What Those Strange Plumbing Noises Really Mean
It isn’t only ghosts that go bump in the night… sometimes the home’s plumbing does too! Unexplained dripping, knocking, or gurgling can be not only mysterious but also incredibly frustrating, especially for homeowners who can’t find the root cause. Armed with the right information, they will be more prepared to track down the source of those spooky plumbing sounds. After all, knowledge is power!
Dripping Can Be Spooky for Many Reasons
A drip, drip, dripping noise can be not only spooky but also incredibly irritating. It’s difficult not to imagine the worst and, unfortunately, in some cases that may be true!
In a lot of cases, a dripping noise coming from the plumbing system can indicate a leak somewhere. In the best-case scenario, that leak will be easy to find. In other cases, it may be behind the walls or in an inaccessible place. In either scenario, the homeowner should contact a plumber as soon as they notice a dripping noise before it becomes a larger problem.
Don’t Ignore Unexplained Knocking
Around Halloween, knocking noises in the home can make the hair stand up on the back of anyone’s neck. But, instead of an unexpected guest, the knocking may be coming from the pipes.
Usually, knocking noises happen in one of four different plumbing scenarios - when either the cold or the hot water is on somewhere in the home, randomly during either the day or the evening, or when the water is turned off entirely.
One of the plumbing phenomena to blame for this knocking is “water hammer.” This occurs when one of the water valves gets shut off suddenly. The water that was running through the pipes has to stop quickly when it hits the closed valve, which shakes the pipes and causes the knocking noise. While it sounds simple, especially in older houses, a professional plumber should come to repair it. It can get complicated quickly.
Knocking can also be related to having an air pressure that is too high. When the water is forced through the pipes too fast, it bounces off the pipe walls and shakes them. This can cause a knocking noise. Contact a plumber right away.
Gurgling Doesn’t Mean a Drain Is Haunted
If the plumbing “gurgles” when either the toilet is flushed, or water goes down any of the drains in the home, homeowners might wonder if they have a ghost in their plumbing system.
Luckily, this is the result of something much more fixable.
Generally, gurgling noises result from one of two things - a clog somewhere in the system or improper venting. Either way, a professional plumber should be contacted as soon as possible before a little gurgle becomes a bigger, more expensive issue.
For clogs, the system may need to be snaked. This will depend on if the clog is in one specific area or system-wide, which can be verified by using a camera in the plumbing system. In a worst-case scenario, the clog may be in the septic tank. A plumber will figure out the situation and offer solutions.
With venting, air should be regulated to guarantee proper air pressure in the pipes. If the air pressure is off, the pipes are likely to gurgle until vented properly by a professional plumber.
About Oak Plumbing
With 20 years of plumbing experience for residential, commercial, and industrial clients, Oak Plumbing is located in Benicia, California. They offer full plumbing solutions using the latest plumbing technology. Oak Plumbing has upfront pricing with a fast service response and personalized plumbing options for all their clients.