Log in

View Full Version : Vibrating pipes, unknown cause


takeonme
May 4, 2010, 03:03 PM
Hi, in the last 2 months I've noticed some water pipes vibrating/growling in the walls of the room next to the boiler. I've tried to dampen vibrations of the pipes coming from the boiler but to little effect.

The vibrations seem to happen roughly the same time every day, around 10am to 12 and are frequent during about 9pm to 11pm. They also happen sporadically outside these hours but less loud and frequent. The vibrations last about 5-20 seconds a time and are spaced within 30 seconds to maybe 5-10 minutes of each other. They very from a quiet growling to reasonably loud that makes the walls vibrate. I have no idea what causes it. They happen even if I haven't run any water for a while or used the toilets or if the boiler is off. They don't happen when the water mains is turned off. Thankfully I've never heard vibrations past 11.30pm.

I live on the ground floor of a 5 story flat, and the flat is about 10 years old.

Please contribute if you have any idea what's causing these noises!

creahands
May 5, 2010, 09:25 AM
The sounds u hear may be caused by pipes rubbing against the wood framing. Someone in one of the other apartments may be using water when this occurs. U will be hard pressed to isolate this problem.

When u hear noise, put hand on pipe to see if u feel vibration. This will tell u which pipe is the culprit. Then see if there is any movement in pipe and secure it.

Hope this helps. If not, get back to us and maybe another course can be taken.

Good luck

Chuck

truck 41
May 5, 2010, 09:46 PM
Is there a recirc pump on the hot water side, and is it on a timer? If so it might possibly be the checkvalve that is going bad.