I have a problem that just started about three weeks ago.
It seems that every time the water is shut off at a fixture (turning off kitchen faucet, turning off bathroom faucet, turning off shower/bath, toilet tank is filled up, etc) there is a reverberant sound near or above the supply line from the street. The best way I can describe it is to imagine that the water pipes are ‘flatulent’. It sounds if as the pipes are having intestinal gas problems. House has copper pipes. The sound seems to be on the copper pipe connected to the supply line and the pipes that feed from it.
The sound does not sound like the typical banging pipes due to hot water usage. Regardles off cold or hot water use, the reverberant sound is there and it doesn’t last more than 5 seconds. Although it seems to be getting louder.
Any clues, hints, suggestions, etc?
Thanks again!
PS. Nothing has been changed or modified since before or after the noise. House is about 22 years old in Northern VA. There are no visible leaks.
Edited 8/12/2002 1:09:27 PM ET by eug
Replies
Dont know if it'll help,....But in our new homes we occasionally get similar noises, and 9 out of 10 times , draining the entire sytem(at the basment) then refilling, will solve the problem. Guess it's occasionally related to the 6'' "air chamber" at each "t'' , which serves the purpose of absorbing force or pressure of the water through the pipes.
Drew definitely has the same notion that I do. I think that what’s happened is that your passive air chambers have waterlogged and no longer absorb the hydraulic shock from turning off a valve. If you do the line drain that as he suggests, it should put an end to the problem temporarily as the process, done correctly, will reload these chambers on the main supply line with the cushioning air. Over time, the water has digested the air, which is what has left them without any air. A more permanent solution is to replace the existing passive air chambers with what is known as a shock arrestor, which will not waterlog over time. They’re available at your local plumbing supply house or most any big box store.
Thank you for your responses.
Please excuse my ignorance, how do I correctly drain the system from the basement?
I am guessing, shutting off the main valve between the street line and the water meter and then opening a faucet in the basement? Above the water meter is the pressure control valve (not sure of the correct terminology) and above the pressure control valve is another shut off (gate) valve.
Thanks again.
Yes, you've got the notion it seems. I'd try shutting off the valve on the incoming main, opening a cold water faucet in the basement (providing it's lower than the passive air chambers, which it likely would be) and opening the cold water faucets on the ground and/or second floor while the lines drain. This should allow sufficient recharging of those air chambers. While you're at it, you might just as well drain the hot water lines also, to recharge any air chambers in those pipes, too.