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You are here: Homepage » Piping & Fitting » Noisy Pipes

Noisy Pipes

Banging, cracking, rattling, whistling – noisy pipes and fittings are not to be ignored, they may indicate serious plumbing problems. Learn how to listen to, and quiet noisy water pipes.

Don't ignore the sound your plumbing pipes make. Noisy pipes require prompt diagnosis and repair. Submit the adjacent form to receive plumbing estimates on repair services by local plumbers.

Water Hammer

Noisy pipes can take the form of loud banging resonating after closing hot or cold water flow - this is a water hammer problem. The water hammer effect describes the loud banging noise that occurs when water slams into a closed valve after traveling at high speeds down a pipe. If not repaired, the repeated collision of water against the closed valve can damage the pipes and fittings overtime. Air cushions are inserted into specific locations in the plumbing system in order to absorb the energy of water and prevent it from crushing against a closed valve. Usually water hammer noises indicate that air has leaked out of their chambers. Refilling air chambers will fix water hammers.

To Refill air chambers:

Turn off water supply to the home.

Open a few ground-level faucets around the home to drain the system. Draining the pipes will also refill the air chambers.

Ask your plumber to install a water hammer arrester where the sound originates if the above steps could not silence the noisy pipes.

Cracking

As hot water flows in a metal pipe, it also heats up and slightly expands the line. The pipe will cool down and contract once hot water no longer flows through. The expansion and contraction of metal water pipes make the creaks or cracking sounds. Insulating the pipe will most probably stop the noise.

Rattling

When you hear your pipes rattling or shaking every time water shoots through them, most likely they are loosely attached. The pressure of water running through loosely attached pipes makes them vibrate against the wall, also creating the rattling noise. Secure the pipe in place or cushion the pipe to stop the rattling noise.

Whistling

When water flows through a restricted section of the plumbing pipe a whistling sound is created. The restriction is usually caused by interior sediment accumulation, or a defective washer or valve. If the whistling sound occurs each time you turn on a particular faucet, replacing its washer or valve will probably rectify the problem. If the whistling occurs when any faucet is open, the restriction may be located in the main water supply valve. Try adjusting water pressure, but if the whistling noise persists a plumber may have to replace the water valve itself.

Listen to your noisy water pipes to know how to fix them. Left untreated, noisy pipes usually escalates into costly emergencies such as burst pipes, rusty pipes or leaking pipes. Don't delay repair. Submit the form on your right to receive local plumbing quotes.