In my home there are several taps which when turned on emit a “running water” sound loud enough to waken sleepers.I have lived with this for several years but it is time to do something about it. I have several thoughts on this but would like to check them with someone who knows, that would be you good folks – right!
I have read somewhere the noise is caused by sharp bends (elbows) in the pipes (copper) but I really don’t want to open the walls to change to a large radius elbow unless I have to. The pipes have no “water hammer ” sound just the rushing sound so I don’t think the pipes would need strapping down.
I had a thought , and this is my real question – would injecting foam into the wall cavity solve this problem. It should help with vibration and maybe even insulate the sound, but I am concerned about any future repairs and also if the foam may expand enough to push the sheetrock away from the studs. I wouls be very interested in your better ideas.
Sedna1
and thankyou in advance
Replies
Bump. This will move your question back to the head of the list.
All the plumbers are out fixing pipes that produce rushing water sounds.
I don't think injecting foam is a great idea.....
Jim
ya coulda suggested a whip and chair...
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WOW!!! What a Ride!
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
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Had a similar problem with a house I replumbed a few years back. I dont think I was ever happy with whatever we did to quiet it down.
My guesses would be either some sort of flow restriction in the pipe (read a chunk of solder or a bad valve).
The other thing that may help (though I know you dont want to open up the walls) would be isolating the pipe from the framing of the house. The sound could be amplified through the framing.
Family.....They're always there when they need you.
Earplugs.
Or change out the faucets -- sometimes a faucet is noisy.
Same line of questioning that may be answered in this thread. Parents have a faucet in their house that bugs the heck out of me every time I'm over there. It doesn't bother them, they just live with it, so it shouldn't bother me exept I can't stand that it isn't right in the first place and should be. Problem is kitchen faucet when ever opened, any amount, any run time, hot or cold it sounds like a full boar tea kettle going off. Only faucet, checked the screen, softened water, filtered drinking spout next to it doesn't do it. Tells me it's the faucet it's self and I think it's a Moen, under 12yrs old. Ideas?
That's likely the diverter valve.
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. -John Kenneth Galbraith
I wonder if you might expand on the idea it may be the diverter valve, because I don't know what this is, I think of a diverter valve as sending water either to a tub or up to the shower head. Is that what you meant?. I also want to respond to a few other suggestions about what it may be.The pipes are 1/2 inch copper. The outdoor faucet and the bathroom faucet both cause this noise. The outdoor faucet connects to nothing but a garden hose. I think the faucet must be a "no name" at least I can't identify it. In my second bath I have quite an expensive faucet and it does not make any noise. I can also mention that after the shut off valve the copper lines leading up to the tap are much smaller, but I have never seen the 1/2 inch lines going right onto the faucet. I will appreciate any more ideas, and I think I will try putting in the flexible supply lines from the shut off to the faucet and perhaps change the faucet before getting into opening walls.
That post was in response to ncproperties' post. The diverter valve of which I speak sits at the bottom of the spout of a kitchen faucet. It (via hydraulic effects) senses when the spray nozzle (on its separate hose) is activated and diverts the water from the faucet spout to the hose. These valves, especially when fouled with hard water deposits, can chatter or activate erroneously, causing either a harmonic chatter when the water flows or a tendency for the water to stop and start in bursts.In your case the problem is also likely in the valves/faucets, but not due to a diverter valve. You likely have a "frost proof" sillcock for the outside faucet, and those are somewhat legendary for making noise. Sometimes all that's necessary is to disassemble them and tighten up things, as the faucet washer tends to work loose.Re the bathroom faucet, the first thing to check is that the shutoff valves below are fully open. Sometimes when they are just half open they'll cause noise. If that isn't the problem then the faucet may need rebuilding or replacement. (BTW, is this a single-handle faucet or a 2-handle faucet? The old-fashioned 2-handle units are a bit more likely to chatter if the faucet washer works loose.)
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. -John Kenneth Galbraith
It's not the sharpness of the bend, but could be a lack of reaming the pipe to its full bore.
Or the pipe is too small & the velocity is too high.
The reason you hear it is that the pipe is in contact with a stud that will amplify the sound.
Foam will not fix as the sound is past through the wood, not the open cavity.