Are you hearing loud or annoying noises from your plumbing system? Today’s home plumbing is very advanced and doesn’t usually make that much noise. Loud sounds or sounds that suddenly develop in quiet systems are a sign that something has gone wrong. Here’s what common loud noises mean in a plumbing system, and what solutions usually make things right again.

A Loud, Hammering Sound

Does it sound like someone is swinging a sledgehammer at your pipes when you turn the water on? This is appropriately known as a water hammer. It happens where there isn’t space created in pipes to relieve the pressure that’s built up as water is pushed along to a faucet. As a result, water pushes all of that pressure and air until it reaches its destination – and then hammers it home. Usually, release chambers in your plumbing system need to be changed or refilled with air to fix this problem.

A Series of Loud Bangs

This is typically caused by water pressure that’s too high. In this case, release chambers may be doing their job, but the water is just moving too fast and forcefully to stop the noise, so it tends to bang into pipes throughout your home as it moves. The best way to fix this is with a regulator or pressure valve on your plumbing system. If you don’t already have one, it’s time to contact a professional and get an estimate for installing one. High pressure like this can cause damage to your pipes over time.

A Whistling Noise

This happens when air moves through your pipes in ways that it’s not supposed to. There may be too much air, or it may be squeezed into areas or pressure build-up that’s not intended. One cause of this is mineral build-up in your pipes or water tanks. Mineral build-up can occur over time in areas with “hard” water that contains trace elements. Contact your plumber about whether you need to replace pipes with build-up, and what you can do to reduce mineral buildup in the future. Another potential cause is a bad regulator – an easier problem to solve, although you may still need professional help.

A Rattling

Rattling noises indicate problems with brackets and other attachments used to keep your pipes in place. In other words, you have a few screws loose. It’s usually a simple matter to find the loose spots and use new screws to secure them, but this can also be a sign of an aging plumbing system that may need more work.

A Gurgling Toilet

This happens when your toilet seems to randomly gurgle and flush when no one is using it – you may particularly notice this in the middle of the night. This is caused by a slow leak in your toilet, usually the fault of a failing seal or valve. Water slowly leaks out of your toilet bowl into the sewer system, until your toilet registers a flush and starts filling back up again. While annoying this is usually an easy fix with a quick replacement.

Are noisy pipes bothering you? Are you worried they may be causing damage to your home plumbing system? Contact Amanda Plumbing today to arrange an inspection and get the problem fixed!