View Full Version : Popping noise inside the wall
JuliaBBB
Feb 4, 2009, 07:04 PM
Hello, I seemed to be the same problem in my house. My house is 1.5 year old. On my second floor, I can hear the Popping noise from inside wall of my master bedroom sometimes. It is hard to trace where the popping noise is because it is in different place every times. I asked the builder when I moved in. The builder said it is new house and need to be settling. It is absolutely normal. It will be OK after 1 year.
I am just worrying about if there will be something wrong than normal? I can see3 hairline cracks in my garage floor. The hairline cracks all access to the drain place. Also, the builder said it is absolute normal, it is shrinkage crack.
I will be appreciated to get some suggestion from here.
Thanks in advance.:confused:
speedball1
Feb 5, 2009, 08:30 AM
Does the noise start after running or draining water? Cheers, Tom
ballengerb1
Feb 5, 2009, 10:14 AM
Tom is thinking expanding/contracting plumbing pipes and I can sure see that as a probability. Settling will make some noises but I think Tom is probably more on track. Settling usually are a few large pops with weeks or months between.
JuliaBBB
Feb 9, 2009, 06:53 PM
Thank for your answers.
But I think it is not the plumbing problem, there is no plumbing in that noise area.
When ballengerb1 talk about settling, could you please give me some detail? My house around 1.5 years, it still need settling?
ballengerb1
Feb 11, 2009, 09:56 PM
A settling noise could be a moaning sound but also almost like someoine hit your floor joist with a hammer down in the basement. The difference between settling and water pipes is the frequency of the noise. A plumbing issue might make several/many pops a few seconds apart and then stop. Settlingis far less frequent, maybe one or two pops a week. How often are you hearing the noises? How sure are you that there are no supply or vent pipes in your wall, they all run inside some wall some where in the house.
JuliaBBB
Feb 14, 2009, 09:05 PM
A settling noise could be a moaning sound but also almost like someoine hit your floor joist with a hammer down in the basement. The difference between settling and water pipes is the frequency of the noise. A plumbing issue might make several/many pops a few seconds apart and then stop. Settlingis far less frequent, maybe one or two pops a week. How often are you hearing the noises? How sure are you that there are no supply or vent pipes in your wall, they all run inside some wall some where in the house.
Again, thanks for your answer.
This popping noise is mainly from my main bed room, above my kitchen, on second floor. Maybe around 10 pops a day if the weather is cold. Sometimes less. It is not regular everyday. Sometime once an hour, sometimes once 2 hours, sometimes even more longer hours had no pops.
There are no water pipe in that wall but there are some vent pipes such as air exchanger, range hood pips under second floor.
Also, this noise is more sharp and more frequency than the settling you were mentioned(a few large pops with weeks or months between). My house is still under guarantee. I will much appreciated your suggestions if I need ask builder to do something.
KBC
Feb 14, 2009, 09:30 PM
New idea,, this could be simple expansion and contraction of the wood floor joists,accompanying the settling of the foundation(cracks in the floor)and the heat inside/cold outside,, this makes the outside siding/whatever the material is made of,make some noises.
I live in a 70 year old converted barn,creaking and popping are commonplace here.The buildings shift,move,settle in a nem spot,shift again with the wind... etc.
Unless you have high water bills,sewer problems,rodents getting in,birds nesting somewhere under the gutter lines,, etc.I would say this is very normal,in time all will become commonplace,like hearing a train off in the distance,part of the homes personality.
PS***We had a noise problem when it was cold also, it turned out to be a inline damper for the furnace,it would sound off as the 'zone' heat would be diminished from one zone to another.
JuliaBBB
Feb 14, 2009, 09:37 PM
New idea,,,,,this could be simple expansion and contraction of the wood floor joists,accompanying the settling of the foundation(cracks in the floor)and the heat inside/cold outside,,,this makes the outside siding/whatever the material is made of,make some noises.
I live in a 70 year old converted barn,creaking and popping are commonplace here.The buildings shift,move,settle in a nem spot,shift again with the wind...etc.
Unless you have high water bills,sewer problems,rodents getting in,birds nesting somewhere under the gutter lines,,,etc.I would say this is very normal,in time all will become commonplace,like hearing a train off in the distance,part of the homes personality.
PS***We had a noise problem when it was cold also,,it turned out to be a inline damper for the furnace,it would sound off as the 'zone' heat would be diminished from one zone to another.
Thanks. ;). I have some understanding now.
JuliaBBB
Feb 15, 2009, 03:16 PM
I may need mention I have some plumbing noise as well in my bathroom.
After I shut down the faucet of the second floor bathroom, a noise in my bathroom wall or floor will start in a few minutes, and continue very long time, maybe an hour or even longer. This noise is not continuous, it stops and starts around 3 to 5 minutes. Then stops after an hour. Also, it is not always happened. I feel if I use lots of water, the noise won't show up, if I use less water, the noise will show up.
This noise is sounds like plumbing expansion and contraction. Strange thing is, this starts after I close the faucet around 5 minutes, normally not start immediately. And the noise is not continuous.
I had the noise of Pipe expansion and contraction problem after I got my house. The builder sent the plumber to repair 2 times. After they repair in the first times, the noise sounds better and goes away. But after a few month, the noise comes back again. Second time, they add the expansion joint to my main drain pipe. After that, I felt I got the noise problem I mention here.
I will be appreciated if I can get some ideas or suggestions.
KBC
Feb 15, 2009, 10:20 PM
The next noise we had were from a rubber gasket inside the water shut-off ,the main feed from the water feed lines to the rest of the house,when we would flush the system,the water flowing from the system through the valve would cause the flapper(washer) to vibrate,until the pressure would equate,simply opening and closing the valves one at a time,eventually 'cured; the noises,they still come back periodically,but now we know the problem/cure.
ballengerb1
Feb 16, 2009, 02:27 PM
I might suggest a check of your water pressure, it should not be above 50 psi and also adding an expansion tank by the water heater. Did the plumber share with you what he did or found?
JuliaBBB
Feb 16, 2009, 07:07 PM
I might suggest a check of your water pressure, it should not be above 50 psi and also adding an expansion tank by the water heater. Did the plumber share with you what he did or found??
I did not consult the builder this problem yet because it is not easy let the builder's plumber come in to check.
I will definitely check the water pressure.
Thanks.
ballengerb1
Feb 16, 2009, 07:10 PM
You can check the pressure by buying a small pressure gauge and attaching a hose bib so you can hook it to your garden spigot outside or the drain on the water heater.
JuliaBBB
Feb 16, 2009, 07:16 PM
The next noise we had were from a rubber gasket inside the water shut-off ,the main feed from the water feed lines to the rest of the house,when we would flush the system,the water flowing from the system through the valve would cause the flapper(washer) to vibrate,until the pressure would equate,simply opening and closing the valves one at a time,eventually 'cured; the noises,they still come back periodically,but now we know the problem/cure.
Hey KBC, thanks for your suggestion. I will try your suggestion to see how it happened.
You can check the pressure by buying a small pressure gauge and attaching a hose bib so you can hook it to your garden spigot outside or the drain on the water heater.
I will follow your guide to check the water pressure this weekend and post the result here.
Could you please give me some tips why the water pressure is related this noise?
Thank you so much.
luckycharm1978
Feb 17, 2009, 10:55 AM
An answer to the cracks in your concrete. Concrete will crack that is just the facts of life. As long as the cracks do not start to pull away from each other it is all good.
ballengerb1
Feb 17, 2009, 12:09 PM
Excessive water pressure can cause flexing in certain types of pipe and situations. Its worth checking out the pressure but I'm sure wishing the last plumber could put in his 2 cents.
JuliaBBB
Feb 17, 2009, 06:14 PM
Excessive water pressure can flexing in certain types of pipe and situations. Its worth checking out the pressure but I'm sure wishing the last plumber could put in his 2 cents.
The plumber did not check the water pressure last time. I will go to check recently.
Thanks.
The next noise we had were from a rubber gasket inside the water shut-off ,the main feed from the water feed lines to the rest of the house,when we would flush the system,the water flowing from the system through the valve would cause the flapper(washer) to vibrate,until the pressure would equate,simply opening and closing the valves one at a time,eventually 'cured; the noises,they still come back periodically,but now we know the problem/cure.
Hello,
My water pressure, it was around 50.
The noise is getting worse recently. After I flush water, there is a noise which louder than pipe expansion and contraction and the noise stopping space is longer sometimes 2 to 3 minutes, sometimes 5 to 10 minutes. I think the reason is not expansion and contraction because no matter hot water or cold water.
The strange thing is, it does not happen all time. Sometimes it happens after the water usage is stopped, sometimes it happens when the water is being used. But always, if stopping use water long time, then open again, the noise will have more chance back.If I use the water constantly, it is better.
When the noise happens, I flush lots of water, the noise will stop sometimes.
If it is flapper vibrating problem, is there anyway to fix permanently?
Any help will be appreciated.
hikaru93
Mar 14, 2012, 04:56 PM
I need help! After I take a shower, I hear a popping noise in my wall. The frequency of it is often usually after I take a shower, I hear it every 3-5 minutes. I think it's a plumbing issue. The thing is, I live in an apartment and the building is barely two years old. I've tried talking to maintenance and they said there's nothing I can do about it. They said it's probably the building settling in but I don't think so because of the frequency of noise that is often. I don't know what to do, I can't tear down the walls, I don't know who to call. Will the noise just stop as time goes on? HELP!
hkstroud
Mar 14, 2012, 06:22 PM
That sounds like a hot water pipe rubbing against a structural member. As you use hot water the pipe heats up and expands. After you stop using hot water the pipe cools and contracts. That movement usually creates a popping noise as it rubs against wood. Nothing you can do without tearing into the wall. About 20 years from now the wood will probably have rubbed a hole in the pipe.