Why are pipes humming in an apartment: identifying the causes and analyzing ways to fix the problem

Residents of multi-storey buildings are often disturbed by strange sounds heard in communication systems.Agree, it is unlikely that anyone will contact the housing office or call a plumber for any minor hum or vibration. Although such sounds may well signal an emergency situation on the highway.

In order not to create unnecessary panic, you need to figure out why the pipes in the apartment are humming and find out what measures need to be taken to eliminate extraneous noise. It is important to understand which situation requires an immediate call to specialists, and when you can do it on your own.

The answers to these questions are described in detail in the article. We analyzed the nature and causes of the hum of water, sewer and heating pipelines in an apartment building.

Noise in pipelines is a discomfort

Residents of multi-storey buildings often encounter sounds (knocking, humming, whistling) that can be heard in various communication systems: plumbing, heating, sewerage.

Sometimes such noises are periodic in nature, in other cases they sound constantly, causing a lot of inconvenience to apartment residents.

Extraneous sounds in communications make life difficult.It is better to find out the cause of their appearance as early as possible and eliminate the noise.

It is important to know that buzzing and other sounds are not only unpleasant, but can also indicate serious problems in life support systems. Try to take immediate action by understanding the causes of the noise, without waiting for it to go away on its own.

Extraneous sounds in the water supply

Most often, strange noises reach residents from the water supply system. Sounds can be caused by a variety of reasons: disturbances in centralized communications, incorrect connection of plumbing fixtures, defects in the design of the riser, and malfunction of mixers.

To correctly determine the source of the malfunction, you should first listen to the noise to determine where it is coming from and what it sounds like.

The most common sounds heard from water pipes are:

• monotonous hum;
• humming turning into whistling;
• intermittent knocking noise;
• a loud, sharp sound that may be accompanied by strong vibration when opening the tap.

Let us consider in detail the reasons causing these noises.

Constant hum in the pipes

The most annoying extraneous sound is the monotonous humming in water pipes. Most often, such noises are heard in “aged” buildings, which have been in operation for decades.

A constant hum can be caused by a variety of reasons.

Reason #1. Defects of the centralized system. If the sound comes from the basement and then spreads throughout the house, it is caused by the central pipe.

This is a common problem due to the fact that Soviet-built buildings usually used communications made of steel, the service life of which had long expired.

Often the cause of extraneous sounds lies in the basement, where the general communications are located. In this case, only specialists who carefully examine the communications can cope with the problem

Under the influence of corrosion, metal elements sooner or later begin to collapse; cracks or fistulas form in them, from which water seeps out.

In this case, it is extremely difficult to eliminate the defect yourself; it is better to entrust the repair to professionals by contacting the Housing Office. As a rule, after repairs, unpleasant sounds disappear.

Reason #2. Sometimes noise can occur in basement plumbing lines even when the pipes are in good condition. Their cause may be an open vent or an incompletely closed plug. Such problems are also easily corrected by specialized service workers.

Reason #3. Extraneous sounds from the basement may be caused by pipe branches that are too close together. When areas that vibrate due to water pressure come into contact, a hum may occur that reaches the inhabitants of the apartments.

A simple and effective solution to this problem is to treat each of the pipes with high-quality foam insulation.

Reason #4. Humming can be caused by the use of elements with different diameters in the pipeline. When connecting pipes of different sizes and adjusting them, the flow of water is disrupted, which causes extraneous noise.

In this case, it is better for the residents of the house to contact the housing office with a collective statement regarding the repair of the water supply or replacing the riser.

The cause of unpleasant sounds may be a valve that does not completely shut off the water flow. To fix this problem, sometimes it is enough to simply tighten the tap. In more complex cases, it is necessary to replace the part

Reason #5. Difference in diameters. If pipes of different sizes were used when laying the pipeline, with larger diameters being adjusted to smaller diameters, this disrupts the flow of water, which can cause noise.

Reason #6. The same problem can be caused by a valve that is not fully open or old valves (faucets) that impede the normal flow of fluid. In this case, an area of ​​​​high pressure appears, and the sounds produced by the turbulence of the water will be carried throughout all apartments related to the riser.

Reason #7. Sometimes monotonous noises are associated with a leaking faucet. The sound may occur due to a worn gasket that seals the mounting location of this device with a tee.

Due to the difference in pressure between the two pipes, a constant humming noise may occur. In this case it is enough fix the faucet yourselfby replacing the gasket.

A common source of unpleasant noises is a leaking faucet. To rule out this reason, it is advisable to check the condition of the faucet in the bathroom and ask if your neighbors have any leaks

Reason #8. The hum may occur due to a leaking faucet in a neighboring apartment. This version may be a priority if noises are clearly heard at night, when water consumption is reduced to a minimum.

Humming turning to whistling

Sometimes a specific noise is heard in water supply lines, reminiscent of a whistle, which intensifies with increasing pressure.This sound usually occurs when individual parts of the system are insufficiently permeable.

This can be caused by two reasons:

• valve is completely or partially closed;
• pipe blockage.

To eliminate the first case, it is enough to check the position of the shut-off valve responsible for this section of the pipeline.

A hum that turns into a whistle most often indicates a clogged pipe. It often occurs due to the build-up of mineral salts

If the valve position is correct, you need to check the pipes for blockages. In an apartment, it is enough to disconnect the element from the mixer and clean it, if necessary, using a mechanical method or pneumatic or hydraulic flushing.

If you suspect a blockage in the centralized water supply system, you must call a specialist who will find the defect and make repairs.

Tapping in water pipes

Sometimes strange knocking noises can be clearly heard in the water supply system located in the apartment. The causes of these noises can be varied.

Reason #1. Thermal expansion of pipeline parts. This problem especially often worries owners of apartments equipped with steel water pipes. The reason for this is due to the special properties of the metal. If hot water begins to flow into a very cool pipe, the steel walls begin to heat up, and this causes them to expand.

The increase in size is difficult to assess visually, but often it is enough for closely located parts to begin to touch each other, and their contact is accompanied by a knock.

To eliminate this problem, it is advisable to use plastic pipelines. Metal parts can be wrapped in polyethylene foam or other reliable insulation.

Sometimes, to get rid of unpleasant sounds in the water supply, it is enough to fix the pipes on the wall using special fasteners

Reason #2. Sounds where the pipe is fixed to the wall. A similar problem can be caused if, due to thermal expansion, the pipes begin to hit the fasteners in the wall. This can be found out by localizing the location of the noise.

To fix the problem, it is recommended to use additional fasteners, such as staples, to secure the structure. If there are noises from the riser, they can be eliminated by filling the void in the ceiling with high-quality polyurethane foam.

Reason #3. There are also errors when installing the valve. If the screw element is not installed correctly, the valve may come off. A part that gets into the pipe cavity will hit its inner surface, blocking the water flow. This problem must be solved immediately by calling a specialist.

Reason #4. Sometimes air gets into the pipes. The cause of tapping may be air pockets in the pipelines. The most effective way to eliminate them is to install an air exhaust system. It will also protect structural elements from corrosion and eliminate malfunctions during pump operation.

Noise in pipes with vibration

Sometimes when you open a tap, you hear a loud humming sound, which is usually accompanied by pronounced vibration.

To reliably protect yourself from problems with the mixer, which can cause extraneous noise, it is better to give preference to models with reliable faucet axle boxes made of ceramic or brass

The most common cause of such a malfunction is problems with the faucet axle, an important part of the mixer. If water pressure increases, this element blocks the pressure, creating flow turbulence, which causes a hum.

To diagnose such noise, it is enough to open the hot/cold water supply valves one by one to find out where the problem lies.

Most often, sounds occur in faucets that use rubber gaskets. It is better to replace such models with reliable analogues with ceramic valve axle boxes - in this case, the gaskets are part of the design of the device.

As a rule, the operation of such devices is absolutely silent; the occurrence of extraneous sounds indicates incorrect assembly.

The cause of sudden strong noises in water supply communications, which disappear just as quickly, may be a malfunction of pipes in a neighboring apartment. In this case, you should talk to its owners.

A humming sound in pipes when the tap is open can also be caused by excess pressure formed in the pressure system. Typically, this problem occurs at certain times of the day (peak hours), when water pressure in pipes reaches its maximum value.

This phenomenon is quite dangerous, since it is not limited to the occurrence of unpleasant sounds. Increased impact on the system can lead to a violation of the integrity of the structure, causing a violation of the tightness of the fasteners.

The appearance of extraneous sounds is sometimes caused by insufficiently tight connections of pipes, mixers and other instruments. All parts must be tightly tightened

If the owners of an apartment with newly installed plumbing complain about humming and vibration of the taps, first of all it is necessary to check how correctly the connections of the faucets and pipes were made. It is important to seal all existing fasteners, after which extraneous noise usually disappears.

To reduce high pressure, it is advisable to place an air chamber between the taps and pipes, making it using a special muffler or an additional piece of pipe.

A humming noise can also occur in the toilet cistern, in which case the reason lies in shut-off valves - membrane or valve. To fix it, you need to turn off the water and then replace the existing rubber gasket with a harder one.A washer installed under the membrane will also help eliminate sounds.

Noises in the sewer system

Extraneous noise can be heard from the sewer system, but the occurrence of sounds is not affected by whether communications are laid from plastic or cast iron elements. Their specificity will help to understand the cause of noise.

Tapping in a sewer pipe

A single downward sound is usually caused by a heavy object falling into the sewer pipe. It is better to avoid such situations, as this threatens possible damage to the structure, especially if it is made of polymer pipes.

A knocking sound in the sewer system indicates a possible blockage in the pipe. To get rid of noise in this case, it is necessary to clean the system

A great danger is posed by periodic tapping, which may indicate an existing blockage. If you suspect a blockage, you can try using special chemicals or a plunger. If such methods do not lead to a positive result, you need to call a plumber.

Noise turning into whistling

Such sounds can occur for various reasons:

• In the event of a narrowing of the pipe diameter due to its overgrowth or existing sewer blockage. In this case, you can use the methods described above or contact a professional.
• In addition, a whistling noise may be a sign of air entering the sewer system. It is also better to entrust the solution to such a problem to a specialist who will not only take appropriate measures, but also carry out preventive work aimed at normalizing air.

Although noises that turn into whistling do not indicate excessively dangerous situations, they do indicate problems that need to be addressed immediately.

Rumble and vibration in the sewer

The humming of a sewer riser can be caused by reasons similar to the appearance of noise in water pipes. However, in this case there is no need to fear a breakthrough of structural elements due to unstable pressure in the drainage system.

You can eliminate sounds by insulating the riser with foamed polyethylene. Winding a pipe made with this material will not only insulate the structure, but will also effectively absorb noise.

Modern technologies contribute to the creation of new, fundamentally new materials. Structures made from sound-absorbing pipes do not require sound insulation

Using sound-absorbing analogues instead of conventional pipes. There are special plastic elements on sale that are easy to recognize thanks to the marking stripes on the walls. The structures made from them operate absolutely silently.

The following photo selection will introduce you to the design and technological features of the silent version of the sewer system:

The principles of arranging a silent sewer system are described in detail in this article.

Extraneous sounds in the heating system

A common occurrence for residents of houses with central heating is noise coming from radiators and pipes. To avoid possible troubles, you must also treat them extremely carefully.

Monotonous humming in the batteries

One of the common causes of humming in heating pipes is air getting into the system. To determine airiness, it is important to check the quality of heating.

If individual sections of the radiator remain cold or heat up less than neighboring ones, this indicates that air has entered the structure, which caused the hum. In order to get rid of it, as well as to establish full heating, it is important to bleed air from the system.

Air entering the heating battery occurs for the following reasons:

• incorrect installation;
• insufficient pressure in the heat supply sectors;
• corrosion of metal elements of the device;
• ingress of foreign objects - debris;
• incorrect installation of individual parts of the heating system;
• increased air content in water;
• improper startup of the heating system;
• lack of air duct.

To fix the problem you need deflate the airlock, which will require a radiator wrench or screwdriver, as well as a container for water.

The process of venting the radiator is not particularly difficult, especially if modern battery models are used

To perform this operation, you must complete the following steps:

• find a valve on the battery; in older models there may be a valve instead;
• spin it clockwise until you hear the hiss of air;
• release air until drops of liquid appear;
• wait until the water begins to flow in an even stream;
• tighten the valve.

Some radiators have a special automatic bleed option, which makes the process even easier.

Tapping and "shooting" batteries

Metal radiators sometimes produce sharp sounds reminiscent of gunshots.Such noise is associated with the expansion factor of the metal: elements made from this material increase in size when heated, and decrease when cooled.

To avoid “shooting”, it is recommended to use special insulation, wrapping it around the pipes that are located near the walls.

Similar sounds can also occur if the structure is installed incorrectly and the radiator fastening rules are violated.

To avoid problems, it is advisable to strictly follow the recommendations of specialists:

• the heating battery should be located 14 cm from the floor;
• the distance from the window sill to the battery should exceed 10 cm;
• there should be a gap of 2-5 cm between the wall and the radiator - a layer of insulation can be laid in it;
• pipes must be mounted on a flat vertical surface;
• the end on which the air vent is installed must be raised by 1 cm.

In addition, periodic knocking may be heard in the heating system. As a rule, its cause is the difference in the diameters of the pipes that are used to create the structure.

To eliminate the malfunction, it is advisable to make the system from elements of the same size. Instead of a diaphragm, it is better to install a regulator that monitors the pressure drop of the water supply to the radiator.

Extraneous sounds may occur when using structures whose service life has long expired. It is necessary to check the condition of the heating system, and if necessary replace the battery yourself or entrust the process to a professional.

Murmuring in radiators and pipes

Often you can also hear the gurgling and gurgling of water in the pipes. Typically, this phenomenon is typical for starting water at the beginning of the heating season.

If such noise is not associated with the start of hot water, it may indicate problems: if an obstacle occurs inside the battery, the water has to flow around them, which causes extraneous sounds.

To determine the cause, you need to check the position of the valve and its functionality, and also try to determine the presence of a blockage.

For prevention, you can clean the system, which can be done in two ways:

• strong water pressure;
• using special chemicals, followed by flushing the system with a jet of water under pressure.

If these measures do not help, you need to call a specialist: with a massive blockage, sometimes you have to resort to the help of a welder.

Sounds in pipes with a working battery

The cause of heating noise may not be the radiator, but other elements of the system.

Riser. Sometimes noise in the battery is caused by water leaking from the riser. Such a problem must be immediately corrected on your own or with the help of a technician called from the housing office.

Water pump. The buzzing of this device can be caused by a number of reasons:

• the pump was installed with defects;
• the power of the device does not correspond to the standard indicator;
• the adjusting washers are out of order;
• Overheating is allowed when the pump is operating;
• wear of individual components of the device or the entire structure.

To diagnose the pump, it is necessary to disassemble the device, for which it is advisable to contact a professional.

In private homes, noise in the heating system may be caused by problems with the boilers. To repair such devices, it is better to call a specialist.

Boiler. Extraneous sounds may occur if this device does not operate correctly.

The characteristics of noise and the possibility of eliminating them largely depend on the fuel on which the boiler operates:

1. For solid fuel models The appearance of a crackling sound in the chimney is typical. To eliminate this, you need to clean this element, after which the device turns on at full power.
2. In gas boilers Noises are most often caused by defects in the burner, which requires replacement of this part.
3. Diesel fuel boilers Sometimes they emit a whistle that occurs in the nozzle due to excess soot, which interferes with heat transfer. Installing a thermostat will help improve operation.

The cause of noise can also be a break in the control valve. In this case, an immediate call to a specialist is required, since blocking the movement of liquid by a detached element can lead to rupture of the heating sections.

A gas water heater or electric heater can also make noise. First of all, it is recommended to inspect the valve of these devices, which most often causes problems.

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

Below we provide you with instructions on how to correct two common causes of noise.

The first video shows a step-by-step process for replacing the gasket, which allows you to get rid of strong noise accompanied by vibration.

The second video instruction describes in detail how to bleed air from a heating battery. This process not only helps improve the heat transfer of the radiator, but also eliminates humming sounds.

Before you start repairs, you need to find out why the water, sewer or heating pipes are noisy. Having established the cause of the sounds, you can easily deal with the problem yourself or with the help of a master plumber.

Do you have anything to add or have questions on the topic? Please leave comments on the publication and participate in discussions. The contact form is located in the lower block.