Replies

1. 
   SteveInCleveland | Apr 24, 2003 02:17pm | #1

   Are you talking about water supply pipes, or the DWV system?

2. 
   BillHartmann | Apr 24, 2003 04:26pm | #2

   And what kind of noise are you talking about? A whistle or howl? A bang when it shuts off?

1. 
   PenobscotMan | Apr 24, 2003 06:42pm | #3

   Can I jump in on this noisy pipe thread? My pipes bang when the faucet is shut off abruptly. Very aggravating, as I installed the new plumbing, closed the walls in, and only after the tenants moved in did I notice the banging. I want to open the walls up again and refasten the pipes, but my wife protests. (Pipes = copper supply, 1/2 in.)

1. 
   Ward | Apr 24, 2003 06:53pm | #4

   Installing vertical pipes about 3' long with end caps in the walls above fixture valves allows air to cushion the water hammer noise.  Air can compress to absorb the energy, water can not.

   Around here the plumbers call them air heads.  Don't know if that is because of the pipe configuration or the installers, <g>.

2. 
   BillHartmann | Apr 24, 2003 07:04pm | #5

   Suddenly stopped water flow causes "water hammer". How bad it is depends on the flow rate & system pressure, how fast the water is shut off, and how well the pipes where fastened.

   If you have bad water hammer just improving the clamps will not solve the problem.

   The air chamber that where suggested are the right idea, but a poor implimentation.

   The air is absorbed into the water about a few weeks or months and the problem returns.

   A better solution are sealed hammer arrestors. The are a small chamber about 1" in diameter and several inches long. They have a seal in them and then either a spring or pressurized gas on the other side of the seal.

   In most cases they can be installed where the pipe comes out off the wall to connect to the fixture. They run about $10 each.

   I would try those first.

1. 
   cjeden | Apr 24, 2003 07:20pm | #6

   I have a noisy pipe situation too--over the past few years of renovating bathrooms and kitchens I have all new pipes cpvc for supply and sch 40 for waste.  problem is my pipes click--I'm thinking it must be expansion of the pipes catching or rubbing where it is attached to the joists in the crawl space, it's not really annoying but I'd be curious to know if there is a solution for the problem.

   cjeTake what you want, leave the rest

1. 
   PJR | Apr 24, 2003 07:45pm | #8

   The creaking or banging in the water pipes I think can be helped by rapping the pipes in the foam insutation that is made to keep the pipes foam freezing.  Then put the oversized mounting brackets around the insulation and pipe allows the pipe to move with much less noise.

   The noise I was wondering about was the sound of running water when the water is turned on.

   Thanks pjr  (the midnight flusher)

2. 
   PJR | Apr 24, 2003 07:34pm | #7

   Banging pipes or creaking pipes is a mounting problem. I am wondering about the sound of running water.  Maybe an oversized main supply through out the house might make a difference.

   Thanks pjr  (the midnight flusher)