Why Do My Pipes Make Strange Noises?

Do you ever feel like you are living in a haunted house with all those strange moaning and knocking noises coming from your pipes?

Instead of calling Ghostbusters you probably should call your local plumber to figure out why your pipes are calling you.

Much like your body sending pain signals to indicate something is wrong, your pipes making groaning and whining noises may be trying to tell you there is a problem somewhere that needs to be fixed.

It can be tricky to ascertain the actual issue.

“Groaning noises and a variety of other noises such as banging and whistling often originate in plumbing and can be very difficult to pinpoint. Even an experienced plumber might not help much unless he or she hears the noise,” says the Hartford Courant.

Noise Complaints: Why Your Pipes are Talking to You

Unless you park a plumbing truck in your driveway at the end of each workday – and if you do, we think that is truly cool! – then you will need a professional to look at your plumbing system to diagnose what is ailing your pipes.

If there was just one issue that causes noisy pipes, the fix would be easy, but there are many common problems that will make for eerie sounds in the middle of the night, including:

• High Water Pressure: Look, we all love great water pressure for that morning shower but if your water pressure is too high then your pipes may be making noises like they are auditioning for the Oktoberfest oompah band. Often when water pressure exceeds 80 psi (pounds per square inch) you may hear these noises. Leaving this issue untreated and high-water pressure can lead to an entire host of issues including pipe damage and water leaks.
• Air in the Pipes: If you are getting more moaning than water when you turn on a faucet, then that could be an indication that you have air in your pipes. A plumber can diagnose this problem with your bleed-off system, and safely bleed the air out of your pipes.
• Blockage in the Pipes: Does your haunted house come with sinks and tubs that drain more slowly than they should or a toilet that backs up (an issue nobody ever wants!) then the problem could be a blockage somewhere in your pipe system. Foul smells coming from drains is another sign that a blockage may be causing moaning or groaning in your home. Any blockage is a serious plumbing issue that needs to be addressed ASAP by a professional plumber because it can lead to a burst pipe which can be very costly to homeowners and renters. Just ask anyone who had a burst pipe after the February freeze in Texas about the resulting calamity from a blockage.
• Faulty Toilet Valve: Bathroom centric moans and groans can be a faulty toilet valve or ballcock. If you want to play plumbing detective, you can figure out if you have a faulty toilet valve by turning off the water supply to all the toilets in your home. Then turn on each toilet water supply one-by-one, listening for the sounds. When you hear your pipes talking about turning on a specific toilet, you then know it is the culprit. A plumber can safely install a new valve assembly to take care of the problem and prevent chances of future leaks or failures.
• Loose Washer or Pipes: Strange sounds can also be made by loose washers in faucets or shut-off valves. While newer faucets typically do not have washers, older homes still have faucets with washers. Loose pipes in general can lead to groaning or rattling. Your plumber will strap or brackets to secure your pipes if this is the issue.

So, “who ya gonna call” in North Houston and Montgomery County if you think your pipes are possessed? Pilot Plumbing will arrive in style – sadly, while we do drive white vans, they are not retro ambulances! – and take care of any plumbing issues, big or small.

Call Pilot Plumbing today to take care of your noisy pipes.