Husband installed hot water heater last Dec. Now when we run water anywhere, pipes shriek like I'm murdering him (I'm about to!). If we turn on another faucet, it stops. Three times we've turned on all faucets and flushed then turned water off at the main. After pipes run dry, closed faucets and turned water back on to house. Shrieking went away for a few days, then over the course of a few days, returns. Louder and LOUDer and LOUDER.

Other than spirits of the undead, what could be causing this?

Hi Cynn

It is always hard to diagnose these type of problems. Is the issue isolated exclusively to hot water ONLY or both hot and cold water...NEED THAT INFORMATION TO GIVE YOU MY BEST ANSWER?

Assuming hot water issue only at this point:

It could be a problem with the washer at the cold water shut off valve into the water heater... replacing shutoff is only way to determine this as the cause or not.

It could also be the HEAT TRAP nipple mechanism... rare, but I've heard of an issue or two like this over the years... replacement of the hot and cold water heat trap nipples going into the water heater is the only way to determine if this is the problem.

Finally, you could also have a problem with the washer(s) of the associated faucet(s)... disassembling the faucet(s) and inspecting the hot water stems for loose washer and replacing the loose washer(s) would be the only way to resolve this.

I'd start there... post back as needed!

Mark

Hi Mark!

Thanks for the quick response. No, it's both hot and cold water, and the screaming sound happens at all faucets, washing machine, ice maker, and flushing toilet. The weird thing is that we do manage to fix it but the 'fix' only lasts 3 days or so before the screaming pipes start up again, getting louder over a couple of days until they are as loud as ever.

I agree with Mark on the cold water shut off valve into the water heater and the HEAT TRAP nipples, lets try his advises and see what happens, Thanks.

John

Do you have a pressure reducing valve?

Next time shrieking occurs put you hand on the main shut off valve and the pressure reducing valve (if you have one) to see if you can feel any vibration.

Did your husband shut off the main water shut off valve to the home or the cold water shut off valve to the water heater to install the water heater? If he shut off the main shut off valve, then I suspect a loose washer at this shut off valve and think the main shut off valve should be replaced with a new ball valve. If he used the cold water shut off valve to the water heater then that is probably defective and may need to be replaced.

This could also just be a coincidence like Harold is suggesting and the pressure reducing valve (if present) could be the culprit (google pressure reducing valve... usually found next to the water meter). Check for excessive vibration and chatter at this valve while running water.

Post back...