Pipes do a lot for our properties, from transporting water to keeping gas in motion and the indoor temperature in check. If you’re looking around and asking, “Why do my pipes make noise?” you may rightfully have cause for concern. Casper Friendly Services, a top plumber in Neptune, NJ, explains more below, including how to approach banging noises and other strange sounds in the plumbing.
What Noises Might You Hear From Your Neptune, NJ, Property’s Pipes?
If you’ve started hearing noises from your pipes, you may wonder what they mean. If your water line is making more noise than you think it should, which noises signal expensive repairs or situations where you need to call a plumber right away?
Below, we’ve categorized the water pipe noises you might be encountering, why they’re happening, and the suggested course of action.
#1 Banging
If you hear banging noises from your pipes, this could be an issue with your water pressure or with how your water runs through a certain channel. Anything from air bubbles to water hammers could be an issue, which is why if you hear banging, it’s a good idea to schedule a professional service provider for an assessment.
Trapped air results in a loud, occasional bang out of your pipes. You might hear it as you run the water, whether it be from your showerhead, faucet, or washing machine.
#2 Humming
While the humming of the sewing machines at Immanuel Steiner’s silk pajama factory in Neptune, NJ, was once the sound of success, your pipes should be silent. If you hear your property’s pipe system humming, there could be vibrating from the inside due to high water pressure.
Often, this is due to the water heater or a water tank causing pressure that exceeds 55 PSI. Excess pressure isn’t good for your pipes’ shelf life. Don’t wait to ask a local professional like Casper Friendly Services to take a look.
#3 Gurgling
Are you wandering around your Monmouth County house listening to gurgling sounds and wondering, “Why do my pipes make noise?” Unfortunately, gurgling sounds from your pipes are a sign of a clog somewhere. It could be in any of the pipes, whether you’re using them to run your showers or flush the toilet.
The gurgling may sound like extra-long drainage, as though your pipes are taking a little longer to flush water through the system. Luckily, this is a relatively simple fix that doesn’t cause much damage to your pipework. Call a plumber like Casper Friendly Services to fix it.
#4 Whistling
The only whistling you should be hearing is on a stroll through one of Neptune, NJ’s four beautiful parks. High-pitched whistling or screeching from your property’s pipes is never a good sign, since this noise may be coming from a valve.
If you hear a high-pitched whining sound, the washers near your appliances are likely to blame. Sealant often wears down, and while this doesn’t result in a total system failure, the sound serves as a warning before the component completely breaks. If you notice sounds while running appliances, you’ll want a reliable plumber to come and repair or replace things.
#5 Dripping
One of the most obvious noises from your pipes is dripping or splashing. If you hear this, you may want to be looking at your floors and ceilings rather than in your pipework–you likely have a leak.
Leaks sometimes result from clogs. When you call your local plumber, specify where you suspect or see the leak and when the noises began. The professional will want to assess these details to resolve the situation more efficiently.
What Are the Most Common Causes of Water Pipe Noises?
Why do my pipes make noise? Answers mean you can properly address the issue rather than letting it linger and bring further damage. If the noise indicates water and pressure buildup and you ignore it, damage to the inside of your pipework or appliances won’t be far away.
Here are some common causes of these strange pipe noises:
#1 Water Pressure
Due to your water pressure regulator, your pipes have a water pressure that doesn’t exceed a specific limit. If these components falter, this could lead to higher water pressure. In turn, that will place undue stress on your pipes and cause high-pitched noises to come screaming out of them.
The safest option here would be to locate the main water valve for your home and turn it off completely. If you run the system with pressure issues, you risk pipe and property damage.
#2 Air Bubbles
Air bubbles can happen in your pipes for various reasons, whether due to nature or recent repair work. Banging, bubbling, and even humming can be indicative of air bubbles.
To keep your pipes from encountering bursts, move quickly if you hear air bubbles. Find your main water valve and shut the water down. You’ll want to drain the air bubble out for a reset.
#3 Water Hammer
Why do my pipes make noise when there’s been a recent storm? What air flowed into your pipes during the storm? Like air bubbles, a water hammer can cause banging inside your pipework.
You might have noticed your shower or a faucet sputtering while there’s a banging sound in the pipes. If so, you’re likely dealing with a water hammer. To amend this issue, you can get a plumber to install a PRV onto your system to keep the hammering sounds to a minimum.
How To Handle a “Water Hammer” Issue
If you want to get water hammer surprises out of earshot manually, you could empty your pipes. Because water hammers are just pockets of air in your pipes causing undue water pressure, an expert will follow these steps to get the water coming through normally again:
- Turn off your water. Use the main water valve in your home to switch things off.
- Drain all pipes. Run the water until it drains out, including faucets you may not often use, like basement sinks, guest room showers, and anywhere else with water hammer noises.
- Turn on your water main again. Running your water through your pipes is a great way to test if your water is working again without issue.
- Call a plumber for an inspection. Draining may not be enough. If you want a foolproof solution, consider contacting a plumber to double-check everything.
#4 Clogged Pipes
Clogged pipes often cause waterway issues, although the clogs themselves may not always be what you think they are. While many would expect hair and kitchen debris to make up most of your pipe clogs, other objects get in the way, too. Think of toys flushed down the toilet, paint from a project scraped into the drain, or oil mistakenly poured down a kitchen drain.
All kinds of blockages can make their way into your pipes to obstruct your Neptune, NJ, property’s water and your weekend plans. Blockages can include items like:
- Food: Despite our best efforts, some food ends up down the drain instead of in the trash or compost heap.
- Grease: Sometimes, grease buildup can happen, no matter how careful we are.
- Hair: This inevitable and constant supply of hair mostly comes with shower use.
- Wet wipes: While some wipes are flushable, don’t assume that’s the case.
- Tree roots: Girdling roots can suffocate trees and pipes alike.
Plumbers Are Happy To Help
When clogs happen, it’s best to call a professional plumber to fix the issue. While a DIY solution like a handmade pipe snake might solve a smaller, shallow toilet-sized issue, a plumber can help with those clogs deep inside your property’s pipe network.
Do you have long-standing, gradually building clogs, such as mineral blockages from hard water or clogs from tree roots? A plumber’s consultation for fixing these things might prove helpful. Be sure to ask for a free quote!
#5 Loose Piping
Unfortunately, loose piping is one of the most hazard-inducing problems you can have. Shaking pipes makes the problem worse. However, leaving this kind of problem unattended for too long could turn into a more serious issue, like a leak or break in the piping.
If there’s rattling, shaking in your walls, or even banging, you may have a loose piping issue that requires a plumber to fix.
Ghost Your Pipe Issues With Casper Friendly Services in Neptune, NJ, and Beyond
Now you know the potential answers to the question, “Why do my pipes make noise?” Why not allow Casper Friendly Services to provide you with other such answers to common homeowner questions? We have all the plumbing and HVAC solutions you could need, including HVAC tips for summer and advice on how to keep your house cool while saving money on electricity costs.
Let’s make all your plumbing problems vanish! We strive to make our process seamless so that you can get back to what you love about home ownership: living in it. Contact Casper Friendly Services today for a free consultation in Neptune, NJ–call 732-759-4568 today!