Hello,
I am about to pull my hair out trying to figure out why my pipes are making noise and any help would be greatly appreciated.
Several months ago, I noticed some loud growling noises coming from my water pipes when the water was on. I checked my pressure and found it was too high. (80 or more I believe) The pressure could not be adjusted by the PRV so I replaced it and the growling went away.
A short time later, I started hearing a high pitched noise like a tuning fork I ran the water at a low volume. The noise went away when the water was running at high volume. In fact, to hear the noise, you sort of had to hit the sweet spot on the water volume. I drained the lines, adjusted pressure, tinkered with valves, etc. and somehow it stopped. (I am unsure if it stopped due to something I did or if it was just the somewhat intermittent nature of this problem.)
A couple of months later, the high pitched noise came back. I tried draining the lines again but that didn't help. I've turned off all of the valves to faucets, toilets and the ice maker but noise is still present. That seems to rule out those fixtures. I replaced two shower cartridges that needed to be replaced anyway thinking that might be the culprit since those don't have shut offs. That didn't fix it either.
Currently, the high pitch noise has gone away but now I have a new sounds to contend with. Now I hear an echo sound when the water is running at any volume but it is louder at higher volumes. When you shut off the water, you hear it for a second or two.
Also, when the ice maker fills the ice tray or if you just leave a slight trickle at any faucet, the pipes vibrate and make a lower pitched growling sound that you can hear throughout the whole house. (Sort of sounds like a small motor running.)
Last weekend, while trying to figure this out, went out to the water meter pit in the front yard to see if by chance I could hear the sound from there. I found that my meter was leaking at the connection on my side of the meter. I finally thought I figured out the problem. I called the water company and they came out while I was at work and tightened the connection. The leak is gone but the sound is still present. They say that their meter is good. Would a faulty meter cause the noises that I have been hearing?
More, info.... I replaced my 50 gal hot water tank about a year and a half ago with one that is slightly more efficient than the old one. There was no thermal expansion tank installed before so I did not add one. (In fact, I didn't even know much about them until I started researching my noise problem.) I may add one but I don't know why that would be the problem since I didn't have one for 15 years and never heard any of these strange noises. I would think if thermal expansion was the problem, after leaving the water on for a short period, would reduce the pressure and the noises would go away but that doesn't happen.
I have my water pressure set to about 50 and I have been watching my gauge most of the day. The peak pressure so far is 75. No showers or other heavy hot water use has happened today. Is that spike normal for minimal hot water use?
If I do add a thermal expansion tank, would it be an acceptable practice to splice in a 3/4 T Sharkbite fitting and add a stainless water tank hose to connect with the tank that would be mounted to a wall stud behind the water tank? I know that isn't how plumbing purists would do it, but would it be acceptable?
Another thought... since the water sounds occur at any faucet, could these sounds be caused by a bad main water valve? The valve is a gate type and it does leak a little on the stem when you turn it on or off. In fact, when the valve is all the way open, you can run your finger over the stem and feel water. It isn't enough to drip but it is wet. I have tightened it up a little trying make the leak stop but it seems to get worse the more I tighten it. (I have tried to tighten both the nut on the stem and the one on the valve housing.) Since it is the main valve, I don't want to make things worse by messing with it too much. Do you think this could have anything to do with the noise?
One last thought... The city water pressure (before PRV) is about 150 psi. That sounds awfully high to me but I am down in a valley. The city didn't seem to think there was a problem with that. Is that normal?
Sorry for the long post. Any information or advice to the concerns/questions listed above would be greatly appreciated.
I am about to pull my hair out trying to figure out why my pipes are making noise and any help would be greatly appreciated.
Several months ago, I noticed some loud growling noises coming from my water pipes when the water was on. I checked my pressure and found it was too high. (80 or more I believe) The pressure could not be adjusted by the PRV so I replaced it and the growling went away.
A short time later, I started hearing a high pitched noise like a tuning fork I ran the water at a low volume. The noise went away when the water was running at high volume. In fact, to hear the noise, you sort of had to hit the sweet spot on the water volume. I drained the lines, adjusted pressure, tinkered with valves, etc. and somehow it stopped. (I am unsure if it stopped due to something I did or if it was just the somewhat intermittent nature of this problem.)
A couple of months later, the high pitched noise came back. I tried draining the lines again but that didn't help. I've turned off all of the valves to faucets, toilets and the ice maker but noise is still present. That seems to rule out those fixtures. I replaced two shower cartridges that needed to be replaced anyway thinking that might be the culprit since those don't have shut offs. That didn't fix it either.
Currently, the high pitch noise has gone away but now I have a new sounds to contend with. Now I hear an echo sound when the water is running at any volume but it is louder at higher volumes. When you shut off the water, you hear it for a second or two.
Also, when the ice maker fills the ice tray or if you just leave a slight trickle at any faucet, the pipes vibrate and make a lower pitched growling sound that you can hear throughout the whole house. (Sort of sounds like a small motor running.)
Last weekend, while trying to figure this out, went out to the water meter pit in the front yard to see if by chance I could hear the sound from there. I found that my meter was leaking at the connection on my side of the meter. I finally thought I figured out the problem. I called the water company and they came out while I was at work and tightened the connection. The leak is gone but the sound is still present. They say that their meter is good. Would a faulty meter cause the noises that I have been hearing?
More, info.... I replaced my 50 gal hot water tank about a year and a half ago with one that is slightly more efficient than the old one. There was no thermal expansion tank installed before so I did not add one. (In fact, I didn't even know much about them until I started researching my noise problem.) I may add one but I don't know why that would be the problem since I didn't have one for 15 years and never heard any of these strange noises. I would think if thermal expansion was the problem, after leaving the water on for a short period, would reduce the pressure and the noises would go away but that doesn't happen.
I have my water pressure set to about 50 and I have been watching my gauge most of the day. The peak pressure so far is 75. No showers or other heavy hot water use has happened today. Is that spike normal for minimal hot water use?
If I do add a thermal expansion tank, would it be an acceptable practice to splice in a 3/4 T Sharkbite fitting and add a stainless water tank hose to connect with the tank that would be mounted to a wall stud behind the water tank? I know that isn't how plumbing purists would do it, but would it be acceptable?
Another thought... since the water sounds occur at any faucet, could these sounds be caused by a bad main water valve? The valve is a gate type and it does leak a little on the stem when you turn it on or off. In fact, when the valve is all the way open, you can run your finger over the stem and feel water. It isn't enough to drip but it is wet. I have tightened it up a little trying make the leak stop but it seems to get worse the more I tighten it. (I have tried to tighten both the nut on the stem and the one on the valve housing.) Since it is the main valve, I don't want to make things worse by messing with it too much. Do you think this could have anything to do with the noise?
One last thought... The city water pressure (before PRV) is about 150 psi. That sounds awfully high to me but I am down in a valley. The city didn't seem to think there was a problem with that. Is that normal?
Sorry for the long post. Any information or advice to the concerns/questions listed above would be greatly appreciated.
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