What Do Noisy Pipes Mean?

10/7/2020 (Permalink)

What do noises in pipes mean?

Noises Coming From Your Pipes? What Does It Mean?

Plumbing is an intricate and complex system, and every home is vulnerable to a pipe break or a pipe burst, especially in the annual freeze-thaw cycles of Oklahoma City, OK. Sometimes you might hear mysterious noises coming from your pipes such as:

• Banging
  
• Humming
  
• Gurgling
  
• Whistling
  
• Rattling
  
  

But what do these noises mean, and should you be worried? If in doubt, it is always a good idea to call your local plumbing and water damage experts, but here are a few clues as to what these sounds might be signaling.

1. Water Pressure Problems
If you hear banging or humming noises, the likelihood is high that there's an issue with your water pressure. To prevent a pipe break, call in professionals to determine whether your water pressure is too high. It's always smarter to prevent a pipe burst in the first place than to fix broken pipelines after the fact.

2. Blockages and Back-Ups
Banging or gurgling may indicate an obstruction in your water lines that is getting in the way of the water flow. If left unattended, these blockages can lead to major problems in the future, so if you hear these sounds coming from your pipes, you'll be thanking yourself soon for calling in professionals sooner rather than later.

3. Loose Components
Whistling, rattling, and squealing noises can all come from various parts of the plumbing system coming loose and shaking around. It could be the large metal contraptions holding the pipes up, or the tiniest washer or valve wiggling loose, but any flaw in the water line can cause water damage disaster in a heartbeat. Many of these potentially moving parts are probably hidden in your home, so you'll need a professional to come in and give you a diagnosis.
Just remember, time is of the essence when it comes to a pipe break just waiting to happen. Properly functioning pipes don't make much noise at all, so if you hear anything unusual, just ask for help.