We’re plumbers in New York City, and that means we get a lot of calls about noisy pipes. Sometimes pipes bang, clang, and clatter. As a homeowner, you’re understandably concerned. Pipes shouldn’t be making noises. So what is going on?
Culprit #1: Air in the Pipes
While air is great – absolutely essential for life here on Earth – air in your home plumbing is not great. The important thing to understand is that air and water can’t occupy the same space at the same time – and there’s not a whole lot of room within your home’s pipes. When air gets trapped and pushed around within your home plumbing, it can create loud banging noises.
There are different names for air in the pipes based on where the air is located. You’ll hear the phrase water hammer used to reference the banging that occurs when moving water encounters a newly closed valve.
Is Air in the Pipes a Problem?
Yes, air in the pipes is a problem. Having air in the pipes can cause water pressure issues to develop. Additionally, there will be the increasing levels of noise. As more air enters the plumbing, the worse the water pressure and noise issues will become.
Do You Need a Plumber to Fix Noisy Pipes?
To fix noisy pipes, you want to remove the air from the plumbing. It’s also really useful to know how the air is getting into the plumbing in the first place. In this way, you can address that cause and prevent the problem from recurring. Licensed master plumbers have the expertise to identify problem areas quickly and accurately, which means your pipes get fixed faster.
The most common way for air to get into plumbing systems is from areas where new plumbing was installed. Areas where the plumbing is somehow damaged can also allow air into the pipes.
