Every house makes a certain number of sounds, this is a natural phenomenon, and for the most part, it’s benign. But, sometimes these sounds can be an indication that something is wrong. The sounds that you may be hearing in your walls can be caused by plumbing problems, and this can be worrying. If you hear those sounds, it would be handy to understand what they might mean and what you could do to fix them. In this article, we will look at four of the most common plumbing sounds and what to do about them.
- A Loud Banging Sound
If you can hear a loud banging sound when you turn on the water in your home, it’s likely that you have a water hammer. A water hammer occurs when water rushes through a pipe, and it’s stopped by a closed valve. The water exhibits a significant amount of pressure in the plumbing pipes when this happens. This creates a distinctive smacking noise that is irritating, but the force can also damage your plumbing pipes and loosen joints. A water hammer problem is caused when the air chambers inside the pipe valves a clogged with water. Contact a local licensed plumber; they can clear those air chambers and replace any parts that have been damaged.
- A Gurgling Drain
If you can hear a gurgling in your drain, this is caused by a clog that’s blocking the flow of water into the drain. If the gurgling occurs when you use and drain in your home, then you probably have a problem with your drain vents. A professional plumber will be able to vent the drains to get rid of the air bubbles that are causing the gurgling noise that you can hear. If necessary, the drain vents can also be replaced to ensure that the problem doesn’t return.
- Shaking Pipes
Every plumbing pipe shakes when water runs through it, but normally this sound isn’t loud enough to hear. If the pipes are shaking and making a rattling noise, it’s likely that they are not as secure as they could be. Many plumbing pipes are secured in place with mounting straps that can loosen over time. This problem can be fixed by tightening up the mounting straps and/or replacing joints, fittings, and pipes that become worn or loose. This work is often located behind walls, so if you’re not comfortable working in this way call a
local licensed plumber for help.
- A Screeching Noise
If you can hear a high pitched screeching noise when you turn on a faucet before the water even comes out, you have a problem with the faucet itself. The screeching whine is often caused by a defective or loose part inside the faucet. The best way to deal with this problem is to take the faucet apart, then place the offending part back in place or replace the defective part. In extreme cases, it could be less expensive to get a brand new faucet rather than carry out a repair.
By Giovanni Longo President Flood Brothers Plumbing
Giovanni Longo is a 3rd generation master plumber who has been practicing his craft and trade in the greater Los Angeles area for well over a decade and a half. A plumbing and hydraulics-engineering innovator, Giovanni’s particular world-class expertise focuses on dealing with challenging sewer system designs as well as resolving complex commercial and residential draining issues. As a certified Flood Mitigation expert, he is also well versed in a wide variety of water damage and remediation solution.
