This is makin me nuts…as a lot of things do.
I had a new water heater installed this summer and suddenly in the last couple weeks, it had this irritating little hum or vibration in the hot water pipe.
Its hooked from the copper to the heater with a flex pipe, I can hold onto it while vibrating and it still does it….what in the wide wide world of sports is a goin on here? any ideas?
Replies
I look first at the gate valve that is the shut-off for the HWH. If the gate has a little bit of play, all the turbulence through the valve could certainly set up a wicked noise. Try it in a slightly different position as a quick fix (if that's the problem). Better yet, replace it with a ball valve. I never install gate valves. Seems a lousy way to save $3.00.
If not that valve, try all the other ones (and fixtures) that you can find. After that, look for rubbing/banging on the framing - it can happen due to expansion of the hot water pipe or due to vibration from the turbulence of a fitting (90, T, etc). I wrap pipe with 1/8" closed foam where it goes through framing. Seems to eliminate these problems. Good Luck
How do you look for rubbing/banging in the framing? Two years ago, after 8 years in a new house, no recent plumbing changes or repairs, my pipes started doing this, loud as hell. Copper pipes. We found it wouldn't happen if we shut off the valves at the clothes washer hose bibb. Good idea, the washer is on the second floor, we ought to shut them off between loads anyway, problem solved.
Now it has spread, and the noise is started (sometimes, not always) by the use of any fixture on the second floor, and sometimes continues for an hour or more. I figure that one or more pipe clamps (I'm forgetting what you call those plastic thingies that hold the pipes to the framing) have worked loose.
How do you fix this without tearing up your walls looking for the problem? Oh please don't tell me the answer is you can't. If replacing a valve is the answer, which one(s), now that the problem is no longer linked only with the washer hose valves? Thanks to you or any other plumbers for advice. My father-in-law was a plumber, and we were real dependent on him, but he went on to better things a few years back.
Most of my plumbing work was solar retrofits so we had the advantage of the pipes being in accessible locations (attic, crawlspaces, back of the closet, etc). If there was a call-back (almost always was the other crew's job), we'd slip some cardboard (non-corrugated) between the pipe and framing wherever we heard the most noise.
You could try a mechanic's stethoscope (or my wife's real one) to listen through the drywall at each stud location for the loudest one. Then chop out some drywall. A pain, but after one or two, you get pretty quick and efficient at it. It also helps a lot to have done the plumbing oneself and therefore know where all the pipes are routed.
Having a house built for you? Get in before the insulation and sheetrock are in place and shoot off two rolls of film. $15 for two sets of photo that can save a lot of time and guessing in the future.
Regarding which valve: Try changing their position a little (half open instead of full open, for instance). Your best guess will be the valve which eliminates or changes the character of the sound. But it is only a guess. For instance, the lower flow through a half-open valve might be reducing the turbulence at a distant 90 that is snug to a joist.
David Thomas Overlooking Cook Inlet in Kenai, Alaska
"Two years ago, after 8 years in a new house, no recent plumbing changes or repairs, my pipes started doing this, loud as hell. Copper pipes. We found it wouldn't happen if we shut off the valves at the clothes washer hose bibb. Good idea, the washer is on the second floor, we ought to shut them off between loads anyway, problem solved."
That really did not solve the problem. It just changed the conditions under which the problem showed up.
This is usually some part that in the water flow that is loose and can move as the water flow partially bocking the water and then relaxing and allowing more water to flow. Typically caused a loose screw on a washer allowing the washer to move. Maybe the steam is worn enought that it can move sideways. But I know of one case where a screw had broken off and had fallen down into the pipe.
Also I have heard of cases where there are bad fitting or bad solder joints where there is lot of solder indside forming a turbulent area.
Ok folks, this is really twisted, I think its proof there are gremlins..
The only time it happens is when one seldom used toilet woud refill after a Very slow flapper leak....Odd, thats on a cold water line...why would that impact the hot water line...See Gremlins!
Brings out another "boy somebody needs to invent....toilets that dont have this little leaks!.Wine is God's way of capturing the sun.
Thank you and David both. It appears to be the water supply valve on the downstairs toilet, immediately below the upstairs laundry room. I'll replace it tomorrow.