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-   -   Pipe clicks when water heats up (https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/showthread.php?t=50522)

  • Dec 26, 2006, 07:02 PM
    hotrussianchick
    Pipe clicks when water heats up
    Hello there, helpers! Merry Christmas!
    We bought our house this may (:D ) and during the inspection we did not notice that the pipe in the sink or the shower clicks as the water heats up when you turn it on. I think it clicks pretty loudly because when my husband gets ready for work, the clicking wakes me up.
    I have heard that sometimes all you have to do is drain the pipe (how does that work? :confused: ) because the clicking is due to a air bubble.
    My questions are the following-should we fix it or let it go? How much would it cost to fix it? What can I do myself before I call someone?
    Thank you so much.
    Natalia :cool:
  • Dec 26, 2006, 09:57 PM
    letmetellu
    The clicking you hear is probably a noise made by the hot water pipe as it expands, it may be tight against a board in the wall and as it moves it tries to slip on the wood or whatever it is against, this causes the pipe to move in jumps. So See if you can trace the water pipe and move it away for anything it is touching close to where you hear the noise.
  • Dec 27, 2006, 06:00 AM
    hotrussianchick
    So you recommend opening up the wall to see where it is touching anything? What if where I open the wall I am not able to see where it is touching? Then I will just have multiple holes in the wall? Should I do it on my own or hire someone to do it?
    Thank you
  • Dec 27, 2006, 07:19 AM
    speedball1
    "I have heard that sometimes all you have to do is drain the pipe because the clicking is due to a air bubble."

    Not so! Letmetellu has correctly identified the culprit as the pipe expanding and contracting against the pipe strap and the stud. The solution would be to locate the source and shim the pipe back against the stud.
    However, most people, when the mystery is removed opt to live with the noise rather then tear up the walls to locate it. I suppose that you could hire a leak detector to come in and pinpoint the noise so you wouldn't have to open up so much wall but that's entirely your choice, Good luck, Tom

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