Plumbing noise - help!

limey · #1 09/16/10, 12:50 PM

Lately my pipes have been emitting a long groaning noise, I can almost feel a reverberation, about 2 - 3 minutes after a toilet is flushed or water running from the taps. Any idea what it is? In the master bathroom the pipes almost squeal after running the water. It's most disconcerting and I don't know what is causing it, or how to fix it. Thanks for any help.

Limey

agmantoo · #2 09/16/10, 12:54 PM

The valve that lets the water into the tank has a problem with the rubber diaphragm that is under the 4 screws on the top of the valve itself.

Michael W. Smith · #3 09/16/10, 02:31 PM

Try turning the water inlet valve for the toilet and the sinks, just backing them off a little bit so they aren't "full on".

Our pipes rattled with the toilet, so I backed it off just a bit and it fixed it. Takes a little bit longer for the toilet to fill up, but other than that, no more pipe noises.

mnn2501 · #4 09/16/10, 02:32 PM

or you've got air in the lines

Micahn · #5 09/16/10, 03:10 PM

What it sounds like you have is a water hammer problem. What that means is that when your toilet shuts off it is stopping the water fast and the water has no where to go.
To the one who said you have air in your lines that is just the problem they do not have enough air.
All homes/buildings/plumbing systems has to have air in the lines to keep water hammers from happening. Most have what is called air chambers to do just that to trap air in the lines. What a air chamber is a short pipe above where the line comes out of the wall that is capped off.

What I would say to try first is shut off your water and open everything inside and out side your home and let it sit for a bit. That will let water drain out and hopefully let some air into the system. A air chamber can become water logged and the above should help with that.

Sure you could adjust your valve to slow down the water coming into your toilet and could stop it but that is just delaying a bigger problem.

Oh and anything like a washing machine with a fast water shut off can make water hammers happen.

limey · #6 09/16/10, 04:16 PM

Thank you. Funnily enough, it doesn't happen after the washing machine has run. I think I will try Micahn's advice at the weekend and also check the master bathroom toilet valve. By the way, Micahn, do you mean shut off the water from the main, or each plumbing device? thanks again.

Limey

Alice In TX/MO · #7 09/16/10, 05:54 PM

Shut off the water main. Then open everything, let it drain.

Micahn · #8 09/17/10, 12:04 AM

Like Alice said above.

It could only be happening in one part of the home, The reason why is maybe they did not put enough air chambers in that part of the home or loose pipe strapping that is letting the pipes rattle.

Think of water moving threw pipes like cars on a highway. As long as nothing is in the way every thing runs nice and smooth. As long as the front car lets the others know behind it that it is stopping every thing in fine. Something happens and the front car comes to a dead stop without warning and all the cars behind it are going to run right into the back of it and so on and so on.
The water running threw the pipes need time to slow down or some place to go. Air chambers give them that place to go.

limey · #9 09/17/10, 12:47 PM

OK - I get it. Thanks all. Just one more question - do I have to drain out the hot water? Seems a waste. Can I just drain all the cold water faucets?

Limey

Micahn · #10 09/17/10, 05:47 PM

You do not need to drain the Water heater. I would shut it off and drain both hot and cold sides. You may not have a problem with the hot side now but if your doing the cold you might as well do the hot at the same time. It can not hurt.
But I would shut the water heater off just to be safe.