From a Master Plumber – 4 Possible Causes of Rattling Pipes

Have you ever turned a faucet off in your home and heard the pipes rattle downstairs in the basement? How about a banging or pinging noise when you turn on the heat?

Finding the source of rattling or banging pipes can sometimes seem as difficult as locating the cricket making all that noise in your house. But the cause of a rattling pipe is often one of the following:

A Loose Hanger

On occasion the hangers holding your copper pipes will loosen or break. Sometimes the plumber forgets to tighten the hanger properly (yes, even plumbers make mistakes). When this happens, the sound of copper pipes banging together can carry along the pipes throughout the house. Finding the affected hanger can sometimes take some time, but when it is found, tightening or replacing the hanger will usually stop the rattle.

Water Hammer

Sometimes your pipes will make a loud banging or hammering noise when a faucet is shut off quickly. This is called water hammer and is caused by air trapped in your water system. The solution to this problem is usually to install an air chamber in your water line, which will absorb the air trapped in the pipes.

A Loose Washer

If you have an older plumbing system, the washers from the shut-off valves can loosen as the screws holding them deteriorate. This can cause a sharp hammering noise when you run the water. Sometimes the valve can be taken apart and the washer screw tightened. If not, the valve may need to be replaced.

Air In The Heat Pipes

If you have a hot air heating system, air in the heat pipes can cause banging or rattling. This can become quite loud and carry throughout the house. If this is the case, the zone of the affected pipe in the heating system will need to be purged. This is usually a simple job for a plumber or heating professional.

There may be other reasons for noise in your pipes, but chances are you will be able to narrow it down to one of these causes.