Noisy Pipes
Pipeline noises range from loud hammering sounds to high-pitched squeaks. The causes may be loose pipelines, water logged air chambers, or water pressure that's too high. Anchoring exposed pipelines is a basic option; other treatments such as anchoring pipelines concealed inside walls, floors or ceilings, might require an expert.
Banging
Pipes are typically anchored with pipeline straps every 6 to 8 feet for horizontal runs, 8 to 10 feet for vertical.
If your pipelines bang when you turn on the water, you might need to include straps, cushion the pipes with a rubber blanket, or both.
When you anchor a pipe-especially a plastic one-leave space for growth.
Do not make use of galvanized straps on copper pipelines.
Squeaking
Just warm water pipelines squeak. As the pipe broadens, it relocates its strap, and friction causes the squeak.
Solution: Cushion it as you would a banging pipeline.
Water Hammer
This sound happens when you shut off the water at a faucet or a home appliance quickly. The water flowing through the pipes bangs to a stop, triggering a hammering noise.
Check for:
Loose Pipes
Treatment:
Anchor the pipelines.
Look for:
Malfunctioning air chambers. These lengths of pipe, installed behind fixtures and appliances, hold air that cushions the shock when flowing water is shut down. They can get fulled of water and lose their efficiency.
Solution:
To recover air to the chambers, turn off the water at the primary shutoff valve. Open all the faucets to drain the system. Close the faucets and turn the water on once more. The air chambers ought to fill with air.
Look for:
Water pressure that's above 80 psi (pounds per square inch).
Treatment:
To reduce the pressure, install a pressure-reducing valve (you can employ a plumbing contractor to do the work if this is a job you do not want to do yourself).