Here’s another one!
I recently installed an additional outdoor garden faucet for a client. Drilled through the foundation and installed supports (clamps) on the new 3/4″ copper line to hold it up.
I teed off the main water line coming into the house, just past the meter so this faucet is the first tap off the line. City water so the pressure is kinda high.
It works just fine but now they want me to resolve a new problem. Seems that when the owner waters the lawn the noise from the pipes going into the house drives the basement tenant nuts! This is a “whooshing” sound, probably caused by the water zipping past the faucet valve and being conducted by the copper.
It is not water hammer (sudden on & off) so I don’t know if an air column will fix it..
Any ideas?
Replies
Check the valves for vibration. Take of dowel or piece of broomstick and place it on the valve and hold it firmly to the bone behind your ear. Looks odd but it works. You won't so much hear as feel any vibration.
When you find the valve try replacing the washer or seal. When that doesn't work replace the valve. If you get really lucky it will be a gate valve that has been incorrectly opened. Gate valves are designed to be open all the way. Failing too open them all the way can leave the gate loose and flopping around, vibrating, in the flow of water.
Also a failing WC valve can sound like a fog horn according to TOH. So another valve to check. The toilet valve is relatively easy and cheap to replace.
Of course this view is tempered by two facts: Not being there it is hard to say what is going on and I'm an electrician with limited plumbing experience so mine is a WAG.