This is not a problem- just looking for some info.
My typical suburban house has the bathroom located about 30 ft from the water heater. It has copper supply lines.
When I turn on the hot water in the shower (after the pipes have cooled down from the last shower) you can “hear” when the hot water is coming. It seems like when the hot water is displacing the cold water in the pipes there is definite change in the sound of the running water.
What causes this? I spoke to someone else and he noticed the same thing in his house. Is it the hot water expanding the copper pipes slightly? Does this change in sound occur with PEX as well?
Like I said, no problem, just wondering if anyone has the answer.
Thanks.
Replies
"Is it the hot water expanding the copper pipes slightly? "
If you hear ticking sort of sounds, yes. Over 30' you might get over 1/8" expansion (just a guess). And as the pipe moves thru the probably tight holes in the studs - that's where the noise occurs. When I let hot water out my handbasin I can hear the ABS wast line moving, too.
All the best...
To those who know - this may be obvious. To those who don't - I hope I've helped.
Piko is right, it is the thermal expansion of the copper that is causing the noise. The preferred installation would have been to wrap the copper with thin padding (bottom plate closed-cell foam air barrier works nicely) where it passes through or is secured to framing.PEX does it too but because while it also expands, it mostly bows out of the way and just doesn't squeak as much against wood.Almost any piping system can work well. Almost any piping system can also be installed poorly. The good news is the plumber can't hear the creaking from his house.David Thomas Overlooking Cook Inlet in Kenai, Alaska
CCI,
Hot water is both less dense and less viscous than cold water.
The sounds they make passing thru and falling out of your pipes and fixtures will be different.
Imagine the difference in sounds made by a bowling ball (volume =~ 1 gal) and a gallon of ping pong balls as they fall on your new tile floor (|:>)
SamT
Better than the alternative, outdoor plumbing.