clayton.robinson
06-19-2005, 07:03 PM
a few days ago my wife noticed a thumping sound coming from the water pipes around our water softener. Whenever water is turned on at a faucet or a toilet is flushed, the thumping can be heard throughout the house for as long as the water is running. when the water stops, so does the thumping. The sound is most pronounced at the water softener, and can be felt in the pipes coming and going, but I'm not sure if it's in the pipes or a problem within the softener (it's a two tank system, if that helps). When I push the bypass valves at the softener, the sound doesn't go away. Any insight is much appreciated.
Dunbar Plumbing
06-27-2005, 07:44 PM
High water pressure sounds like the problem; have it tested and let us know what it is.
clayton.robinson
06-28-2005, 06:09 PM
I tested the pressure...75psi, which is where it should be. I was told by the guy at Lowes that it was air in the pipes, so I did all the steps to drain the system, shutting off the main, then opening every faucet in the house, then turning the water back on and progressively closing each faucet one by one. did nothing. I disconnected the water softener to drain those pipes, then reconnected, but that had no effect. There is a shut off valve right before the water softener. with it off, the only faucets that work are the outdoor spigots. as I turn one on, the machine gun chatter starts up, gets intense as I increase the flow, but then ceases when it gets fully open. it comes back as I turn it down, and is gone when off, obviously. but this means the cause is somewhere between the city main and that shut off valve at the water softener. It's not particular to a spigot, so I'm thinking a loose pipe in the walls? I hate to tear into the drywall, just to look! any ideas to nail this down???