You’re laying in bed and you’ve finally gotten comfortable. Just as your close your eyes, you hear it. A loud, angry-sounding, banging noise coming from your pipes. What is that? Don’t worry – your house isn’t haunted! That sound may be the result of water hammers, loose mounts or water pressure. Below, we reveal three common causes of noisy pipes and what to do.
Reason 1: You may be hearing water hammers.
What are water hammers? A water hammer, also known as a fluid hammer or hydraulic shock, is caused when the liquid in a pipe is forced to stop quickly or change the direction it’s flowing, which changes the momentum. The swift change in motion or stop of motion causes a vibration that sounds similar to a hammer hitting something.
If you believe water hammers are your problem, there is an easy DIY solution.
Step 1. Turn off the water supply.
Step 2. Drain the pipes. This means you need to open all the faucets, flush all your toilets and run the dishwasher and washing machine (if you have them)
Step 3. Turn back on the water supply.
Reason 2: Your water pressure may be too high.
Depending on the age of your home, you likely have a water pressure regulator. If your home is older you may not have one, but can hire a professional plumber to install one for you. When your water pressure is too high, not only can it cause your pipes to shake and make noises, it can damage appliances like your dishwasher and washing machine. We recommend that your water is delivered through your home’s pipes between 30 and 80 psi (pounds per square inch) to keep things moving efficiently.
Have your home’s water pressure tested by a local plumber and talk to them about where your water pressure regulator is located (or if you even have one). If your water pressure isn’t the problem, they can still professionally identify what is.
Reason 3: You have loose mounting straps.
This may be the easiest cause to identify and fix. Mounting straps hold your pipes in place and when they are lose the pipes have room to rattle and shake. If you suspect this to be the source of the noise, inspect all of the pipes that you can access and see if the mounts need to be tightened.
If you are ready to rest easy without pipes rattling contact the plumbers at Mr. Plumber Plumbing Company. For over 40 years we have served San Antonio and the surrounding areas for all of their plumbing needs. For water heaters, slab leak repair, drain cleaning, sewer line inspection, bathroom plumbing and more, call The Good Guys in Blue.
