Worrying drip drip en suite ceiling

[pb63]

Morning guys,

Just started to hear what sounds like a steady drip noise coming from the ceiling of our house on first floor. It's linked to the en suite shower as it only occurs when this is used. The drip noise sounds like it's coming from above and it starts when the shower is switched on and continues after the shower has been switched on. I've inspected the ceiling and can't see any damp coming through...yet.

Last night I got into the loft and located the pipes feeding the en suite shower. It's very tight in our loft due to it being a pitched roof and there is insulation, the loose kind, everywhere. Ive followed the pipes as far as I can go over the specific area where we can hear the drip noise moving away the insulation having a look with an inspection lamp. There is no trace that I can see of any damp or leaks, which seems very strange to me.

The drip noise is not continuous. It's like every 3 seconds when shower first put on, then 30 seconds when shower on, and then one drip every 4 mins for quite a while after the shower is off. The noise does not come from the water tank. I was in the loft while the shower was operated last night and I could hear it but it was not that loud which is odd.

The noise sounds like something dropping from some height onto the ceiling, but the strange thing is, the pipes in the loft are only 3 inches max off the floor of the ceiling, so I don't think it would make this noise.

I've called a plumber, but waiting for him to get back to me. Anyone got any ideas based on what I've rambled on about here? A ghost maybe?

Muchos gracias

 

[Ian H]

Does it do it when the shower is on cold only?

We have a radiator that sounds to drip when the heating is on but it doesn’t, it must be the pipe clicking.

 

[pb63]

To be honest, I've not tried it with just cold on. Good shout. When I get home tonight I'll try that.
I'm sure it's never done this before. Hence my paranoia

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Does it do it when the shower in on cold only?

We have a radiator that sounds to drip when the heating is on but it doesn’t, it must be the pipe clicking.

The CH pipes dropping down from the ceiling in our front hall make a similar dripping water noise. it is just the pipes expanding and contracting.

 

[Mottie]

It is the cracking noise of the pipes under the bedroom floor expanding when the heating comes on at 5:30am that wakes me up most mornings in the winter.

 

[undertrained]

You have said it sounds like it’s from above, but some noise is difficult to pin-point using just your ears. It could be your overflow on your tank, or even the inlet supply, even though you have said the “noise” isn’t coming from there. It could be on the feeds to your shower and it could even be expansion and contraction. Best waiting for your plumber.

 

[Ian H]

It is the cracking noise of the pipes under the bedroom floor expanding when the heating comes on at 5:30am that wakes me up most mornings in the winter.

You sure that’s not the viagra wearing off?

 

[pb63]

Just an update on this. My friendly plumber came over this week and indeed he's says it's the pipes expanding and contracting. Had a look in the loft and pulled the pipe away from a bit of timber frame. Tested it and no more creaking or dripping noises. He reckons the house has probably moved a tiny bit perhaps due to the dry summer last year.... Oh well at least not a leak maybe subsidence next haha

Thanks very much for the insights