We have a problem with a vibrating pipe located just off the hot water tank (cold line) which goes down into the crawl space and connects to the main water line. It vibrates only when the water isn't being used, mostly at night. Sounds like someone tapping their finger on a table really fast. If a faucet is turned on even slightly or a toilet flushed, it stops. (Turning off the main water line also stops the noise.) But once the faucet is closed it starts again. It starts vibrating for no particular reason that we can find. Our pressure is good at 60. We have no problems with water pressure or lack of hot water. Our hot water tank is 2 years old and temp set to roughly medium. Pipes (copper) don't seem to be loose. Could it be the PRV? Any help would be great. The noise is driving us crazy!!

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Originally Posted by jasminejaden

We have a problem with a vibrating pipe located just off the hot water tank (cold line) which goes down into the crawl space and connects to the main water line. It vibrates only when the water isn't being used, mostly at night. Sounds like someone tapping their finger on a table really fast. If a faucet is turned on even slightly or a toilet flushed, it stops. (Turning off the main water line also stops the noise.) But once the faucet is closed it starts again. It starts vibrating for no particular reason that we can find. Our pressure is good at 60. We have no problems with water pressure or lack of hot water. Our hot water tank is 2 years old and temp set to roughly medium. Pipes (copper) don't seem to be loose. Could it be the PRV? Any help would be great. The noise is driving us crazy!!!

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It has to be the PRV that's doing the vibrating. One more thing. Nothing vibrates without motion. Go out and check the little pointer on the meter. With no water running in the house it should not move. If it moves then the system has a hidden leak. Let me know. Tom

I agree with speedball1.

Thank you so much for the speedy response. We had the plumber in yesterday to install a new PRV. When he removed the old one I happened to look inside it and found a small stone. It had to have been there when the plumbing was laid out when the house was built since it was the original PRV. Anyhow the vibrating has stopped... whew!

Thanks for letting us know. Cheers, Tom

:confused: Spoke too fast... the vibrating stoppped for a few days then we heard it again, although it's definitely not as often. Maybe once or twice a day. But who's home all day with their ear to their pipes anyhow?. Had the plumber out again to look at the PRV. No rocks or debris. Called the city to check main City PRV and it's okay. No recent water main breaks or work done on any nearby line for at least 18 months. Everything is pretty much as it was before with regards to the sound, when it happens etc... Any more ideas? Every plumber or city official I've talked to is completely stumped.

Does your heater have heat traps on the inlet/outlets? I've read various posts and questions about pipe tapping/vibrating and sometimes it was the traps. Some traps use flaps and others use check balls that for some reason at times vibrate. I don't know how noticeable this would be. Even though you removed the rock from the PRV, maybe the problem was a combination of the heat traps and the PRV. Just some food for thought.

I'll give it a try and let you know. Thanks for your input. It's appreciated.