Is Your House Haunted? The Ghostly Trio of Plumbing… Number 2 Is The Scariest!

Eek! Are you hearing noises in your plumbing system? More than likely your house is not haunted. There are a number of noises that can occur in your home’s plumbing, some serious and some not so much. This article will look at some common noises and their likely causes.

Noises in your plumbing system can be scary. Not because you think your home is haunted, but because most people are as afraid of their local plumber as they are of their dentist. It is unfortunate that plumbers have this nasty reputation because there really are a lot of great plumbing technicians at Tiger and at some point your plumbing system is going to make noises. Some of these are potentially serious issues and some are not really a big deal. But before you can know the potential impact of whatever is causing the noises, you have to identify just what is causing the noise in the first place. Let’s take a look at the “Ghostly Trio,” three of the most common noises – hissing, rattling, screeching –  and the cause of each. Keep in mind that not every noise is caused by the same problem and a plumbing failure can wreak havoc on a home. So using professional plumbers, such as those at Tiger Plumbing, is always recommended.

Where’s the Phantom? Hissing Sounds

A hissing sound is one of the more common noises one might encounter in their home. This will happen sometimes when you turn on a faucet. The cause of this noise is usually a water pressure that is too high. The solution is to install a valve that will reduce the water pressure and get rid of this noise.

Things That Go Bump in the Night: Rattling Pipe Sound

This shaking and rattling sound which takes place when shutting off a faucet is often caused by waves of water pressure and is a problem that occurs more in older homes than newer ones. This sound can also happen when water rapidly enters a pipe that doesn’t flow freely, possibly due to a change in direction in the piping such as an elbow connection or a “T” joint. In cases where the cause is water pressure waves, air chambers and shock absorption fittings are usually a fix.

A Black Cat Crossing Your Path: Screeching

Another problem that you might experience is a sharp screech as you open a faucet. The screech is brief and will often stop as soon as the faucet is completely open. In this case, the usual suspect is not a black cat, but a bad part in the faucet. You can attempt to rebuild the faucet but a replacement is often a better solution, especially if you are paying to have this done. Components inside a faucet can be expensive, so it is probably cheaper to replace than to pay to have your current faucet repaired. Plus, wouldn’t a new faucet just look nicer anyway?

There are many sounds that can be emitted from your plumbing system. These are three common ones but there are many more, and depending on where the noise is coming from, and the type of noise, they can signal a major problem or a simple repair. If you are not sure of what the cause is, consult with the professionals at Tiger Plumbing. You don’t want to take a chance with your plumbing, since the impact of a busted pipe in your home, and the resulting cleanup effort, can be significant.

If you hear any of the “Ghostly Trio” making noises in your house, call Tiger today at 1-866-TIGER70 or visit TrustTiger.com to schedule an appointment, and let us evaluate your plumbing system to see if it is a plumbing problem, or if we need to, refer you to the Ghostbusters!