Inexplicable sounds in the middle of the night are common among most homes. Banging, rattling, shrieking and out-of-tune trumpet music are not necessarily signs of ghostly manifestations. Instead of calling a priest, try a plumber. You might recognize these common plumbing noises and their causes:
Loud Banging
Water hammer noises sound as if there is an angry creature within the wall forcing its way out. Unfortunately, these noises can be scary and disturbing to people living in a house with this plumbing problem. The banging noise occurs when a person suddenly turns off a faucet, forcing the water to a stop and send shock waves through the pipes. Why is this happening to some houses and not the others? There is a perfectly scientific reason for that.
New plumbing installations consist of short pieces of pipe filled with air that acts as a shock absorbent. The air may escape after a long period, and it does not stop the shock wave. The owner of the house may contact a plumbing company to install water hammer arresters. Ignoring these water hammers can result in destroyed pipes. Fortunately, plumbing contractors in Bloomington, MN can fix existing damage.
Whistling
Whistling and shrieking sounds are especially troubling. You might mistake the sounds as banshee shrieks, but it’s probably just the plumbing. Sometimes sediments can get into pipes and restrict water flow, causing high-pitched noises. Another culprit could be a defective valve. If the cause is a defective valve, replacing it would easily resolve the problem. If the cause is something that’s blocking one of the pipes, help from plumbing contractors in Bloomington, MN is necessary.
Squeaking, Clattering and Scraping
Squeaking, clattering and scraping may occur even if nobody is using faucets. These are the noises that homeowners really mistake for ghosts or otherworldly visitors. A homeowner hearing these noises should first check to see if the home plumbing is made of copper.
Copper pipes are known to expand when they are warm. The expanded pipe may slide against the loose fasteners that keep it in place when the heating system of the home is on and hot water passes though the copper pipe. Tightening the fastener around the offending pipe to prevent it from moving is the solution.
There are many other plumbing noises out there, but these three are the ones that really scare people. Solving these problems will not only keep your family relaxed, but it will also protect the plumbing system from facing big problems in the future. Fortunately, you can contact plumbing contractors in Bloomington, MN for a quick solution to troubling plumbing problems.
