March 4, 2016
 | 
By Mark Paup

Odd Noises From Your Plumbing That Warn You Need Repairs

Updated February 5, 2024

Have you noticed strange noises coming from your plumbing lately? You know the sounds your home makes better than anyone, so if something seems off, you should not ignore it. Before we can properly diagnose the reason for your noisy plumbing, we’ll need to determine if the sound is happening when the water is turned on, or if it’s the result of draining water.

This tells us what type of problem we are dealing with, such as excessive water pressure when the water is turned on, or poor drain location causing issues when the water is turned off. We’ve highlighted some of the noises you should watch out for below. If you hear any of these, it could be time to call for plumbing repairs.

Hissing

Have you noticed a hissing noise when your faucet is opened slightly? This is indicative of too high-water pressure, which is a problem in some areas. We can install a pressure-reducing valve in the incoming water supply pipe to help regulate this pressure, which will eliminate the noise.

Thudding

When a faucet or appliance valve is shut off, you may hear a thudding noise that’s accompanied by shuddering pipes. This is caused by the reverberating wave of pressure in the water, which suddenly has no place to go.

Chattering or Screeching

Intense chattering or screeching when a valve or faucet is turned on signals loose or defective internal parts. You may notice that the noise disappears when the valve or faucet is opened fully. The most common solution for this is to replace the defective parts.

Creaking, Squeaking, or Scratching

These noises, or “tapping” noises, can be contributed to the expansion or contraction of copper pipes used to supply hot water. These sounds can occur due to pipes sliding against loose fasteners or striking nearby house framing.

Call Golden Rule today for plumbing repairs in the greater Des Moines, IA metro area.

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