Banging Pipes To Trickling Toilets: Plumbing Sounds And What They Mean

Plumbing should work quietly in the background. If your plumbing is making noise, that is something to be concerned about. Some causes of plumbing noise are more serious than others, but almost all causes of noise need to be addressed by a plumber. The following are four common types of plumbing noises that plumbers can address.

Banging Pipes

Do your pipes make a banging or clunking noise when you turn the water on at a tap? This sound is called water hammer. The pipes make a noise as they expand and contract, which causes them to bang against the wall or other objects near them. Water hammer is not an emergency, but the movement can cause pipe damage over time. A plumber can secure the pipes by fastening them to a wall or another object. They can also insulate the pipes, which may stop them from expanding and contracting because the temperature won't change so dramatically.

Toilet Running

Does your toilet start making sounds and filling with water even when nobody has flushed it? If you hear your toilet mysteriously filling, this is likely because you have a leak between the tank and the bowl. The tank has to keep refilling because it keeps emptying into the bowl. While this sort of toilet leak won't make a mess, it is a waste of water. Luckily, a plumber can fix the most common causes of such leaks by replacing the toilet flapper or installing a longer flush chain.

Rumbling Water Heater

When your hot water heater turns on and starts heating, do you hear a rumbling noise? Some describe this noise as being like balls tumbling around inside the tank. Usually, such noises are caused by sediment buildup in the bottom of the water tank. This happens naturally over time, especially if you have hard water.

Sediment buildup isn't terribly dangerous, but it will affect your unit's efficiency, and it might keep your water from getting as hot as it should. A plumber can drain the sediment out of the tank. They may even show you how to do this so that you can drain the tank periodically, keeping future sediment buildup to a minimum.

If you hear water hammer, a filling toilet, or a noisy hot water heater, call a plumber. None of these problems are emergencies, but they should all be addressed relatively soon to prevent bigger problems from developing.

Contact a local plumber to learn more.