I live in the desert in a new house, and this summer my pipes have started to make a low vibration noise when certain water sources are turned on - Mostly the sprinklers and downstairs faucets. The noise is coming from the shut off valves in the garage. When I put my hand around one of the pipes the noise will stop. The vibration is very low, but annoying. There is no knocking. Also when the sprinklers are on and the pipes are humming, they will stop if I turn on the faucet in the kitchen.

That shut off valve in the garage has some loose part in it. Do this: Close ALL water valves in your garage - all the way - and then Open them all the way. See if the noise continues... Let me know how you did... Milo

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Originally Posted by Milo Dolezal

That shut off valve in the garage has some loose part in it. Do this: Close ALL water valves in your garage - all the way - and then Open them all the way. See if the noise continues... Let me know how you did....Milo

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I shut off the valves both while the water was running (the pipes were vibrating) and while the water was off. There's no change. Also, the pipes only vibrate when the faucet is running on high. If I just have a little water running, it doesn't make the noise. Thanks for your help.

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The noise is coming from the shut off valves in the garage.

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Tell me more about these "shut off valves". What do they shut off? Is the vibration strongest at one valve other then another? This could very well be a loose washer or a bit of trash vibrating as the water rushes past. Can you narrow it down to one valve? Let's hear back from you. Tom

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Originally Posted by speedball1

Tell me more about these "shut off valves".

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There are two copper pipes coming out (and back into) the wall of my garage. One of the pipes is vertical and has a shut off valve. Below it, a second copper pipe runs horizontal. The pipe is a little wider. It also has a shut off valve, and some sort of cylinder device. When the water is on, and I close the valve on my vertical pipe, the water shuts off and the vibration stops. The horizontal pipe doesn't seem to make a difference.

The valve on the vertical pipe may be the one that needs rebuilding...

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I close the valve on my vertical pipe, the water shuts off and the vibration stops.

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Great! Shut the water off at the house shut off and open up the valve. Check that tha washer's OK and the screw that holds the washer is tight and not loose.
Now hold a pan over the open valve and have someone turn the water on for a few seconds to slush out the valve. Reassemble and test. Still vibrating? Let me know. Good luck, Tom