7yo house - water pipes making humming noise when in use

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boland

475 posts

Ultimate Geek

#306359 16-Jul-2023 13:20

We've got a relatively new house, and since a year or so the water pipe close to the main valve makes a humming/singing noise for 1-2 seconds when a tap is opened or the washing machine lets in water.

Initially I just ignored it, as it's only brief, but recently I also heard a whistling noise in the ceiling briefly when the toilet was flushed. This has now gone, but the sound near the main valve is still there and I realised this probably isn't normal. Based on my Google search it's got something to do with water pressure.

Video of the sound here, my wife opens the tap twice (make sure you turn on the sound, by default imgur seems to disable it): https://imgur.com/QBx8ubl

Before I call a plumber, I'd like to get Geekzone's opinion what this is? Should I be worried?

MrBBEye

278 posts

Ultimate Geek

ID Verified

#3104830 16-Jul-2023 18:05

Musical pipes!. Had that issues years ago when mum forgot to turn of an outside tap properly, she only left it on a touch but the resulting unholy racket from every other tap was something else.

Before calling just make sure it's not just 1 tap. Try each one at a time, turn on slightly then try the other taps/shower/toilet for noise.

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DonH

217 posts

Master Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#3104950 17-Jul-2023 10:06

One source of that sort of noise is a "stuck jumper" in a tap. The washer in a standard water tap is mounted on a platform with a pin which should rotate freely inside the stem of the tap as you screw it open or closed. If this seizes, you'll often get groaning or humming noises as you open the tap. In your case it could be the main valve, or the pressure reducing valve which is usually located close by.

People hear what they see. - Doris Day

boland

475 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3106844 22-Jul-2023 09:43

Thanks all, it was indeed the pressure reducing valve. Turns out there was a little bit of debris in the filter/cartridge. Cleaned it, problem solved.

TheCross

18 posts

Geek

#3108921 28-Jul-2023 07:32

Another issue I have seen, is when two limiting valve have been installed on a system. Often happens when somebody has installed one in an inaccessible location or under the ground by the meter. They play off each other and can introduce whining or humming noises into a system. Often amplified when their is copper pipework.

Good to hear you've got it solved.