Post by Tumbleweed on Dec 13, 2007 3:06:27 GMT -6
While I was chit chatting with my brother I asked him why my pipes made a banging noise when the faucet was shut off. I told him it only happens with the 2nd floor bathroom sink faucet. Well, I'm embarrassed to say I somehow must of gotten side tracked with all the hubbub going on around me and only heard something about an "air chamber". Nice of me to ask a question and then not listen to the answer, huh? Rather than ask him to repeat what he told me I did a search on the net and after visiting many sites and finding a consensus among plumbing
experts I've come up with these solutions to various plumbing noises. I'd name my sources but there were so many I'll just thank the world-wide-web and use my own words to explain it.
There are three types of typical noises from pipes. One is a bang as the water shuts off. Second is banging as you are running water. And lastly, there are screeching noises.
One of these things will very likely solve your problems.
1. If you know the bang only happens when a particular faucet is shut off you may need to replace the washer in the faucet. If you have a one piece faucet which controls the warm and cold such as a Moen faucet you will need to purchase a "washer-less replacement cartridge". Prices range from $6 to $40 depending on what faucet you have. Washers for regular two piece faucets probably run around a couple bucks.
2. You may have a pipe that is banging against a wall.
Check that all visible pipes are fairly secure with padding, such as rubber, but not so secure they have no movement for expansion and contraction. If you have very few hangers or strapping holding your pipes in place add a few where you think the trouble spots are. If the pipe problem seems to be in a wall you still may be able to put rubber padding at the point it goes into the wall and if you can find where it comes out put some there too. The example below is just one type of pipe strap. There are dozens of more inventive designs out there. Note: Don't use galvanized straps on copper pipes, btw.
3. You may have water logged or clogged air chambers or you may not have any air chambers at all.
If you are quite certain it isn't the faucet washer or a pipe banging against the wall the first thing you need to try is to restore the air chambers in your pipes - even if you are uncertain whether you have any or not, as they can be behind walls. Turn off the water at the main shutoff valve. Open all faucets to drain the system including flushing your toilet. Turn the water back on and the air chambers should fill with air. Note: If you have one of those pop-on-pop-off adapters on your outdoor faucet and you left your hose out in the sun it may be an issue as well. (Sorry, I don't quite understand why but it seems one guy found that was his problem)
During my research it came to my attention that new homes are required to have "house arresters" and they are usually installed in the walls.
House arresters are the "cushions" that keep your pipes from banging. It depends upon your city code but most new houses have one house arrester installed every 6-8 feet for horizontal runs and 8-10 feet for vertical runs.
In my case, my home was built in 1925 and I can't find anything that resembles a air chamber or house arrester. I also found that many of my pipes need the strapping either adjusted or strapping installed. Guess I have my work cut out for me.
I did find there isn't total meeting of the minds, out in cyberspace, but most say if you are going to install a house arrester you should put it as close to the offending shut off valve as you can.
I'll tell you right now there are many types of house arresters from the simple do-it-yourself version, to ones with bladders, to ones with a gas chamber. I personal am leaning toward the gas chamber because they can be installed horizontally or vertically and just seem to be the ones that would last. Just my personal opinion.
Gas chambered house arrester
The do-it-yourself version is making a cut in your copper pipes near the shutoff valve, installing a t-fitting on both the hot and cold pipes and attaching a vertical section of copper pipe with a cap on the end. The vertical section can be as tall as you want - the taller the better as that means more air for a cushion and the more air the less often will you have to drain all your pipes to restore air.
If you find your toilet seems to be the problem you can bend the pipe upward and zig-zag behind the toilet tank. Talk to your hardware store for the proper fittings.
If you think your clothes or dishwasher is causing the bang after it finishes it's filling cycle try turning the water valves closed a bit. You can fiddle with this to see if it helps. If it doesn't you may need to install a air chamber or house arrester.
4. Your water pressure may be too high.
You can purchase a water gauge for as little as $20.00 and as much as $60.00. I will tell you now there was no consensus from the experts on how much PSI (Pounds per Square Inch)is too much. Some say anything over 55psi and others say 80psi is too much. I would check with your water utility supplier and perhaps at a hardware store just for a couple opinions.
If you find your water pressure is indeed too high you can purchase a pressure-reducing valve and install it or call a plumber to install it.
Oh, and I also had a friend who had a odd ticking noise and after many plumber visits it turned out to the water meter ticking was carrying through the pipes. I think this has to be a rare thing as I found nothing on the internet regarding this issue. You'd need to take this up with your water utility company as my friend did. Not sure if it was ever fixed.
Squeaking or screeching pipes can only be caused by the hot water pipes because of expansion and contraction. The friction against the strap or V-hangers causes the screeching. You may also hear a lot of popping or banging if the V-hanger is too snug. As it expands it pops out of the snug V. A solution is to make sure there is padding, loosen it up a bit or even bend the V into a more curved hanger.
Please excuse any errors, bad grammer, etc. It is 3:00 A.M. and I'm tired. LOL
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experts I've come up with these solutions to various plumbing noises. I'd name my sources but there were so many I'll just thank the world-wide-web and use my own words to explain it.
There are three types of typical noises from pipes. One is a bang as the water shuts off. Second is banging as you are running water. And lastly, there are screeching noises.
One of these things will very likely solve your problems.
1. If you know the bang only happens when a particular faucet is shut off you may need to replace the washer in the faucet. If you have a one piece faucet which controls the warm and cold such as a Moen faucet you will need to purchase a "washer-less replacement cartridge". Prices range from $6 to $40 depending on what faucet you have. Washers for regular two piece faucets probably run around a couple bucks.
2. You may have a pipe that is banging against a wall.
Check that all visible pipes are fairly secure with padding, such as rubber, but not so secure they have no movement for expansion and contraction. If you have very few hangers or strapping holding your pipes in place add a few where you think the trouble spots are. If the pipe problem seems to be in a wall you still may be able to put rubber padding at the point it goes into the wall and if you can find where it comes out put some there too. The example below is just one type of pipe strap. There are dozens of more inventive designs out there. Note: Don't use galvanized straps on copper pipes, btw.
3. You may have water logged or clogged air chambers or you may not have any air chambers at all.
If you are quite certain it isn't the faucet washer or a pipe banging against the wall the first thing you need to try is to restore the air chambers in your pipes - even if you are uncertain whether you have any or not, as they can be behind walls. Turn off the water at the main shutoff valve. Open all faucets to drain the system including flushing your toilet. Turn the water back on and the air chambers should fill with air. Note: If you have one of those pop-on-pop-off adapters on your outdoor faucet and you left your hose out in the sun it may be an issue as well. (Sorry, I don't quite understand why but it seems one guy found that was his problem)
During my research it came to my attention that new homes are required to have "house arresters" and they are usually installed in the walls.
House arresters are the "cushions" that keep your pipes from banging. It depends upon your city code but most new houses have one house arrester installed every 6-8 feet for horizontal runs and 8-10 feet for vertical runs.
In my case, my home was built in 1925 and I can't find anything that resembles a air chamber or house arrester. I also found that many of my pipes need the strapping either adjusted or strapping installed. Guess I have my work cut out for me.
I did find there isn't total meeting of the minds, out in cyberspace, but most say if you are going to install a house arrester you should put it as close to the offending shut off valve as you can.
I'll tell you right now there are many types of house arresters from the simple do-it-yourself version, to ones with bladders, to ones with a gas chamber. I personal am leaning toward the gas chamber because they can be installed horizontally or vertically and just seem to be the ones that would last. Just my personal opinion.
Gas chambered house arrester
The do-it-yourself version is making a cut in your copper pipes near the shutoff valve, installing a t-fitting on both the hot and cold pipes and attaching a vertical section of copper pipe with a cap on the end. The vertical section can be as tall as you want - the taller the better as that means more air for a cushion and the more air the less often will you have to drain all your pipes to restore air.
If you find your toilet seems to be the problem you can bend the pipe upward and zig-zag behind the toilet tank. Talk to your hardware store for the proper fittings.
If you think your clothes or dishwasher is causing the bang after it finishes it's filling cycle try turning the water valves closed a bit. You can fiddle with this to see if it helps. If it doesn't you may need to install a air chamber or house arrester.
4. Your water pressure may be too high.
You can purchase a water gauge for as little as $20.00 and as much as $60.00. I will tell you now there was no consensus from the experts on how much PSI (Pounds per Square Inch)is too much. Some say anything over 55psi and others say 80psi is too much. I would check with your water utility supplier and perhaps at a hardware store just for a couple opinions.
If you find your water pressure is indeed too high you can purchase a pressure-reducing valve and install it or call a plumber to install it.
Oh, and I also had a friend who had a odd ticking noise and after many plumber visits it turned out to the water meter ticking was carrying through the pipes. I think this has to be a rare thing as I found nothing on the internet regarding this issue. You'd need to take this up with your water utility company as my friend did. Not sure if it was ever fixed.
Squeaking or screeching pipes can only be caused by the hot water pipes because of expansion and contraction. The friction against the strap or V-hangers causes the screeching. You may also hear a lot of popping or banging if the V-hanger is too snug. As it expands it pops out of the snug V. A solution is to make sure there is padding, loosen it up a bit or even bend the V into a more curved hanger.
Please excuse any errors, bad grammer, etc. It is 3:00 A.M. and I'm tired. LOL
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