Mains water pulsing during the night!

[RichD1]

When I get up in the night and run a cold water tap or flush a toilet the water flow has for the last few months started to pulse. I'm not aware of it pulsing in the daytime it appears to be from approx. midnight to about 6 in the morning.

However, just recently I have heard the pipes tap during the day in the same beat as it pulses at night but it doesn't last long only a few seconds and then it might do it again but not all the time.

Phoned Water Board and they said 'possible air lock' and told me to switch on the nearest tap to the stopcock and then turn it off and on several times. Didn't have any effect.

They have installed a new larger water main along the main road at the top of our road and was wondering whether it was this that was causing the problem or was it just coincidence that it appeared to start after the work was completed.

I have not done any work on the plumbing before or after I've noticed this pulsing affect.

Any ideas on what could be happening?

Richard

 

[Nige F]

It'll be the float valve in the cold storage cistern (in the roof)

 

[Doggit]

Not if the pipes tap during the day it won't. If there are no taps open when the pipes tap, then it has to be an incoming pressure situation. Now do you have a tank in the loft Rich, or is everything coming off of the mains.

 

[RichD1]

No tank in loft, all cold fittings on mains water pressure.

Richard

 

[Doggit]

And were you running any taps when you heard the pipes tapping during the day.

 

[RichD1]

No, but I have tried turning on a tap when it's tapping but as the tapping doesn't last that long and you also get the sound of the water running it's difficult to tell.

Richard

 

[Doggit]

If you're running off the mains, and you get a noise in the pipes when the taps are off, then it has to be coming from the incomming mains. I know this'll be a PITA, and may not achieve much, but can you turn the water off during the day, and then see if you get the noise.

 

[RichD1]

Hi Doggit, not really practical at the moment. What I'm trying to do is note the time I hear it during the day to see if there is any pattern. Think I will also ask the neighbours but as we're not on a water meter and I think they mostly are this may be not a good indicator.

Richard

 

[Doggit]

A water meter shouldn't be an issue, unless there's a check valve in them that stopping the feedback, but from everything you've said, I'd go back to the waterboard, and ask to speak to the engineers. I think you're getting first line support, and they're not up to much.

 

[RichD1]

Yes, I think you're right. I did get an incident number and was told to ring back after doing the 'air lock' trick if it didn't work. Just wanted to check to see if anyone recognised this problem and if it might be internal.

Problem is there is nothing to see if an Engineer came out and the tapping is not consistent. Might have to take my iPad to bed and record the flow during the night!!

Richard

 

[Nige F]

No tank in loft, all cold fittings on mains water pressure.

Richard

Not the floatvalve then

 

[steve32]

How is hot water heated

 

[Bosswhite]

Water Pressure fluctuates day and night, more water is used during the day so the flow is constant, night time water pressure increases ( same with Electricity, dunno about Gas)

 

[RichD1]

How is hot water heated

Combi.

Richard

 

[bernardgreen]

Not the floatvalve then

Could be a float valve in a toilet cistern.