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The pipes in your residential and commercial property in Australia are made to work seamlessly. The pipes should allow water to flow smoothly. However, like any other parts of your plumbing system, the pipes are prone to problems that could cause inconveniences and disappointment down the line.
One of the most widespread problems that you might encounter with your water pipes is strange noises while running hot water. You might hear humming, banging, knocking, or ticking noises emanating from the pipes. Noisy water pipes indicate a system problem that needs quick fixing, which you could undertake yourself or seek expert help.
This article looks at the major causes of noisy pipes and how to fix the issues. In addition, we also look at the effects of noisy water pipes and an approximate guide of how much it costs you to fix them.
Major Causes And Solutions For Noisy Pipes
Noisy pipes could cause a lot of disturbance in your home, especially at night while your household is trying to rest. As a result, knowing the cause is critical to solving the problem amicably. If you’ve been noticing noisy pipes while running hot water, here are some of the common causes of this issue and some solutions:
Loose piping
If you have loose pipes in your property, you will likely experience noisy, hot water pipes. The loose pipes are prone to swaying, especially when large volumes of water move through them. This movement causes your pipes to rattle, and in most cases, they might hit walls and objects near them.
To solve this, you should first determine the source of the issue. You could check under your house with a flashlight or open and check your ceiling boards while somebody else turns any hot water tap on. Be very attentive to ensure that you accurately identify where the pipe or pipes are loose.
Once you identify the loose part, you can secure it in place to reduce the movement. If the drain pipes cause the noise, you could also access them as they are typically suspended from your floor joists under the building. You should stabilise the pipes to fix the problem.
Damaged washers
The noise from your hot water pipes might be due to worn-out washers in your valves or taps. In most cases, the washers from the valves connecting to your washing machine or taps are prone to damage.
If you hear any noises when using the washing machine, then you should quickly fix it. You simply need to close the valve and inspect the washers in the building. Then, replace all the cracked and worn-out washers.
If the noise persists, it means the washers are not the cause. In this case, it’s advisable to shut off the water and ask your plumber for tap repair or replacement services. The valve or tap washers might be worn out, forcing the hot water to flow through smaller openings and making the pipes noisy.
Defective main shut-off valve
You will experience noisy pipes if the main water pressure regulator or main shut-off valve is faulty. This is characterised by noises emanating from all the corners of your building. In this case, you need to replace or repair the valve after you shut off the water main supplying your entire building. Ideally, you should get a plumber to do this for you if you do not trust your DIY plumbing skills.
Copper pipes expansion
Creaking and ticking sounds from your pipes could be caused by the expansion of copper pipes. These noises occur when hot water moves through the cold metal pipes, making the copper expand and rub against the surrounding metal or wood. The noises cease when the copper pipes cease to expand. When the hot water stops flowing through the pipes, the expansion stops.
As the copper pipes contract, you will hear cracking or creaking sounds. The best solution for this problem is to reduce the temperature setting of your water heater. This ensures that the copper pipes do not expand to the extent of producing noises as they contract. You could also solve the issue by wrapping insulation around the copper pipes to help reduce the sounds produced during the expansion and contraction of the pipes.
Mineral build-up
Popping noises emanating from your hot water pipes could result from mineral build-up. The build-up leads to a rough coating inside the piping system that results in the development of air bubbles. These bubbles burst and pop when the water gets heated, thus the noisy pipes.
You could solve this problem by calling an expert plumber to flush your piping system and undertake professional drain cleaning to dissolve the minerals and prevent the build-up. This, in turn, puts a stop to the noisy pipes issue.
Water hammer
A water hammer could cause sudden clanging or banging noises throughout your hot water pipes. This happens when a valve abruptly closes while water is flowing, stopping the flow of running water unexpectedly. The energy from the water results in a hydraulic shock wave that moves through your pipes until the wave hits a solid obstacle with a bang causing a loud noise.
The simple solution to this problem involves slowly turning the water on and off. If the problem persists, you could ask your plumber to install automatically controlled valves. These valves only close when water stops flowing.
Excess water pressure
If the water pressure in your house is too high, it might cause your noisy water pipes. High water pressure could damage appliances such as the dishwasher and washing machine. If your home has a water pressure regulator, you could use it to control water pressure flowing around your piping system. However, if your home doesn’t have a regulator, you need to ask your plumber to help install one ASAP.
Noise from water leaks
You might also experience monotonous drips emanating from your piping system. The dripping noise results from a leak in the pipes or another issue with your drainage system. If this noise is consistent, you should request your plumber to fix it fast. If left to persist, it could result in rot, mould, and other severe water damage to your property.
Are Noisy Pipes Dangerous?
Noisy pipes could happen in the kitchen, bathroom, or any other area of your home connected to your plumbing system. The noises cause inconvenience and disturbance in your home.
Though the noises might not cause physical damage, they indicate underlying issues within your plumbing system that require attention. For instance, water hammers could damage the washers or seals of the meters, pipes, and gauges.
Undertaking repairs for these damages is costly. Noises caused by pipes banging against your wall could leak water into the wall cavity. This could, in turn, cause mould growth on your wall surface. Mould is harmful to your walls and also has adverse health effects.
How Much Will It Cost You To Fix Noisy Pipes?
It will cost you less to fix the problem as soon as you start experiencing the noisy pipes than when you wait and fix it later. Here are several factors determining the cost of fixing noisy pipes.
Cause of the noisy pipes
The primary factor determining the cost of fixing the noisy pipes is the cause. For instance, if the noise emanates from water leaks, it’s bound to cost you more to fix than when loose pipes cause the problem.
You could fix the problem of loose piping by simply securing the pipes and ensuring there is no pipe movement. But, you need to work with a plumber to fix the leak or replace the damaged pipe for leaky pipes.
Your plumber
The plumber you hire also determines the amount it costs you to fix the noisy pipes. Plumbers in Australia charge different prices for their services. It would help to work with a plumber offering high-quality work at an affordable price. Working with a local plumber helps reduce the cost.
It is also good to note that it might cost you less if you fix the problem yourself without hiring a plumber. Some issues, such as loose piping, are easy to fix by yourself. This saves you the costs of working with a plumber. However, if you have doubts about solving the problem, working with a certified plumber is always advisable.
Location of the noisy pipes
The location of the noisy pipes also affects the price since the location determines the work involved in fixing the problem. For instance, fixing a noisy pipe around your kitchen sink will cost less since it is easy to access. However, it will cost you more to fix a noisy pipe inside your wall or foundation since your plumber has to excavate to access the pipe and fix the problem.
Have Your Noisy Pipes Fixed Professionally
If you experience noisy pipes in your home or business in Australia, hire the best plumbers in your locality to fix the problem. It would help if you avoided DIY fixing since you might cause more problems or only temporarily solve them.
A professional plumber could quickly and accurately determine the cause and offer long-lasting solutions to your problem. With their vast experience and skills, no problem is too complicated for them to solve fast.
