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Smoak's Blog

Can a Water Leak Cause Pipes to Rattle?

10/26/2016

8 Comments

 
leaking pipe
Ever have a water leak and hear shaking, rattling or roaring? Your house can sound like a plane on a tarmac or one of those AAMCO commercials with the car shaking and all that noise coming from the engine!
​
In actuality, if you turn on the faucet and there's a leak, it can cause your pipes to make noise – and the roaring noise can get loud enough to make vibrations, so you may hear whining, squeaking, hissing, banging or rapid machine gun fire sounds. But here's the thing: each noise is specific to a problem within your pipes. Let's explore the sounds to help you diagnose the problem.

Trapped Air

Vibrations in your pipes aren't good for your pipes or your fittings. Air that gets trapped in pipes can be common. This is usually found in older homes and it can be noisy. To treat it, a plumber would need to drain your system and then reconnect the water supply.
​Sounds: vibrating and jack hammer sounds.

Water Hammer

This is when you turn the faucet off and hear a loud bang or a series of smaller bangs. This is due to the water pressure. If you turn the faucet off, the momentum of water can cause a small vacuum to occur and the stream of water will literally crash against the valve. If you close the faucet valve slowly it can minimize it. If it doesn't alleviate it, a plumber can check for water hammer.
Sounds: a loud bang and then smaller bangs.

Air Hammer

If you turn the faucet on and hear a bang, this is an air hammer, meaning there was air trapped in the pipes. This can occur if you've worked on the pipes and turned the water off and now there's air escaping. Try opening the faucet a bit more slowly. If it continues to occur, let your plumber know as there may be more trapped air.
Sounds: an air gun, machine gun or bang.

Rattling Pipes

No, a boy band didn't move in downstairs. In older homes, air hammers and water hammers can occur. Pipes can also make noise if they aren't securely fixed on a wall or the ceiling. To avoid further damage, let your plumber know you may have a lose pipe that needs to be tethered.
Sounds: vibrations, scraping, rubbing and rattling noise.

Remedies

Diagnose the noise and try turning the faucets on/off a bit more slowly. If you still hear the noise or find water spots under the sink or in the basement, it could be a sign that there's a leak letting air in. Let your plumber know so they can assess the situation further. No one wants their pipes going bump in the night! For all of your plumbing needs, contact the experts at Smoak’s!
8 Comments
Kate Welling link
5/30/2019 04:50:48 pm

You mentioned trapped air could be making the pipes rattle. This is what is happening in my house right now. I'll look for a plumber to help me fix this.

Reply
Dyaln Peterson link
8/8/2019 10:35:21 am

It's good to know that a water hammer occurs when your water pressure causes a small vacuum to crash against the valve. My brother has been telling me about how he hears a loud bang every time he turns off his faucet, and I think this could be why. I'll pass this information along to him so that he can call a professional plumber to come and fix this issue.

Reply
plumbing installation red link
12/3/2019 04:01:35 am

Thanks for this blog. I learned a lot from this blog. I always this kind of problem at home. I am so stressed every time I encounter this problem. I am happy now because I learn some ideas from this blog. I hope you post more blog tips for us. So that we can learn more.

Reply
Greg Hampton link
7/23/2020 09:14:06 am

I like what you said about your pipes rattling if there's air trapped in them. My sister's pipes have been making odd noises for the past few weeks. I'll share this information with her so that she can look into her options for plumbing professionals who can help her with this.

Reply
rachel frampton link
9/15/2020 07:17:10 am

I noticed that my sink is leaking due to its cracked pipes, which is why my dad started looking for an industrial supplier that may provide him fittings. Anyways, I'm not an expert in this, which is why I never knew that the pipes may rattle if they're not securely fixed on the wall. Well, thank you for also sharing here that matter must be addressed by a professional service if we can no longer address it.

Reply
Jake Martin link
11/11/2020 08:48:25 pm

Your simplicity of presentation is motivating for learning. Please keep it up for your teeming followers.


Reply
Zachary Tomlinson link
1/18/2021 07:45:29 pm

I had no idea that if you have leaking faucets in your home, they could be signs that your home's pipes require service. One of my friends is experiencing this lately, especially at night. I should share this with him and recommend that he reach out to a plumbing expert for assistance regarding his plumbing problems.

Reply
Adam Golightly link
2/23/2021 06:43:18 pm

My cousin keeps complaining that the pipes in her basement are rattling whenever someone takes a shower in the lowest bathroom. She would really like to get them inspected by a professional to try and get rid of the noise. Thanks for explaining how she might have a pipe that isn't tethered to a wall that is making noises.

Reply



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