Do you hear that? Plumbing noises are a common occurrence. Some are a new development, and other noises people can live with for a long time without knowing the cause. It is no surprise, with all the pressure that your plumbing deals with daily, that it will make an occasional bump. However, when plumbing noises get loud, you may have to investigate the cause. Noises can indicate a problem.

Whistling

Does your faucet whistle when you turn it on? The whistle could indicate that the parts are wearing out, such as your aerator or a loose screw. Replacing the faucet or the individual parts will often fix these plumbing noises. If you cannot tell where the whistling is coming from, but you hear it when you turn on your water, this could indicate other problems. Water supply valves or an issue with the pressure regulator are common culprits. Even mineral build-up can cause a whistle in your plumbing.

Vibrating

As far as plumbing noises go, vibrating can be subtle but no less annoying. Too much water pressure can vibrate your pipes which in some cases will cause a thrumming noise. Your home water pressure should not exceed 80 psi. If you suspect your water pressure may be too high, you should have your water pressure tested or install a pressure regulator. When the pressure is too high, it can damage your plumbing in the long run just from the water rocketing around your pipes.

Hammering

Hammering is a common issue. You will notice a bang when you turn the water off. The sound is made by high water pressure hitting the shut-off valve or walls of the pipe. If you leave the hammering alone for too long, it can damage the connections in your pipes. The damage could lead to a greater issue further down the line. This is a good example of when plumbing noises can indicate a bigger problem.

Gurgling

A gurgling noise coming from the plumbing in your walls could indicate an obstruction in your pipes that is causing the noise as the water drains. It could be a build-up in your pipes, or an object lodged in your plumbing. A plumber can help you clean out the deep clogs in your drain and get rid of that annoying gurgling.

Do any of these plumbing noises sound familiar? Get it checked out by a professional plumber. Valley Fire Protection & Plumbing can help you diagnose the issue and we can fix anything we discover. We also have a 24-hour emergency service in case one of those noises evolves into a larger issue.

Related Topics: plumbing noises // Residential Plumbing

By: Tom Hartel

I acquired my expertise by directing day-to-day operations of the business for over 20 years. Continuous hard work helped me become a nationally recognized speaker and expert on fire protection, fire sprinklers, special hazards, and plumbing systems. In this blog, I share my knowledge that will hopefully help you make better decisions for your projects.