Ask Me Help Desk - Annnoying pipe noise

The noise in my house is annoying.

After I flush water, there is a noise which louder than pipe expansion and contraction and the noise stopping space time is longer; sometimes 2 to 3 minutes, sometimes 5 to 10 minutes, sometimes the noise is continuous. I think the reason is not expansion and contraction because no matter use hot water or cold water.

My water pressure is 52.

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 to be back.If I use the water constantly, it is better.

When the noise happens, I flush lots of water, the noise will stop sometimes. It happened 3 months ago. A expansion joint had been installed to my drain pipe which located in my garage. I am not sure it is related to the joint but the noise happens after the expansion joint installed.The reason installing the joint was to reduce the expansion and contraction noise of the pipe.

Any help will be appreciated.

My toilet seems different with your described. It is similar with the following image. Tonight I put full water in tank and turned off washer. We are testing if it is leaking and will know results recently.

http://z.about.com/d/homerepair/1/5/...lcock_tank.jpg

Please describe the noise.

Quote:

A expansion joint had been installed to my drain pipe which located in my garage.

Tell me more about this "expansion joint" . What's it look like?

Quote:

I am not sure it is related to the joint but the noise happens after the expansion joint installed.The reason installing the joint was to reduce the expansion and contraction noise of the pipe.

Is the noise louder next to the expansion joint? What's it sound like again?
Regards, Tom

Thanks, speedball1.

I did not find the Expansion joint picture from internet but I will take a photo for the joint this weekend.

The joint is in my garage, and noise should come from second floor or ceiling of first floor.

Noise sounds like water drop is falling down(ticking?). It often happens when I use water or flush toilet in the morning or in the evening (nobody uses water for a long time). It seems this noise is louder than pipe expansion and contraction; and the noise stopping interval time sometimes is continuous,sometimes 2 to 3 minutes, sometimes 5 to 10 minutes. I think the reason is not expansion and contraction because it happens no matter use hot water or cold water.

But if I put full water in the sink, then flush, the noise will become better.

I'm not sure if it is the expansion and contraction again.

Any tips will be appreciated.

I'll be interested in seeing this expansion joint, does it look anything like these,(see images)? Cheers, Tom

Quote:

Originally Posted by speedball1

I'll be interested in seeing this expansion joint, does it look anything like these,(see images)? Cheers, Tom

I went to homedepot and another store but did not find the same expansion joint. The sale person said I may find from the special plumbing shop.

It is similar with second one. The expansion joint had 3 piece together, center piece is thiner than 2 sides pieces but tightly connect together. When flush water, the pipe can expand and contract flexibly from that part when it is necessary.

Thanks.

Quote:

When flush water, the pipe can expand and contract flexibly from that part when it is necessary.

I 'm confused! When does a drainage pipe need to expand or contracr? Please explain? Cheers, Tom

Quote:

Originally Posted by speedball1

I 'm confused! When does a drainage pipe need to expand or contracr? Please explain? Cheers, Tom

Added this joint was going to reduce the contraction and expansion noise of the pipe, which was plumber said that. Maybe the joint doesnot cause this current noise problem. I just don't know why the different noise happened.

Currently, there is still the expansion and contraction noise sometimes but not all the time.

My major concern right now is as following:

After I use water in the morning or evening (after long time nobody uses water), there is a noise which louder than pipe expansion and contraction; and the noise can continue a couple hours. The noise stopping space time is different: sometimes 2 to 3 minutes, sometimes 5 to 10 minutes, sometimes the noise is continuous.

Thanks.

How sure are you it is drain related noise ? Is it a brand new house ?

Quote:

After I use water in the morning or evening (after long time nobody uses water), there is a noise which louder than pipe expansion and contraction; and the noise can continue a couple hours. The noise stopping space time is different: sometimes 2 to 3 minutes, sometimes 5 to 10 minutes, sometimes the noise is continuous.

Check your toilets.
Let's reverse the washer first. Shut the water off under the tank and take the lid off. Remove the three screws on top of the ballcock,(sae image) and pull the stem,washer and float assembly up. Pry the washer out and turn it over. Seat it back firmly and see if that doesn't help.
Sometimes the problem is caused by the ballcock trying to fill while water is seeping out of the tank. The sound you hear is the washer vibrating against the seat of the ballcock. First check there linkage between the flapper and the flush lever. It should have 1/4" of play when your tank is filled. The water level should be 1/2" below the white overflow tube after the tank's filled. Next feel the flat side of your flapper. Does it have wavey edges? Do your hands come away black? Replace it if it does. And last check the seat itself. Any nicks or rough spots? If so click on back. There are replacement seats that glue right over the old one and are easy to replace. One of the above should take care of your howling.

This happened in a new house some years ago. Only at night and in the early morning. They thought the house was haunted and were about to move out. I caught it in the powder room toilet. It would vibrate and the pipes in the wall would pick it up and carry it all over the house. Let me know if it helps. Regards, Tom

Quote:

Originally Posted by speedball1

Check your toilets.
Let's reverse the washer first. Shut the water off under the tank and take the lid off. Remove the three screws on top of the ballcock,(sae image) and pull the stem,washer and float assembly up. Pry the washer out and turn it over. Seat it back firmly and see if that doesn't help.
Sometimes the problem is caused by the ballcock trying to fill while water is seeping out of the tank. The sound you hear is the washer vibrating against the seat of the ballcock. First check ther linkage between the flapper and the flush lever. It should have 1/4" of play when your tank is filled. The water level should be 1/2" below the white overflow tube after the tank's filled. Next feel the flat side of your flapper. Does it have wavey edges? Do your hands come away black? Replace it if it does. And last check the seat itself. Any nicks or rough spots? If so click on back. There are replacement seats that glue right over the old one and are easy to replace. One of the above should take care of your howling.

This happened in a new house some years ago. Only at night and in the early morning. They thought the house was haunted and were about to move out. I caught it in the powder room toilet. It would vibrate and the pipes in the wall would pick it up and carry it all over the house. Let me know if it helps. Regards, Tom

Thank you so much for your detail answer. I will definitely try this weekend and let you know the results.

Some details I may need mention.
1. Even I don't use the toilet, only use faucet, still has noise.

2. even I use the water in the first floor, there is still the similar noise in my bathroom of my second floor and first floor. My 2 bathrooms are straight up and down.

3. When the noise starts, I flush lots of water such as 2 sinks or 3 sinks or even more (faucet sink, not toilet), the noise may go away sometimes, sometime the noise is still stay.