Plumbing Tip: Common Plumbing Noises and What to Do About Them

Here at SPS Mechanical, we get a lot of phone calls from our Woodbury, NJ area customers about plumbing noises. There are many plumbing noises that are not cause for alarm and can be taken care of with a few simple steps.
The three main plumbing noise complaints that we get are, water hammer, whistling pipes, and creaking pipes. This post explains the potential cause and repair for each.

Water Hammer
Water hammer is a loud banging noise that is caused by abruptly turning off the water. This usually happens because there’s a leaky air cushioning in the pipe. This is an easy fix for a Woodbury, NJ plumber. An air chamber valve can be installed so that when the water is turned off, the valve closes and compresses the air. This slows the water down gradually so that there’s no hammering noise.

While it may seem like a minor issue, water hammering noises that are left unattended can eventually lead to water leaks and deterioration of the piping material. If you hear more of a chattering or rattling noise, there may be a loose pipe rubbing against another pipe or other metal objects. Call a professional plumbing contractor if you hear any hammering or rattling noises in your pipes.

Whistling Pipes
Both water hammering and whistling noises are caused by the momentum of the water flowing through a pipe that is too small to handle a large volume of water. Attaching a pressure reducing valve will eliminate both noises and help with other issues in the plumbing system as well. Whistling could also be caused by sediment buildup, so you may need a drain cleaning service.

Creaking Pipes
Another common noise that is often reported in homes is a creaking sound in walls or floors. This is caused by the expansion and contraction of hot water pipes. When hot water flows through the pipe, the pipe expands to some degree, and when the hot water is turned off, the pipe cools and contracts. This accounts for the creaking noise often heard by homeowners. A plumber can insulate the pipe or make a space in the surrounding building material, such as cutting a notch in the wood, to allow for the expansion of the pipe.

If you have questions or hear any of these noises, call a Woodbury, NJ area plumber at SPS Mechanical. We’ll diagnose the issue and have it fixed in no time. We are always happy to answer any plumbing questions, so call any time.