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Knocking pipes and eerie music might suit the plot of your favorite horror movie but it’s hardly something you want to hear coming from your own plumbing system. Before you call Ghostbusters, take the time to learn about the possible causes of knocking, tapping, or clicking noises in your pipes. It could be due to water pressure or a faulty valve.
With the help of qualified technicians from bluefrog Plumbing + Drain, you can get to the not-so-scary bottom of this phenomenon without a frightful plumbing bill. When you need plumbing services from licensed, insured plumbing, we’ll be here to answer the call.
Knocking Sound When Water is Running
Loose Supply Pipes
If you live in an older home, the hot and cold-water supply lines can become loose and bang against the straps that secure them in place. When this happens, the water pressure causes the pipes to move and tap against the wall or brackets. This can produce a knocking sound. If you only notice the sound when the water is running, you may need reliable plumbing service to tighten up the brackets and stop the knocking noise that occurs whenever you use your faucets. Typically, loose supply pipes only cause this noise when the water is running.
We will adjust loose traps, ensuring that the pipes still have enough room to account for expanding and contracting water due to temperature changes. For pipes located behind walls, we can insulate the areas where the pipes enter and exit the walls to dampen motion and eliminate the ghostly knocking sounds. During our visit, we will inspect the pipes to ensure that there are no other issues requiring plumbing service.
High Water Pressure
If the water pressure in your home is too high, this can also create banging and knocking noises. In this case, the noises occur when water is running through the pipes. Usually, high water pressure causes fainter noises than loose brackets. It may sound like a distant tapping sound.
The water pressure setting for most home ranges between 40 and 80 psi. If you have cold water that runs over 80 psi, we can install a pressure reducing valve to solve the problem. For hot water running at high pressure, our technicians will adjust the temperature to see if that resolves the issue. We may have to install an expansion for your tank that can absorb the extra pressure, protecting your pipes and preventing safety hazards.
Copper Pipes
Many older homes have copper pipes and fittings. Copper expands when hot water passes through the pipe. For pipes that travel through tight spaces, the expanding pipes can rub against surrounding features.
This doesn’t usually cause leaks. However, if you are remodeling, it’s a good idea to replace these pipes or to add padding around them to prevent further noises. If lowering the hot water temperature doesn’t resolve the problem, give us a call to provide the appropriate plumbing service.
Knocking Sound When Water is Not Runing
Water Hammer
A water hammer describes loud knocking noises when you turn off the water. The noise does not occur while the water is running. When a valve shuts too suddenly, water bangs into the valve, creating a knocking noise.
At bluefrog Plumbing + Drain, we can provide the appropriate plumbing services to adjust the valve and test the water pressure. For homes built prior to 1960, this is an easy fix. You can try shutting off the main water valve and running all the faucets in your home to drain water from the pipes. This will resolve the issue with the water hammer. Newer homes have arrestors that absorb the shock and prevent water hammers in your pipes. However, this equipment can fail, requiring professional plumbing service to replace them.
Contact our licensed, well-trained team of plumbers to find and fix the cause of your knocking pipes.
Plumbing Service to Fix Knocking Pipes
To troubleshoot knocking pipes, we recommend turning off the main valve. After letting everyone know that you plan to turn off the water, flush all the toilets and run the faucets to clear the lines. All the water in the pipes will exit your house through the drain pipes.
Once all the water is gone, you can turn the main valve on. Do so slowly to give the air chambers around your pipes a chance to adjust. You should no longer hear the knocking sound when water is running. If you still hear noises or notice any other issues after running this exercise, it may be time to schedule plumbing service to find out what’s going on in your pipes.
If you feel uncomfortable turning off the main water valve or don’t know where it is, call bluefrog Plumbing + Drainto perform the troubleshooting and diagnose the underlying cause. If you live in a condo or duplex, you might not be able to troubleshoot the issue. Contact us for immediate service if you suspect a leak or other problem has developed in your pipes.
Satisfaction Guaranteed
At bluefrog Plumbing + Drain, we stand behind our work with a satisfaction guarantee. If you aren’t happy with the results, we come back until the job is done correctly. We also respond to emergency calls. So, if your pipes burst at 3:00 a.m. or on a holiday weekend, and no other plumber will come to the rescue, contact us for emergency plumbing service.
Although knocking or clicking noises in the pipes can be disconcerting, there’s usually an innocuous answer for what’s causing the noise. Now you know that we can provide plumbing service to fix a number of issues that can cause banging or tapping in your pipes. Once we take care of the problem, we can also address any other plumbing issues such as leaks or cracks that could put your family at risk.
Contact bluefrog Plumbing + Drain today to schedule an appointment or to ask any questions you may have about our comprehensive plumbing service.
