Q: When I turn on my kitchen faucet, I hear a rattling and banging sound somewhere in my pipes. It only lasts for a few seconds but it feels like forever. Is this an easy fix?
A: What would home ownership be without the adventure of mystery sounds coming from the walls?
The sounds you’re hearing could be one of several problems. It may be something as simple as a loose clamp. When you turn on the faucet and the water begins to flow, when it hits the area of the loose clamp, it makes the pipe shake and bounce against the joist or floor board. To seek out the location of the loose clamp, have someone turn the water on and off while you search for the sound. When you locate the loose clamp, tighten it back up if possible. You can even wrap some foam padding around the pipe. That should take care of the noise.
If the noise is coming from behind the wall, you probably don’t have any option but to cut open the drywall to make the repair.
If it’s not a loose strap or clamp, you likely have air trapped in your water line. To remedy this, turn off the water to your home at the main valve. If you’re living in a two story home, start with the bathroom(s) and sinks there. Turn them on to begin draining the water in your plumbing system. If you live in a single story home, go to the faucet furthest away from the main water valve.
Continue working your way down and/or through the house, opening all the faucets and flushing the toilets to get all the water out of the system. Gradually turn the main water line back on. The water will flow back into your pipes, pushing the air into the appropriate air chambers, but purging the lines of air that’s not supposed to be there.
When you turn the faucets back on you’ll hear some sputtering before the water flows. That’s normal.
Noisy pipes can signal a number of different plumbing issues. The pros at Sinclair are experts at identifying and solving your plumbing problems. Give us a call today and we’ll make sure your pipes are quiet and efficient. 806-749-COOL (2665)