Humming/Buzzing Pipes.

[slunksoma]

Hi,
We have had a problem with very noisy pipes since we moved into our basement flat (pre 1900 building). It doesn't happen all the time and in fact went quiet recently coincidentally when the flat above us was empty - although someone has been living there for a few months now and it has only just come back. It doesn't sound like water hammer as it sounds more like a power drill and is constant for varying amounts of time, shortest being about 10 seconds. I initially thought it was due to upstairs, or indeed our own water consumption but it doesn't seem to come on at the 'normal' times by which i mean before work or before bed (it can come on randomly deep in the middle of the night) or coincide after we have used any water. The sound will usually stop abruptly ie not just fade out. Just wondering what I should be focusing on. It is hard to get a plumber round because they could be there for an hour and not hear it due to its sporadic nature. Any help or discussions would be helpful just to try and diagnose what it is!

 

[Breesey]

Any noise will only occur when there is water moving in the system.

You should check all taps, ball valves, rad valves etc in the whole property for sticking valves and or blockage (restriction).

Sticking tap washers will vibrate in the flow and you will hear a buzzing sound. A restriction will force the water through a smaller space and disrupt it enough to make it noisy.

 

[slunksoma]

hi thanks for your reply. The noise seems to generate from our pipes, but just wondering of the likely hood of the sound travelling from upstairs. Would that be something that would need to be inspected I imagine?

 

[Breesey]

Yes. That is why I say the whole property needs checking - yours and the other flats.

It is possible that there will be some shared pipe work.

get together with your neighbours. It's a great way of meeting people!!

 

[slunksoma]

Really? I may just move house, seems easier!

Thanks for your info

 

[Breesey]

Let's see.

Change a tap washer - - Move house.

I know which I'd do!

 

[ChrisR]

Quite likely to be a washer in a loo float valve, while it's filling. They can be very loud and the noise travel a long way. Variations in mains pressure can make it start and stop.

 

[slunksoma]

Yeah but we have a lot of neighbours. each more unco-operative than the last. I will check my system later on and get back with the results

 

[Breesey]

I don't mean next door neighbours just the ones above you in the same building

As I, and ChrisR, said ... the only way you will find this is to go through the whole building. Starting in your 'bit' will count that out/in. You could always buy ear plugs for night time

 

[slunksoma]

I don't mean next door neighbours just the ones above you in the same building

I meant all my neighbours in the same building. there must be something in the water (no pun intended) they all block each other in and dont pass on each others post etc!

On a serious note I think its actually the toilet, as it seemed to respond after flushing/filling up as oppose to turning on taps. The hunt continues

 

[Dan Robinson]

Which points us back to a float/ball valve.