky, the pipe that's causing the noise will be in an easily accessible place and not inside a wall. If you're able to locate the stretch of pipe causing the noise, there are several fixes you can try.

The loud pipe culprit may have come loose from the U-shaped clamps that hold it in place. You can try to tighten the clamp, or insert a patch of rubber - like a bit from an old garden hose - between the pipe and the clamp to secure it. Or the pipe might be banging into a wall or another pipe. If it?s another pipe, the patch of rubber is usually the best solution to quell the noise. Or if you feel confident about it and know what you're doing, you can solder the two pipes together. If it?s knocking into a wall, you can clamp the pipe to a block of wood that you wedge between it and the wall to prevent the banging.

The other source of a loud banging sound in your plumbing is a condition known as water hammer. Water hammer is a very specific plumbing problem?it occurs when you shut off the hot or cold water suddenly, that's often found in older homes. It happens because when you shut off the water quickly, suddenly halting its rushing force, you create a kind of shock wave that can result in the hammering sound. Plumbing is constructed with air cushions inside that soften the force and prevent the hammering sound. But those air cushions can fail over time or for other reasons.

If this happens to you, there is a do-it-yourself fix for this plumbing problem. Turn off the house's water main, then open all the faucets, hot and cold, and drain the system. Turn the water main supply back on, and, one by one, shut the faucets off. This should restore air to the plumbing and stop the water hammer. If it doesn't, there are other fixes available, such as installing a water hammer arrester, but this is the kind of work for which you might want to call in a professional.

If your plumbing starts whistling at you, it means the flow of water has become restricted somewhere, either by sediment building up, or by a defective washer or valve. If the whistling starts only when a certain faucet is used, there's an excellent chance that you need to replace the washers or valve seat in that faucet. However, if the whistling starts up when any faucet in the house is turned on, the problem is likely in the main water supply valve. This is probably work you want to have done by your local plumbers.

If your pipes make a lot of creaking sounds, it?s probably due to the expansion that occurs when hot water runs through them, followed by the contraction from cooling off. Again, try to trace the sound and locate which bit of pipe is causing it. Then, the best fix is usually to insulate that pipe. Or, if the creaking is happening because the pipe is running through wood and expanding against it, cut notches in the wood so the pipe has enough clearance to not strain against it.

To sum up what to do for your noisy plumbing problems, remember to make sure your pipes are securely attached by their U-shaped clamps and not knocking into anything. If they are knocking into things, in addition to tightening the clamps, you can brace the pipes with wood or patches of rubber to eliminate the noise. Check your washers and valve seats for your faucets. Insulate pipes that might be causing noise due to expansion and contraction. In the case of water hammer, try draining the system, then slowly refilling it to restore the air cushions. If these fixes don't get rid of those annoying bangs, whistles and creaks, give your local plumbers a call.

About the Author

Wesley Holm, President of Thompson Plumbing Heating & Cooling, a Cincinnati-based plumbing, heating and air-conditioning company that offers the best service in the Greater Cincinnati area.

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