You may notice an increase in sounds happening behind your walls as your home ages.
When you hear banging, shrieking, whistling, and hissing, you might think of something supernatural, but it could be a plumbing problem.
Banging noises coming from your pipes usually indicate a problem with water flow or pressure. Water hammers and trapped air bubbles are the most common causes. High water pressure in your home’s plumbing system can actually cause your pipes to vibrate. The vibration can create a humming sound behind your walls that become especially noticeable when your water is running. When your plumbing system is attempting to drain out excess water or waste it may emit a type of gurgling noise. This gurgling sound is similar to the noise you would hear while emptying a bottle of liquid. Pipes live behind the walls, floors, and ceiling of your home, affixed to your home by sets of fasteners. If for some reason, the fastener is loosened or completely detached, then the pipes are left to freely move as the water runs through them as the fastener loosens. As a result, you may hear rattling noises coming from the pipes when they bang against fasteners or other materials which are nearby while they bang against each other. The plumbing in your home is a very complex system of pipes, valves, and other small components that all have to work together in order for your plumbing to function properly at all times. The small pieces of hardware such as washers, nuts, and bolts can sometimes wear over time, resulting in a high-pitched whining noise when they are worn down. The majority of the time, it is recommended that plumbing noises be treated by a professional in many situations.