Poltergeist Plumbing Pipes

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Texas Inspector

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Here is a little different twist on the noisy pipes. My friend has a 2 story house built in 1996 that will give off a random LOUD groan 2 or 3 times a day.
It happens in the middle of the night when no one is using any fixtures. There are no special gadgets installed in the house like hot water circulation pumps, boilers, basements, pool or hot tub. The sound is like an air horn with a low pitch and the supply pipes vibrate. The sound last only 5 to 10 seconds but will wake everybody in the house. All copper supply and PVC drains and vents. City supply and city sewer.

Any clues?
 

Terry

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Titanic and Tuba toilets

titanic.jpg


Sounds like a common problem, it could be a bad fill valve on the toilet, or a bad pressure reducer on the main line.
Here are some comments from the old board.
Terry

My husband replaced the inside things in the tank of the toilet, and now when it is flushed it sounds like a tuba
in the walls. I'm growing tried of the tune. HELP !!!!! Sherri



Sherri:---Tell your Husband that "Tuba Toilets" are passe and tacky. Insist that he take the nuisance noisemaker back to whence he got it forth with. There are excellent bargains to be had by the watchful buyer. A "Silver Flute" or possibly an authentic "Penny Whistle" might be more appealing to Madames impeccable tastes?
For those however who consider silence "Golden", you should instruct your husband to purchase a ballcock of known quality lest he invite unwanted
noises to emanate from the bathroom.
Just one thing before you send your Lord of the Manor on this quest for a quiet flushing loo.
Ascertain that he has in fact fully opened the water supply valve to the "China Throne"..Bud..

WHY IS THE PIPES IN MY TOLIET AREA VIBRATING AT ALL TIMES THROUGHOUT THE DAY? IT SOUNDS LIKE THE TITANIC.
IT DRIVES ME CRAZY! THANKS FOR YOUR HELP. ANGIE

Angie,
Your Titanic toilet is leaking at the flapper. Replace the flapper with a good quality 5-year flapper, and replace the fill valve (ballcock). When replacing the fill valve, get a new supply tube.
Loose rubber washers cause noises like you mention. (fill valve) The fact that the noises occur throughout the day, indicates that the water level in the tank is dropping, (leaking flapper) Terry


Angie:--Terry Love has furnished you first class advice on your TITANIC problem. He did however overlook a very very important thing.
Until the repairs have been completed on your toilet, you must insist that all users wear a life jacket and carry a flare gun...Ahrmand And even though the toilet sounds like a foghorn, don't get the idea that the sound will keep icebergs away. I've seen icebergs smash right into toilets at night. I would keep the night light on, it could get rather messy.
Terry
 

LonnythePlumber

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Binding Plastic

Twice I have identified a 3" plastic line in a bind against the wood. When the pipe cooled down and retracted it moaned. One couple thought it was an animal. We most often get this in lavatory trap arms where users think there is a leak in the wall because of the creak-creak-creak sound. Often in new construction the guys who make the holes are not the same ones who run the pipe and the pipe guys don't have hole making tools. So they deal with it by forcing (with hammer) the pipe in.
 

hj

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pipe

"They force it with a hammer?" NO WAY!, (LOL). I guess that is why they have several different sized hammers. To make sure the hammer fits the pipe size.
 
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