Plumbing Making Strange Noises? Let Us Help!

When you’re faced with loud, noisy, plumbing, it’s not only an annoyance to you and your family. IT could potentially be a sign of a future plumbing catastrophe. At Lodder Brothers, we have the skills and expertise to help you locate, assess, and solve any plumbing problems you may have. Give us a call today to schedule a plumbing inspection, and find out…

Why pipes whistle
What makes pipes knock
Where that running water sound is coming from

Understanding Why Pipes Whistle: Common Causes and Solutions

As plumbers, one of the most common plumbing noise complaints we hear is that pipes are making a high pitched “whistling” sound. There are two reasons why your plumbing might be whistling at you, and it’s not because it thinks you’re cute.

Pipes whistle because:

1. There is an obstruction or clog, in your pipeline.
   When water passes quickly through a small space, it causes a vibration in the pipes, which in turn causes the shrieking or whistling sound
2. Your water pressure is too high.
   As with a high volume of water, high pressure passing through a tighter space can cause vibration and sound.

If the whistling is occurring when water is not running, you may need a plumbing inspection service to come in and locate the source of the problem.

What Makes Pipes Knock

The knocking sound you hear from within your walls isn't ghosts, it's pipes that are moving, due to what is known as hydrostatic shock or, more commonly, water hammer.

Hydrostatic shock occurs when water is traveling rapidly through a valve, and the valve suddenly closes. The quick cutoff causes the water to go back towards the slower moving water behind it, causing small waves to swing the pipe slightly.

That swinging motion causes the pipe to hit walls, support beams, and even other pipes, causing the knocking or banging sound you hear. This issue of water hammer, if not addressed quickly, can lead to leaks, damaged pipes, broken water lines, and can even cause pipes to sever.

Where That Running Water Sound is Coming From

A phantom running water sound in or around your bathroom fixtures is likely a sign that you have a leak related to that fixture. Sometimes it can be easy to locate and identify a leak, as when the leak is occurring outside of the fixture itself.

This is often marked by visible water stains. In other instances, when there is a leak in your toilet, for example, it can be harder to spot the issue.

Signs such as sounds of running water even when no one is running water, overflowing or backed up septic tank, and toilet refilling itself without being flushed, all point to a water leak in the toilet.

Both of these leaks can require extensive repair or even pipe replacement, so it's essential to call a trusted plumbing company like Lodder Brothers to assess the situation. Another common sound associated with bathroom plumbing is a gurgling coming from the drains.

This sound is probably letting you know that your waste pipe or outside sewer line has a significant blockage, and your drain vents are probably also clogged. If you encounter any whistling, banging, or gurgling sounds in your home, call the plumbing inspectors at Lodder Brothers to check it out and help you solve the problem!