View Full Version : Noise in wall
jetters50
Apr 11, 2013, 11:19 AM
Just bought a house that uses a water well. When I turn on the bathtub faucet or the bathroom sink faucet, a noise starts in the wall after a bit. It sounds like a motor turning on and off repeatedly until the water is turned off.
Thought it may be the sound of the well tank filling up but it's located quite a distance from the house in the pumphouse so this doesn't seem possible. Oherwise everything seems to be working OK. Wondering if it's normal or if I need to get a plumber to check it out?
speedball1
Apr 11, 2013, 12:54 PM
Does this happen on hot, cold or both? Is it a ticking sound? Popping noise" Can you give us more details? Back to you, Tom
ma0641
Apr 11, 2013, 01:45 PM
Cycling would make you think it is the pump motor and you are getting vibrations through the pipe that supplies the house. Try this. Have someone open a faucet in another part of the house and listen in the bathroom. Hear anything? If it is short cycling, you may need to put some more air in the bladder, if equipped with a bladder tank, or air in the tank. You shouldn't have the pump cycling that much for a faucet.
jetters50
Apr 11, 2013, 01:53 PM
It happens when either the hot or cold water is turned on and sounds like a really loud hum (can hear it over the water running into tub) that kicks on, runs for a bit, stops for awhile then does it all again. This goes on for as long as a faucet is turned on but stops when water is turned off.
speedball1
Apr 11, 2013, 02:44 PM
Do you also hear it when you flush and the tank's filing? Let me know. Tom
ma0641
Apr 11, 2013, 02:52 PM
Transmitted pump vibration in the wall cavity, i.e. sympathetic resonance.
jetters50
Apr 12, 2013, 05:56 AM
Tom, I don't hear it when flushing. Also did some experimenting and discovered it's only when I run cold water for either of the bathrooms, the kitchen or bathroom sinks, or the outside water faucet. If the water is running low, the sound takes longer to occur. If I turn on a faucet full blast, the noise starts really quickly.