Every home can make a variety of sounds at different times of the day. Most of these sounds are perfectly normal, but occasionally you may hear sounds that you’ve never heard before. Often these sounds are in the walls, and they may indicate that there is a problem with your plumbing. There are different sounds, and each one suggests a different issue that needs to be solved quickly. Here are some of the most common sounds, what they may mean and how to get them fixed.
Loud Banging
If you turn on your water and then hear a loud banging sound this is a good sign that you have a water hammer. A water hammer occurs when a closed valve prevents the rush of water traveling through the pipe. This sound is alarming for a reason; the pipes can be damaged by the smacking, which loosens the joints. The cause of this is usually when the air chambers in the pipe valve have become clogged with water. This can be resolved by your local plumber; they can clear the air chambers and then replace the damaged parts.
Shaking Pipes
A plumbing pipe will always shake a little as water runs through and usually this is very hard to notice. If the shaking noise is louder, it means that the pipes are not secure and they are vibrating as the water passes through them. This may mean that the mounting straps that are used to secure the pipes are loose and need to be tightened. This will probably need to be corrected behind a wall and parts that have been damaged may also need to be replaced.
Gurgling Drains
When you hear loud gurgling in your drains, it is because of a clog that is blocking the water making its way into the drain. If the gurgling can be heard throughout the home, there may also be a problem with the drain vents. A plumber may need to vent the drains to remove any air bubbles which are trapped there and remove any clogs.
High Pitched Whining
This is often a noise that could also be described as loud screeching sound. This sound is coming from a valve when you turn on a faucet, and you may hear a high pitched whine just before the water starts to flow. A screeching faucet usually has a defective or loose part inside the faucet that will need to be fixed. In many cases, it may be a better option just to replace the entire faucet with a modern faucet. If you have expensive or vintage faucets, the faulty parts will need to be tightened or even replaced entirely.
Most of the time your
home plumbing will work without making any appreciable sound at all. If you hear something unusual, it’s a good sign that there is a problem that needs to be identified and fixed. If the problem is ignored, it will not go away on its own, and it may be harder and more expensive to fix later.
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.
