Learn Your Plumbing’s Secret Language
That’s right! Your plumbing speaks to you in its own secret language. It’s not any language you would generally understand, but if you listen carefully, your plumbing will let you know exactly when and where something is wrong.
Luckily, the highly qualified plumbing inspection team at Cellino Plumbing, Heating & Cooling is here to help you better understand your plumbing system!
What’s That Whistling Sound?
One common way your water lines can “talk” to you is by making a high pitch whistling sound. This sound can indicate one of two things:
A bad valve somewhere in your system, or a mineral buildup inside the line. The sound you hear is caused by water passing over the blockage, or through the deteriorating valve.
Whistling pipes can also be a sign that the water pressure in your pipes is too high. In either case, this problem has a relatively easy fix, and the experts at Cellino Plumbing, Heating & Cooling are well equipped to help you!
Do Your Pipes Make Banging or Knocking Sounds?
Those banging and knocking sounds coming from within your walls can be quite an annoyance. But what on earth could be causing all that commotion to happen?! The answer to that question depends largely on when the banging sounds happen. Let’s take a look at some of the different instances when banding or knocking pipes occur:
- Only when hot water is running
This could be the result of poorly installed pipes and may require repair or even replacement of a couple of pipes. - Only when cold water is running
High water pressure is usually the culprit in this case. When water pressure is too high, the water bounces off the walls of the pipe, causing the pipe to shake. - After water supply (cold or hot) shuts off
In this case, you’re likely looking at what is known as water hammer. This occurs when a water valve closes suddenly, and the flowing water crashes into the shut valve, causing the pipe to rattle. - When no water is running
It may sound like the banging is coming from inside your pipes, but if you hear banging when there’s no water running, it’s likely because of sediment buildup in your water heater, and the sound is just traveling through the walls.
What About Gurgling or Running Water Sounds?
Gurgling sounds coming from your sink or shower drain, or even from your toilet, in more severe cases, tend to indicate a problem with your drains vents.
Over time, a buildup of dirt, grease, and other waste particles can accumulate in your drains and pipes, causing the water to drain slowly. In a typical, healthy, draining system, the water and air bubbles flow harmoniously together down the drain and through the pipes, with the air and water each being expelled where they’re supposed to.
When drain vents become clogged, however, the air bubbles can no longer flow through the pipe. They then escape through the nearest opening (often our sink, shower, or toilet drain), resulting in that gurgling noise you hear. In more extreme cases, the gurgling sound could be the result of a collapsed or broken pipe.
Mysterious running water sounds are often a sign that you have a water line leak. If you hear sounds of water running when no one is running water, call Cellino Plumbing, Heating & Cooling immediately! Don’t wait! Every moment you waste could potentially cost you hundreds of dollars on your next water bill!
