Banging.
Whistling.
Squealing.
Noises resonating through your house are unsettling. Take heed. Your plumbing system may be warning you of pending doom.
Messages From The Deep
Banging Pipes
High Water Pressure
When a faucet is turned on the water forcefully rushes through the water pipe and out the faucet. Turn the water off and the water slams to a halt bouncing off the pipes and the pipe fittings.
If your water pressure is above 80 PSI the extreme force of the water slamming to a halt when a faucet is turned off will cause the pipes to vibrate and release a hammering, chattering sound known as a ‘Water Hammer’.
This problem can be solved by installing a ‘reducing valve’. If you already have one then an adjustment should suffice.
Thermal Expansion
Sometimes the banging and creaking in your walls are caused by thermal expansion. This typically happens after the shower has been used in the evening. First, the pipes expand from the hot water running through them and then contract when they cool down. If the expansion and contraction is extreme and if the pipe is against something in the home, it’s going to make that distinct banging sound.
The installation of a thermal expansion tank will absorb these slight volume changes and prevents the pressure fluctuations that can damage your plumbing system.
Whistling Sounds
Musical Faucets
A whistling sound from a running faucet indicates that the water is struggling pass an obstruction or through a narrowing in the pipes. If it’s simply a washer out of place the problem is easily fixed. On the other hand, if the squealing noise is caused by mineral deposits choking the flow of water in your pipes you may be facing a much bigger problem.
Serenading Toilets
Whistling noises from a toilet tank usually indicates that the ballcock valve may need to be repaired or adjusted.
Humming and singing toilets indicate that the water isn’t flowing as well as it should. When it screams at you, your toilet is probably trying to tell you that it has loose metal parts and that the valve is about to fail.
Leaks
There are two piping systems in your house; one delivers the water to your faucets (the water line), and the other takes away the water that you’ve used (the drain system).
The goal is to isolate the cause of the leak and determine if it’s related to the water line or the drain system. A constant leak that doesn’t stop or slow down, is probably linked to a water line because the water line has pressure in it all the time. The best course of action is to shut off the main water valve that sends water to the house. And call us before the water damages your home.
Leaking Toilets
Running toilets cause floors to rot, water bills to skyrocket, and septic tanks to revolt.
The good news? Toilets tend to be very verbal when they have a leak. If you hear running water or your toilet sounds like it’s flushing when no one has used it, you probably have water leaking out of the tank into the bowl from a leaky flapper or a faulty fill valve.
If your toilet makes a squishing sound or wobbles and rocks back and forth you’re sitting on a big problem. The flange and wax seal attach the toilet to the floor and when they are compromised water will begin leaking around the seal onto the floor and eventually cause rotting.
Drip, Drip, Dripping Faucets
Dripping faucets are way up there on the annoyance factor. Aside from the punishing sound, dripping faucets are hard on your plumbing system, drains, and water bill. A faucet dripping at a rate of one drop per second wastes 2700 gallons per year.
Dripping faucets are also a precursor to bigger plumbing problems. The good news: when we determine what caused your faucet to drip we have an opportunity to prevent bigger problems.
Why Is Your Faucet Dripping?
- High water pressure (anything above 80 psi), will cause excessive wear and tear damage to your faucets and pipes.
- Chlorine will, over time, break down rubber components of a faucet and cause it to drip.
- Water with Low pH is acidic and corrosive. It will eat through anything made out of metal including your faucets, pipes, and drains. If your well water is highly acidic, you can fix it before it becomes a serious headache in the future.
If poor water quality is eating away at your faucets, then it’s devouring your pipes and once water begins seeping through the small pinholes in your pipes there is no easy fix. Leaks are an indication that the pipes are wearing so thin replacement is on the horizon.
Occasional Leaks
If you see water stains on the ceiling below the bathroom or puddles of water when the toilet is flushed or when someone takes a shower or a bath, there’s a good chance that the issue is in the drain system. Stop using the fixture and call us. We’ll diagnose the problem and fix the problem.
You’ll be glad you called us. We 100% guarantee it.