It’s a positive thing that your plumbing is reliable. When your plumbing is making sounds or is loud, you might start to worry. While some sounds are normal, others aren’t. We’ll walk you through five common noises and how to solve them.
These noises include:
- Plumbing is whistling
- Plumbing is gurgling
- Plumbing is humming
- Plumbing is vibrating
- Plumbing is bubbling
1. Plumbing is Whistling
If your plumbing is whistling, you could be facing several issues.
Cause: Hard Water
More than 90% of U.S. homes have hard water, which means it has excessive calcium and magnesium. These minerals can accumulate in your pipes and appliances, causing clogs and less efficient operation.
If you struggle with soap scum, clogged pipes or appliances wearing out quickly, you might be dealing with hard water. Having a plumber add a water softener is the best way to solve this problem.
Cause: Old Pipes
Plumbing doesn’t work forever. If you have an older home, it’s important to know what pipe material you have and how long it lasts.
- Brass: up to 100 years
- Copper: up to 80 years
- PVC: up to 45 years
If your pipes are near the end of their life span and you’re faced with leaks, discolored water or low water pressure, it may be time to have new ones installed.
Cause: High Water Pressure
This can be caused by your water supplier or problems with your water heater. A telltale indication of high water pressure is hearing banging in your pipes, particularly after turning off a faucet.
If this is what’s creating the problem, a plumber can inspect and replace your home’s pressure-reducing valve as needed.
2. Plumbing is Gurgling
Gurgling isn’t a good noise. It’s usually a symptom that you’re experiencing some sort of blockage or clog. Here are three of the most common types.
Cause: Plugged Drain
Your drain can either be partially or fully blocked. Here’s the difference:
- Partial clog—water drains more slowly than usual.
- Full clog—water goes up instead of draining, especially in multiple drains.
It can be enticing to use a liquid drain opener to fix the issue, but this can create more problems. These products are corrosive and can erode your pipes. It’s always recommended to have a plumber unclog your pipes, either via a snake or jetting.
Cause: Clogged Sewer Line
Your home has a sewer pipe that carries waste to the primary sewer line, usually located in your yard or in the street. If this pipe gets clogged, you will likely be taking care of backup in your basement.
Things that can block or clog this pipe includes tree roots searching for water or by flushing bathroom products other than toilet paper. Whether you’re coping with tree roots or a clogged toilet, you’re going to need assistance from a professional plumber.
Cause: Plugged Sewer Vent or P-Trap
The sewer vent system and P-traps on your drains keep stinky plumbing smells out of your home. If they get clogged, you’ll likely hear gurgling, encounter slow draining or smell sewage. A plumber can help you get to the bottom of and resolve this smelly problem.
3. Plumbing is Humming
If your plumbing is humming, you’re not just dealing with an annoying sound.
Cause: High Water Pressure
Humming means your home’s water pressure is likely too high. This can create problems like water leaks and damage to faucets and other fixtures. A plumber can help you control water pressure, which should be about 60–70 PSI.
4. Plumbing is Vibrating
If your plumbing is vibrating, three problems could be creating this noise.
Cause: Loose Pipe Clamp
The most common cause of vibrating plumbing is a loose pipe clamp. This hardware keeps pipes secure when water is flowing through them. If the loose pipe is below a sink, you might be able to fix this issue yourself. If it’s behind a wall, it’s recommended to call a plumber.
Cause: High Water Pressure or Water Hammer
Less commonly, pipes can vibrate due to high water pressure or a water hammer, which happens when water that’s moving fast runs into a closed valve. A plumber can identify and fix these issues.
5. Plumbing is Bubbling
If your plumbing is bubbling, you’re probably dealing with problems associated with gurgling plumbing.
Cause: Blocked or Improperly Vented Drain
Whether you’re dealing with a clogged or incorrectly vented drain, a plumber can fix it.
Home Comfort Heating & Air Can Resolve Your Strange Plumbing Sounds
Nobody wants to hear a loud or odd noise coming from their plumbing. There are lots of different noises that can be heard from your pipes and what they mean may differs. If you have any questions about the noises you’re hearing in your home, contact at 763-276-0617 today. We’re here to assist you when you need a plumber in Elk River or surrounding areas.
