A quiet plumbing system is the best kind of all. Not that even brand new plumbing doesn’t make a certain amount of noise, mind you. But for most people, the sound of water hitting the surface their stainless -steel sink or splashing onto them during their morning shower isn’t noise at all. Just a welcome and normal part of everyday life.
Still, there are those plumbing noises that are entirely unwelcome, or at least should be. Let’s identify them:
Banging or Clanging
Do you ever hear a loud bang or similar noise when you turn off a faucet while your dish washer or washing machine is running? If so, and the only time it happens is when water is running elsewhere, the problem is likely “water hammer,” which is caused by change in pressure that sends a shock through the pipes. If the problem persists, it can result in one or more water leaks.
Running Water
Water can’t run by itself, right? Actually, it can – in a manner of speaking. Let’s say you’re all settled in for the night, safely tucked in under your covers. And you were the last one to bed. But that doesn’t stop the sound of running water manifesting itself, and it’s not the TV, because you’ve already shut them all off. It IS, however, the sound of water running in your toilet, caused by a faulty flush valve.
Tick, Tick, Tick
Okay, nobody wants to live in a haunted house, or even one that sounds haunted. Still, your plumbing can tick, and that can be pretty creepy, especially when you’re all alone. There are three probable causes of ticking plumbing: a problem with your water meter, expansion and contraction in your pipes, or a loose or unstable pipe. If the ticking only occurs when water is running, it probably stems from your water meter, and a call to your water company should set the wheels in motion for a long-term solution.
High-Pitched Sounds
Suddenly you hear someone singing in the shower, but there are two little problems with that theory – you’re the only one taking a shower and no one else in the house singing. In that case, it must be the sound of your plumbing. Specifically, you might have a worn pressure-reducing valve in your kitchen or bathroom. Or, it might mean your whole-house pressure-reducing valve needs an adjustment.
Whether you realize it or not, your ears know “normal” from “abnormal” sounds around your house, and that includes your plumbing. So, the next time you hear something that doesn’t sound quite right, contact Burton – your Omaha plumber for all seasons, and all reasons.
