Sharing Knowledge About Residential Plumbing

As a new homeowner, getting used to the noises of your plumbing system can take time. However, while you're listening to these new sounds, you may want to see if there are any measures you can take to ease some of them. For example, sometimes noises are the result of too much pressure in the system or pipes that are too free to move in the brackets. Here are some tips to help you deal with both.

Secure The Pipes

If the noises you're hearing are the result of loose pipes that are banging around as the water flows through, you'll just need to secure them a bit to minimize the problem. To spot the problematic pipes, you'll need to go down to the basement and observe them as water starts to flow. You'll see the culprit shift some when the water flows through.

Add support straps to the troublesome pipes to stop them from shifting and banging. Choose an area where the bracket can sit flat and be secured by screws. For example, a wooden support beam is a great place to put them so that they stay securely in place. You'll just need an electric screwdriver to put the screws in place.

Deal With Water Hammer Noises

If you only hear the noise when you're using one fixture, that often means that there's a valve closing too quickly on that fixture. When the valve closes suddenly, it causes the pipe to shift and bang, creating what's called a water hammer noise. You can eliminate this by installing a water hammer arrestor.

If the problem is the washing machine, you can screw the water hammer arrestor onto the water line. That makes it simple to install. For other fixtures, the water hammer arrestor will attach to the pipe directly. If you use a direct-connect arrestor, you'll have to cut the pipe to put a T-fixture on the line. You'll have to turn the water off before you do this. If you're not comfortable cutting the pipes yourself, a plumber can help.

Adjust The System Pressure

If your plumbing system has built-up pressure in the pipes, that can cause banging and other noises. You can fix this by adjusting the system's pressure regulator. Look for the area outside the house where the main water line feeds into the home. There should be a regulator affixed to the line where it runs into the house.

Screw a pressure gauge onto the bib outside where your outdoor hose attaches. Then, you can turn the water on. This gives you a real-time reading of the pressure in the system. Use a flat-bladed screwdriver to turn the regulator screw to reduce the pressure. Watch the pressure gauge until you see the pressure level drop a bit, then shut off the water and remove the pressure gauge.

For assistance, talk to a professional like Maryland Sewer & Plumbing Service.