Ask Experts Questions for FREE Help !
Ask
    FishFinsHeat's Avatar
    FishFinsHeat Posts: 9, Reputation: 1
    New Member
    		  
    #1

    May 24, 2009, 11:52 AM
    Rushing sound in hot water only.
    I have a slight problem with my hot water... I hear a loud rushing sound from my hot water lines even when hot water is not being used. I turned the cold water feed off to the heater and the noise stopped. I have a crawl space under my house and I went under to look for leaks and didn't see anything. It's all soft copper under the house so there are no fittings or joints that would leak. There is no visible sign of a leak anywhere... At first I thought it could be cavitation but the cold water lines aren't making any noise and the sound is still heard when all hot water fixtures are off. I am a union plumber in training and I cannot figure it out. I don't have any experience in troubleshooting residential problems so anything would help...
    speedball1's Avatar
    speedball1 Posts: 29,301, Reputation: 1939
    Eternal Plumber
    		  
    #2

    May 24, 2009, 12:50 PM
    Hey Zach,
    First off let's check for a hidden leak. To check to see if you have a hidden leak first shut down everything in the house, no flush, no drinks of water, and if you are on a meter go out and check the little pointer in the gage. It should not move or creep. If it does you have a leak. If you're on a pump then check the pressure gage after the pump builds up to pressure and shuts off. The gage should not fall and the pump come back on. If so then you have a leak and let me know. Hope this helps and thank you for rating my reply, Tom
    Milo Dolezal's Avatar
    Milo Dolezal Posts: 7,192, Reputation: 523
    Plumbing Expert
    		  
    #3

    May 24, 2009, 12:54 PM

    It can be the smallest pin-hole type leak producing fine mist, not even a drip. However, it is very audible when noise pollution is down. Take a flash light and start investigating. Look for wetness in crawl space, around baseboards, inside cabinets, feel if carpet is wet along side of walls... etc. Let us know what you've found out...
    FishFinsHeat's Avatar
    FishFinsHeat Posts: 9, Reputation: 1
    New Member
    		  
    #4

    Jun 17, 2009, 08:49 PM
    Hey thanks for the input guys, it was a leak in the hot water. I found it before I got a chance to come back on here, but yeah it was a leak. In a very unusual place too, there's a 1/2 inch. Soft copper line about 50 feet long buried between my house and the garage that goes to a laundry sink the washer. Right in the middle of the grass there was a warm puddle and upon further investigation I found the leak. It looked as though the copper had been kinked when installed and over the 30 years it had been in use a hole had finally worn through. A couple of couplings later and problem solved. Thanks for the help though guys.
    speedball1's Avatar
    speedball1 Posts: 29,301, Reputation: 1939
    Eternal Plumber
    		  
    #5

    Jun 18, 2009, 04:44 AM
    We're glad you problem was a small one. Let us know if you need us in the future. Regards, Tom
Not your question? Ask your question View similar questions
 

Question Tools Search this Question
Search this Question:

Advanced Search

Add your answer here.


Check out some similar questions!

Rushing Water Sounds in Plumbing [ 9 Answers ]

I have been experiencing intermittent rushing water sounds in one specific location in my plumbing. I used to get this, which sounds exactly like my sprinkler system turning on (even when it is not), only occasionally. Last night, it started making the noise every 5-10 minutes. The rushing sound...

Water Rushing through baseboard heat pipes [ 4 Answers ]

We have a Weil Mclain Gold Oil furnace that is approximately four years. The furnace generates heat through our hotwater baseboard heat pipes. Lately we hear the sound of rushing water in the pipes. In the past we have heard banging when the system is cold and heating up, but this is something...

Rushing air sound in ducts [ 2 Answers ]

For the past week or so we have noticed very loud air rushing sounds in our duct system. It is loudest in the rooms at the end of the duct system. This occurs whether the gas heat pump is on or off and doesn't change if gas or electricity is turned off. Help! It is loud and annoying.

Rushing sound in water pipes [ 2 Answers ]

Since we had an outside pipe leak fixed there is a loud rushing sound in the water pipes. This does not seem to be affected by turning the stop cock down or up. How do we stop this? This is the message: Hi, Thanks for coming back on our plumbing problem. Yes the repair was to replace a...

Constant 'rushing water' noise in pipes! [ 2 Answers ]

Help! Over the last month, we have had a constant rushing water noise in our pipes, both upstairs in the toilet and downstairs at the kitchen sink (both appliances on the mains). We thought the water board had changed their pressures but they haven't. We noticed that out neightbours drive way...

View more questions Search