Diagnose Plumbing Noises in 2 Steps

December 1, 2016

By Baker Brothers

Posted in: Preventive Maintenance, Plumbing Inspections

Information Shared by Baker Brothers Plumbing Dallas

Do you hear that noise? There – the one that sounds like it’s coming from your plumbing? What is that?

It could be a variety of things, and to figure it out, you need to know two things: where is the noise coming from, and what does the noise sound like?

NOISES FROM THE TOILET: The toilet is making noise, or something near the toilet, anyway. Does it sound like:

-Whistling in the pipes? If the sound comes and goes, it is probably a slow leak in your toilet fill valve. To determine which toilet is causing the sound, remove the lid of each toilet in your home and adjust the fill valve until the sound stops.

OR

-Vibrating in the wall when you flush the toilet? This might also be the toilet’s fill valve. If it goes bad, it can dry out and become brittle. Instead of sealing properly, it bounces and rattles, sending vibrations down the pipe. Open the toilet tank and lift the fill valve arm. If the noise stops, you’ve got your culprit. If this is your problem, you’ll need a new fill valve mechanism.

PIPE NOISES: The pipes make a noise when I use the faucet or shower.

-There’s a banging noise when I turn the faucet off. This usually happens for one of two reasons:

1. Loose pipes: If your pipes are not well-secured in the walls, they can make a banging noise when the water passes through them and then comes to a stop.
2. Water hammer: Similarly, because water moves through your pipes with force, that force needs to go somewhere when the water is stopped. Water hammer happens when the pipe flexes to absorb the water’s force and knocks against nearby material. This can be addressed by installing a water hammer arrestor, which absorbs the force created by the water.

OR

-There’s a “whooshing” sound when the faucet or shower is on. This typically indicates buildup in your pipes, which isn’t serious in and of itself, but can lead to problems over time.

WATER HEATER NOISES: The water heater rumbles when it’s operating. This usually means that there is a buildup of sediment at the bottom of the heater, and water is getting trapped in the sediment and boiling. This causes the water heater to operate inefficiently, and should be remedied as soon as possible; otherwise, you’ll be throwing money down the drain.

With just a few simple tips, it’s a lot easier to diagnose where your plumbing problems are occurring. It’s one less step to go through with your plumber, and can help you save time and money. If you have trouble figuring out where your issues lies, or need help fixing it, just give Baker Brothers a call.