What Common Plumbing Noises Mean

February 3rd, 2018

For homeowners, seemingly random noises coming from the pipes can be annoying to deal with. But did you know they can also be signals that some potentially significant issues are taking place with your plumbing?

At Expert Services- Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electrical, we’re here to help with all noises you might hear from your plumbing. Here are some of the most common sounds you may hear, and what these sounds likely mean.

Whistling Showerhead

In most cases, a whistling noise from the showerhead will mean you have a simple clog in the head. Just remove the showerhead and clean it – most of the time, this will solve the issue. If the noise persists after you’ve done this, it might be time to replace the showerhead entirely.

Drain Noises

This is an issue that will take place when you flush the toilet, though it won’t always take place in the toilet. The shower drain or sink drain might gurgle after a toilet flush – this could mean a clogged pipe requiring drain cleaning, air in the pipes, a drain venting issue, or even a severe main sewer line clog issue. This is one of those issues where you might have to have one of our plumbing specialists come pinpoint the precise problem for you.

Banging Pipes

Water pipes are made of metal, and it’s easy for them to make noise. This might be due to pipes that aren’t secure and are banging into other pipes or other parts of the house. It might also be because of an obstruction in the pipes, which you’ll have to get removed – this will both save you money on utilities and get rid of your noises.

Popping Water Heater

A loud knocking or popping noise from the water heater is a sure sign of sediment buildup, which can be a major issue for a water heater. If you don’t have the heater maintained often enough, it will build up limescale and other deposits, which pool at the bottom of the heater and lower its efficiency. These noises could be a sign that it’s time for either maintenance or a water heater repair.

For more on common plumbing noises, or to learn about any of our plumbing services, speak to the pros at Expert Services- Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electrical today.