Why Your Pipes Are Making Noises and How to Make Them Stop

You probably won't pay too much attention to noise if you have a busy household with shouting children, barking dogs, and a blaring TV. After a while, everything becomes background noise until you have your very own quiet time to wind down, whether it's doing the dishes in peace, sorting your laundry in the utility room, or finally, running a relaxing bath. When you're focusing on the here and now, you're more aware of your surroundings and will likely pay more attention to little things that may strike you as out of the ordinary.

If you're not reading any horror stories, don't let any noisy pipes catch you off guard until you have investigated them. It will involve entering the utility or boiler room if you have exposed pipes that could give you some clues on where noises are coming from. It also helps to clearly detect the type of sound, as it will usually help you diagnose the problem. From water pressure issues to flow issues, in this guide, we'll help you be a plumbing doctor and better understand your water supply lines, especially when you have noisy pipes in the house that are causing concerns.

Your licensed local plumbers at Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Mississauga have the experience and tools to safely repair damaged supply lines and regulate water pressure. Our uniformed experts are licensed and insured, making us your most trusted plumbing company for preventative maintenance and effective repairs. Once you bring any warning signs to our attention, we will help you learn how to identify the root causes of your noisy pipes and how to prevent them. This way, you won’t have to deal with costly plumbing repairs in the future.

Pipes Making Noise: Different Noises and Solutions

1. Loud Bangs

Since your plumbing can send you various types of warning signs via sounds, it’s important not to ignore them and treat them immediately. Common plumbing sounds include loud bangs that can be similar to a knocking sound or a hammering sound. This happens in many homes that have copper pipework and experience the so-called “water hammer” noise. It’s possible for this noise to appear from out of nowhere due to changes in your water pressure. You can check with your municipality for any changes that they might have executed unless you have made some changes while replacing plumbing fixtures. There are many reasons for pipes making noise. 1960s homes that still have their original plumbing systems are overdue for a replacement. Although copper pipes can last between 70 and 80 years and are considered more durable, they will still corrode after such a long period of time. Even more so if the pH level in your supply is high. Acidic water will leach copper (and iron if you have cast iron) from the inside of your supply lines and deposit scale. It’s a sign of corrosion that you need to deal with immediately. When you hear damaging noises, they are also capable of causing leaks in your pipes’ joint areas.

However, if you experience noisy pipes in a newer home where you have updated plumbing, it’s crucial that you take immediate action to stop the hammer noise from damaging your supply lines.

Pay attention to when the noise happens. Do you hear the loud bang when you shut off your faucet? When your faucet valve shuts, the water flow is forced to stop instantly. And because lots of energy and pressure are involved during that flow, this sudden halt creates a huge impact as though running against the wall. Hence, this sudden banging noise. Water hammers indicate a high-pressure problem that you need to regulate before any damages occur.

Your appliances like dishwashers and washing machines are also common culprits causing hammer noises.

Solutions:

Get your professional plumber to install an anti-hammer device or water hammer arrestors to absorb the shock that causes pipes to make noise. Our expert plumbers will install that device close to the pump or check the valve or wherever the hammer originates. It will depend on how your supply lines are installed.

Another option is to create a new air chamber, which means installing a vertical pipe that helps regulate the pressure. This way, water won’t be able to form any harsh waves in your copper pipes. Most newly built homes should already have air chambers as a safety measure. (Note: Air chambers are prone to water clogs and require annual maintenance.) While waiting for your certified plumber to install these preventive measures for you, you can use some foam insulation wrap to ease your noisy pipes.

Lastly, if you have no control over regulating your supply lines' pressure, contact your municipality to see if they're responsible for it. Otherwise, your expert plumber will install a water pressure-reducing valve, so you have better control over your plumbing system.

2. Whistles

You may experience two types of whistling sounds in your plumbing system. One is noisy pipes, whereas the other is a faulty plumbing fixture, such as your faucet or valve.

If you suspect the whistle comes from your faucet, it likely has a worn washer ring. Check that small black rubber disk sitting on the compression couplings. It’s designed to keep the joints tight to avoid leaks. If you hear whistling noises and experience leaks, your plumber can quickly replace the loose washer for you and ensure your entire faucet is in decent condition without sediment buildup and mineral clogs.

Besides your faucet, you may have a hissing toilet tank where your ballcock valve (also known as the fill valve) shows signs of wear. It's designed to refill your tank and control water flow during a flush. The valve connects to a ball-shaped float that determines the water level and shuts off the refill once the fill line is reached. If you hear any noises afterwards, you probably have fluid escaping down the overflow tube.

Noisy water pipes that are whistling usually have a problem with water flow. Every valve has a different flow rate, and whistles can occur when water is forced harshly past an obstruction within the lines.

When you look down your drain opening, you might notice that you have some mineral buildup. Besides soap and other debris that you wash down the drain, keep in mind that you may have hard water in your area. Mineral content in your supply pipes has a huge impact on your overall plumbing performance. Over time, calcium and magnesium content stick to your pipes' interior and begin to narrow the pipe walls. The same can happen to your supply pipes. When the whistling sounds are left untreated, you'll have pipes making noise and no water running. This issue could lead to supply pipes bursting behind walls and causing water damage of even a basement flood.

Solutions:

At Mr. Rooter Plumbing, we pride ourselves on our expert drain cleaning services which are accompanied by thorough plumbing diagnoses and inspections. This same service applies to water line cleaning due to mineral buildup affecting your hot and cold water lines. After a successful inspection service, during which we have ensured a healthy but obstructed pipe, our expert technicians will use our highly advanced HydroScrub® Jetting tool to clear your supply lines from any nasty obstructions, leaving behind clean pipes with optimal performance. You won’t have to worry about pipes making noise or clogging up any time soon. To prevent mineral buildup, why not install a water softener system to eliminate this problem?

If you have outdated plumbing fixtures that have suffered from wear and tear due to mineral clogs or other faulty parts, it's worth getting a plumbing expert's opinion in terms of parts or full replacement. Faucets that require a cartridge or washer exchange could have other problems, such as deposits stuck on the spout and aerator. Simply replacing these will often save you time and money. Toilets, on the other hand, are easily fixed with new parts. Tank materials are exposed to water all the time and suffer from wear after a few years. Exchanging a toilet flapper and adjusting the overflow tube will often serve wonders. Of course, it depends on your toilet type and model. Tankless systems have completely different functions and could also show signs of damage via hissing sounds. But due to their complex installation, you will need an experienced plumber to open up your plumbing to investigate the problem.

3. Gurgles

Pipes making noise aren’t just related to your supply pipes. Your drain lines can also show symptoms of problems via gurgling noises. When that happens, it's typically a sign of an obstruction that stops water from draining properly because air is trapped somewhere down the drains or even in your central heating pipes.

Whether you just finished brushing your teeth or came out of the bathtub, your drains shouldn't constantly be gurgling as the water flows away. Pipes making noise this way could only get worse by forming serious clogs unless you already have a serious clog that you don't know of. This may start with a clogged p-trap. When you don't get down to the root cause, your situation may worsen and escalate to slow drains and backups. This will make future problems worse and more difficult to manage.

Solutions:

The best DIY step towards tackling gurgling noises is to clear your drain opening from clogs. Remove your sink stopper and clear it from debris and hair; create a paste made of white vinegar and baking soda to scrub the sink opening and try to clear any remaining debris with hot water. The same applies to your kitchen or bathroom sinks, where you should be able to access your p-trap below your sink cabinet. The signs of a clogged p-trapped are often accompanied by gurgling noises, slow drain, and foul odours. If you have basic plumbing skills, we recommend that you detach your p-trap and clear out any clogs that may be causing your problem. And while you have closer access to your drain line, you can run your drain snake cable through that pipe to see if there is another clog nearby. Also, check your vent system and see if it’s blocked, as that would be one of the main reasons for sewer gas smells in your home.

Unfortunately, gurgling noises can indicate a sewer line problem, and it's wise to act sooner rather than later. If your DIY repairs don't fix the problem and you still have pipes making noise, we recommend hiring a certified plumber from Mr. Rooter Plumbing for a more detailed inspection. Problems might not be severe, and you might only need drain cleaning or sewer cleaning that will restore your pipes' functions.

Other Noise Issues in Pipes:

Some noises aren’t as noticeable, like vibrations for instance. You may experience vibrations that signal another pressure-related issue. While it’s easy to ignore vibration noises, we recommend calling a professional for analysis. Vibrations in your pipes could easily lead to leaks and a broken supply pipe. If you need assistance in locating your shut off valve or want to learn more about regulating the pressure in your supply lines, feel free to get in touch with your local plumbers for expert advice and service.

Noisy Pipes Be Gone! Trust Mr. Rooter Plumbing For an Efficient Job.

Experiencing annoying knocking noises every time you start your clothes washer or turn off your tap? Trust the professionals at Mr. Rooter Plumbing for experienced plumbing inspection and diagnosis services along with effective repair methods.

To learn more about our popular plumbing services or schedule a convenient appointment time, contact the team at Mr. Rooter Plumbing. We would love to show you why we are considered the best choice for noisy pipe repair services.