Why do the water pipes vibrate in my Philadelphia home?

Water Pipes - Master Plumber in Philadelphia

Depending on the age of your home in Philadelphia you may have heard a loud vibration coming from the water pipes. Doesn’t matter the size of the house, this is a typical occurrence that can be caused by a series of different conditions; all are easily repairable with a little know-how. The cause for your water pipes to vibrate in your Philadelphia home is a direct correlation to the type of repair needed to correct the problem. Simply put, there are several reasons why your pipes would vibrate. In this article we will cover a few of the most common ones as well as the Avenue of repair that would be recommended:

What causes the water pipes to vibrate?

Loose Water Pipes

For many Philadelphia homes you will find that the water pipes are exposed to the basement, this would also be true for an apartment complexes well. With many of these exposed pipes running to various faucets and toilets throughout the home a loose pipe can begin to rattle causing a metallic pinging noise. Older Philadelphia homes and apartments that utilize water radiators will have this noise amplified as the sound travels throughout the piping.

Resolution: (you will need two people) Have one person flushed the toilet or turn on the faucet at the furthest point from the water source. Next have someone, starting in the basement, listen for the pipe that’s vibrating. If you can hear or feel the noise in the basement but not actually locate the exact center of the vibration keep trying. Go from room to room until you find where the noise is the loudest. If it turns out that the vibrating pipe is behind a wall it may in fact be the quietest part of the sound as this is also the lowest point of vibration. As the vibration travels it also can be amplified so make sure you are 100% sure before you start tearing into walls. If the vibration because of a loose pipe is not immediately apparent, be sure to contact your professional plumber at iFixdit, LLC -Plumbing and Drains to narrow down the vibration prior to cutting into a wall. If you should locate the vibrating pipe then simply use a pipe clamp to secure it to one of the floor joists.

Pipe Resignation

Pipe resignation is caused in larger Philadelphia homes when the quantity of metal pipes is great enough to cause a light vibration due to a harmonic signature that is produced.

Resolution: Add additional pipe clamps and most important, insulated sleeves throughout the exposed pipes.

Call I*Fixdit, LLC Today – (267) 979-4517

Sink Faucet - Master Plumber in PhiladelphiaWater Pressure Too High

As this great city of Philadelphia continues to grow, public works improvements are always looking for innovative ways to increase water pressure, flow density and conservation efforts within the city. As a result there are areas in Philadelphia that have really good water pressure. While this is a great thing when taking a shower, it can also cause a vibration in the pipes especially in homes that have not had an upgrade to the plumbing. The incoming water pressure should be between 40 and 60 pounds per square inch (PSI); naturally water pressure that is higher can create a vibration, a licensed, professional plumber can hook up a series of pressure gauges to determine if this is the problem.

Resolution: a licensed plumber such as the professionals at iFixdit, LLC -Plumbing and Drains in Philadelphia can install a pressure reduction valve on the incoming water line to correct the problem. It may be also a good time to consider upgrading the water pipes in your Philadelphia home.

Water Hammer

Older Toilet - Master Plumber in Philadelphia

The water hammer effect is a common occurrence where fast closing valves (found in toilets fill valves and faucets) shut off too quickly. The sudden stop of water causes a “hammer” effect. Depending on how high the fast shut off valve is in the Philadelphia home, the sound can be quite loud and heard throughout the entire plumbing system.

Resolution: There are several ways to resolve a water hammer effect. First would be to replace those toilet fill valves and faucets that are causing the problem. Most high-end toilet fill valves and faucets sold today have this technology built-in; however, box store economy fixtures often will not.

Having a professional plumber such as the professionals at iFixdit, LLC -Plumbing and Drains in Philadelphia can install an arrestor valve in the affected areas of the home.

NOTE: If the water hammer effect has been going on for some time in your Philadelphia home it can create a buildup of water within air chambers installed within the plumbing system; this will cause a steady increase of the effect as well as cause damage to the system as a whole. (Especially in multiple story homes) Air chambers are designed to help cushion against the water hammer effect in larger homes but can fill up with water over time, needing to be drained in order to be effective again.

The procedure for doing this is fairly simple:

  • Shut off the main water valve
  • Open up all faucets, bathtub spigots and flush the toilets starting at the highest level of the home (farthest from the main water line) until all faucets have been open and drained.
  • After all faucets have been completely drained to where there is no water running, close all of the fixtures, this time starting at the bottom and working your way up.
  • Turn the main water line back on.
  • Starting again at the very top (furthest away from the main water line) turn on all the faucets, bathtub spigots and flush all the toilets one at a time allowing it to run for a few seconds.

Master Plumber Services Available

The master plumbers at iFixdit, LLC -Plumbing and Drains are familiar with the common plumbing concerns that are experienced in Philadelphia. Whether you own your home or live in an apartment building/complex; diagnosing plumbing can be frustrating, and at times, expensive. We have met many residents over the years that have spent hundreds of dollars in diagnostic equipment and unnecessary replacement of fixtures as a “do-it-your-selfer” only to find that they’ve needed to call a professional plumber after all. Save the headache by allowing iFixdit, LLC -Plumbing and Drains to diagnose your plumbing concern saving you both time and money.

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