Water sound in Pipes

Robb

Hi everyone. I purchased a 100 year old house 5 years ago. We replaced old water lines with new copper lines. About 5 months ago my wife started hearing a noise in the pipes that last 1.5 Seconds. You know the sound of when you turn outside water tap on quickly, or the sound when washer or dishwasher is taking in water. I didnt believe her at first, until yesterday I finally heard it. She said she hears it 2-3 times a day. Sound is coming from the basement and I have no Idea whats causing it. Any help would be appreciated

Christopher

Robb,

What you are referring to is Water Hammer:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_hammer

Noisy Plumbing and How to Prevent It:

http://www.builderswebsource.com/tec...aterhammer.htm

Everything you ever wanted to know:

http://www.google.com/search?sourcei...er%20hammer%22

...Christopher

Robb

Thanks for the reply Christopher, but im not sure "Water hammer" is the problem. The noise is happening when we are doing nothing. Yesterday for example we didnt use washer or disherwasher yet I heard the noise. (Sounds like an extreme flow of water that lasts a little over a second). Seems to happen sparatically thru the day.

Perhaps I'll drain the lines and see if the problem continues.

Christopher

Robb,

Water Hammer sounds like:

Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang.

As you now know, the most likily cause is an electric water valve. Do you have a central humidifier (usually I think the valves in these are not large enough, like refrigerator ice maker water valves)?

...Christopher

Robb

Nope, no bang. Just sounds like a flow of water. A Huge flow of water to be exact. As I said before, the sound lasts a little over 1 second. No Humidifers or Icemakers in this house. Could my HotWater tank be the culprit?

Its almost as if Someone turns on the water supply and then off real quick.

Christopher

Robb,
Not per sé, but if you have steam heating, then yes, as the boiler needs to replace lost water.

...Christopher

joed

Sounds like you have toilet that is refilling after a slow leak.
Do you have a humidifier on your furness? Could be that refilling.
Do you have an ice maker on the fridge?

Robb

Now this is something I should check into. Any idea what to look for, how does one tell if it has a slow leak?

Ron The Plumber

Turn water off to the toilets one night, check tanks next morning, if you find a tank low in water you found the toilet causing it.

Chances are it's a worn out tank flapper.

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Robb

Merci, I'll let everyone know in a few days. Thanks!

majakdragon

Pour a couple cups of coffee (liquid only, no grounds) into the tank. Watch the bowl and see if the water changes colors. If it is the flapper, you will know in less than an hour because the water will start turning brownish colored.

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tzzzz216

It just maybe your fill valves on your wc like someone else mentioned , what sounds like to me is a fluidmaster they do the same thing run for a second and fill the tank and shut off, what you need to replace in it is just the rubber diaphram thats the only thing that goes bad on those .

troubleseeker

I believe he is referring more to the sound of running water moving through the pipes than water hammer. Sounds like a leaky toilet that is cycling on as the tank slowly leaks down.

Robb

Hope everyone had a merry Christmas.

I did the Cofee Trick and sure enough the water in the bowl changed color. Looks like it's the flapper. Once the hectic shopping week cools down, I'll head out and replace the part.

I'll let everyone know if it worked.

Bud Cline

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