The plumbing in your Anaheim home is designed to deliver water where it is needed, and hearing noises in the pipes is reason for concern. At HomeX Plumbing & Rooter, our plumbing experts help residents of southern California troubleshoot their plumbing systems to remedy odd sounds.
Repairing Plumbing Noises On Your Own
Plumbing noises normally indicate that there is a problem with the plumbing inside the walls, floors and ceilings of your home. Accessing the pipes, valves, connections and fasteners can be difficult if you are not familiar with residential plumbing designs. You can take some easy steps to fix the noise, but the repairs may not be easy, even for the most experienced DIY homeowners. You also want to know that the job is done properly, so it is best to leave the work to a professional technician from HomeX Plumbing & Rooter.
Are Plumbing Noises Emergencies?
Hearing noises come from your pipes may be alarming, but it does not necessarily mean that you have a plumbing emergency. For your peace of mind, though, we are always available to come by and take a look at the system. We can perform the necessary repairs and recommend upgrades to your plumbing to ensure that your family has the water it needs, and that your home is safe from water damage.
1. Thudding
Thudding sounds, also known as water hammering, is the most common sound that comes from the pipes of homes in Anaheim and southern California. This sounds like a loud vibrating noise inside the walls. It is caused by a rush of water traveling through the pipes and hitting a valve that is not open. Because the water has no path through the pipe, it hits the valve with force and causes the sound. Water hammering can damage the connections and pipes, so the problem needs to be addressed. Typically, this means that the air chamber is filled with water and needs to be flushed out to restore equilibrium in the plumbing system. We recommend that you have one of our technicians come take a look. If you notice the thudding sound on a regular basis, installing a water hammer arrestor may be recommended.
2. Mild Knocking
If you have an older home with copper pipes, you may notice a knocking sound when you use hot water in your home. The nature of copper means that it expands as hot water passes through the pipe, and then contracts as the metal cools. During this process, the pipes may rub against surrounding structures, such as joists, other pipes, brackets and studs. The expanding and contracting of the pipes is not enough to damage the plumbing, so it is mostly a nuisance. You can try to reduce the temperature setting on your hot water heater to see if that helps. Some people may recommend wrapping the pipes with foam, but this can be costly because you need to open up the walls to access the copper pipes.
3. Banging
Plumbing pipes in Anaheim and southern California homes are designed to deliver water at a specific pressure. Optimally, the range should be between 40 psi and 80 psi to prevent damage to the pipes, faucets and appliances that use water. If the water pressure is set higher than 80 psi, you can expect to have some noise from your pipes. Reduce the pressure setting to see if that fixes the problem. A pressure regulator helps maintain the best water pressure inside the pipes. If you are having problems with high water pressure or if your home does not have a water pressure regulator, schedule an appointment with one of our technicians to replace or install a regulator.
4. Rattling
Plumbing pipes in Anaheim and southern California homes are suspended by metal fasteners in the ceiling and walls. When the fasteners fail, the pipes may move around and cause a rattling sound. The problem needs attention because the movement of the pipes can damage connections and cause hidden leaks. Call us to schedule a time for one of our technicians to come by and replace the fasteners.
5. Humming
We find that humming sounds happen most often in homes that rely on well water. Take a look at the water pressure setting on your water tank. It should be at 55 psi. If you aren’t sure how to check to change the pressure on your water tank, call HomeX Plumbing & Rooter so we can inspect the system for you.
6. Squeals
High-pitched noises, such as squeals, whistling and whining, that come from your plumbing system typically indicate that the valves need some repairs. One of the bolts, nuts or other small pieces of hardware may be broken, worn out or missing. This is one of the easiest repairs to make for plumbing noises. You can check the hardware on the valves to find the source of the problem, then simply replace the broken piece. We can also schedule a time for one of our technicians to take care of the problem for you.
7. Gurgling
Your drains may make noises due to issues inside the pipes that take water to the sewer system, such as a gurgling noise either just below the drain or in the walls. Gurgling noises tell you that the pipe is partially blocked and needs to be cleared. Cleaning out drain pipes can be a messy and time-intensive job, so it is best that you contact HomeX Plumbing & Rooter to get the problem taken care of right away.
8. Dripping
If you hear a dripping noise in the walls or ceiling of your southern California home, call HomeX Plumbing & Rooter right away to schedule an appointment with one of our technicians. In most cases, a dripping sound in the walls and ceilings indicates a leak. Even the smallest drip can cause a great deal of damage to the structure of your home and provide an ideal environment for mold growth. We will get a technician to your home quickly and let you know the repairs that are necessary.
When To Call A Professional For Plumbing Pipe Noises
Some noises from plumbing pipes do not require repairs, such as the mild knocking and squeaks from the expansion and contraction of copper pipes. As a homeowner, though, you want to know that your plumbing system is reliable and not causing damage to your home. If you hear unusual noises from your pipes, the safest option is to contact HomeX Plumbing & Rooter for an evaluation. Our technician will let you know the source of the noise and if any repairs are recommended.
Plumbing Services From The Experts
The plumbing in your Anaheim home is designed to deliver water where it is needed, and hearing noises in the pipes is reason for concern. At HomeX Plumbing & Rooter, our plumbing experts help residents of southern California troubleshoot their plumbing systems to remedy odd sounds.
