The majority of homeowners and building managers experience the pipes making strange noises at least once. Sometimes they are subtle, and in some instances, they sound like thunder. Water hammering is never fun and create havoc on your pipes. in the article below we’ll introduce you to the methods you can use to stop your pipes from making noise or at the very least minimize the hammering.
#1 Stop Water Hammer
Water hammers are one of the most common issues when it comes to noisy pipes. You’ll recognize this problem by hearing an unmistakable hammering sound once you’ve turned off a faucet or an appliance. The hammering is usually caused by air bubbles trapped in the pipes. To handle this issue, you will need to reset your home’s water system air chamber. Thankfully, we can help you fix this issue and stop your pipes from making noise. First, turn off the main water valve inside your home/building. Next up, turn on all the faucets until there’s no more water coming from them. That’s because you’ll need to drain the pipes completely. Once that’s done, turn on the main water valve. Most probably, that will resolve the issue of hammering.
Unfortunately, it’s possible that some air is still caught in the pipes and that the hammering continues. You’ll need to check the supply pipes if the method above proves unfit. Waves that come as a result of unsecured old water pipes might be the cause of the hammering. You’ll want to apply clips and plumber’s tape wherever needed to secure your supply piping. However, to be on the safe side, we suggest that you contact a plumbing professional.
#2 Handle the Pressure
Another reason why your pipes might form a band is high water pressure. Once water is forced through your piping at an incredible speed, it’s bound to cause some noise (it’ll crash all over the place). The sooner you handle this issue, the better. Luckily, it’s pretty easy to solve this problem. You’ll do it by finding the pressure meter & regulator on the back of your boiler or on your main line coming into your home/building. Adjust the pressure to be between 1-1.5 bar. Anything above the latter number will most probably make your pipes pretty noisy. Remember that some boilers don’t possess the meter & regulator. If you have one of these models inside your home, feel free to contact pros with experience in dealing with boilers.
Oh, and another thing: besides being wasteful, high water pressure might result in a broken dishwasher, washer, or just about any water-supplied automatic appliance. Also, remember that you’ll probably compromise most appliance warranties if your water pressure exceeds 6 bar (which is too much if you compare it to the numbers we’ve shown you above).
#3 Replace Parts
Have you noticed a whistling sound coming from your pipes? This paragraph might help you stop your pipes from making noise. We can differentiate between two types of whistling sounds: whistling in the pipes and whistling by certain faucets/valves. Let’s consider the latter first. If you’ve noticed that only one or two of your faucets are whistling away their days once they run, you’ll want to point the finger in the direction of a worn washer or a loose brass screw, or even the grimy aerator you’ll be able to find inside the faucet itself. Thankfully, the solution to this issue is relatively simple: shut off the main water supply and replace the parts mentioned above.
It is also possible that the whistling noise is coming from multiple places or even the entire plumbing system of your property. If that’s the case, you might be dealing with too much mineral buildup. Also, whistling might be caused by a worn-out main water supply valve or an inefficient water pressure regulator. Anyway, you’ll want to rely on professionals for this one since there is very little you can do if the whole system whistles.
#4 Got Copper Piping? Read this!
You probably remember this from elementary school, but metals tend to expand and contract with temperature changes. Certain metals, cush as copper, are more prone to making noises. Actually, copper piping’s not unusual when we’re talking about contemporary homes and buildings. Therefore, it’s not so hard to assume that the fact your pipes are made from copper might have something to do with the noise. Even though this isn’t such a significant problem (as pipes are made to withstand heavy pressure), here are a couple of solutions:
- If you can access your home’s pipework easily, insulate it with foam rubber to reduce or prevent friction.
- You can adjust & lower the hot water temperature a little bit. That way, you’ll prevent the heavy expansion of copper.
If all else fails, contact professional plumbers. Sometimes even plumbers can’t easily access your home’s pipework. If you’re worried about your home’s inventory being damaged during the piping repairs, the moving and storage experts at Affordable Reliable Moving Company suggest you rent out some storage space. There isn’t a better option for keeping your stuff safe & secure.
#4 Hammer Arrestors
Hammer arrestors are devices that help eliminate water hammering. They are fairly easy to install on you shutoff valves/angle stops. Essentially the job of the arrestor is to absorb the air that is in the line. If you were to buy the arrestors yourself, you should be able to purchase each anywhere from $16-44 per arrestor.
Final thoughts
Hopefully, you have learned a lot from our guide on how to stop your pipes from making noise. Now you’re well aware that pipe noise could result from many issues. Also, now you know that, even though it’s possible to handle the problem yourself in some cases, your best bet is to reach out to professional plumbers.
Meta description: If the pipes in your home are acting up and constantly banging, screeching, humming or whistling, we have tips on how to stop your pipes from making noise.
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