A Noisy Tap And It’s Solutions!

Posted by Hy-Pro Plumbing & Drain Cleaning on March 08/2016 | 0 Comments

Common Plumbing Tap Problems And Solutions

Plumbing tap problems are not costly but also quite annoying. Screaming, gurgling, whistling, and chattering – no, this isn’t your child we’re talking about; it’s your plumbing tap! If you’re tired of this annoyance wreaking havoc on your eardrums, take an afternoon to assess the faucets in your household.

Unhappy pipes kick up quite the fuss, and it’s a good idea to listen to what they’re saying. Each sound your faucet produces can reveal the source of the issue, which makes solving it that much easier. But if you’re not fluent in faucet-speak, these noises can leave you scratching your head. Don’t worry! Our plumbing experts at Hy-Pro Plumbing and Drain Cleaning have broken down each noise and explained its cause.

As your leading plumbing company in Ontario, we take every plumbing issue seriously. For immediate assistance, we invite you to call our customer service team at 1-877-554-9776 to schedule an in-home appointment for a prompt plumbing tap inspection or other plumbing services with guaranteed results.

Screaming Plumbing Taps

A screaming tap sounds a lot worse than it is. Typically, when a plumbing tap screams, a faulty stem is to blame. A stem is a moving mechanism within the faucet that controls how much or how little water can move through it. It will screech when it meets too much resistance against a faucet’s threads every time you turn your tap on or off. To silence the faucet, you’ll have to lubricate this squeaky stem with some plumber’s grease. Sometimes, however, a stem and its connecting parts are so old they require replacement to truly stop the noise.

Hammering Sounds

Another type of noisy plumbing tap is what is called a hammering sound. Whenever your faucets produce this sound, it’s indicative of a vibration somewhere within the water supply line. Vibrations might be caused by a worn washer, a check valve, or even a foreign object that’s stuck within the water line and constricting the amount of space the water has to flow.

To stop your faucet from vibrating, you’ll first have to isolate the problem. You can do this by turning the tap on slowly, one temperature at a time to determine whether the vibration is in the hot or cold water supply line. Once you know which pipe is causing you grief, you can go from there. Before you attempt any washer replacement, check to see if the valve is open all of the way. Most of the time, our licensed plumber finds it’s a semi-closed valve constricting the water supply and creating a hammering sound.

Note: You may also experience a water hammer in your supply lines when you suddenly turn off your plumbing tap. This is normally caused by high pressure, and we highly recommend that you check your water pressure regulator or hire an experienced plumber to regulate the pressure level. Otherwise, you risk damaging your supply lines and could experience leaks, water damage, and even a basement flood.

Mineral Buildup

It’s also important to note that Ontario’s water hardness is higher than that of other provinces. If your area has a high level of hard water, you’ll eventually experience calcium buildup inside your plumbing fixtures, especially in your household water supply lines. Mineral deposits will decrease your indoor water pressure and even increase the level of sediment buildup in your hot water tank. Unless you flush your water heater on a routine basis, you will eventually hear rattling noises coming from your tank.

Mineral deposits tend to accumulate in your plumbing tap’s aerator, which is the screen covering your faucet’s spout. Remove the aerator to see if that fixes your noisy plumbing tap issue. If yes, create a paste with baking soda and white vinegar to scrub off the mineral content. But if it doesn’t fix the problem, some interior issues lie in the body of your kitchen faucet: the cartridge may be corroded, or the o-ring is worn out. In that case, rather than get faucet repair services, it may be more cost-effective to purchase a new one. Our licensed technician is happy to recommend quality brands and complete the installation process.

How To Avoid Plumbing Tap Issues

We recommend that you hire a professional plumbing service annually to check your water pressure and water quality. It’s not only drain lines that get clogged due to years of buildup, but your supply lines carry mineral contents, such as calcium and magnesium, which tend to stick to your pipe walls over time. If left untreated, you not only get decreased water pressure, noisy plumbing taps, and leaky faucets, but you also risk damaging your supply lines as they can corrode.

Our drain cleaning or hydro jetting services are also designed to clear water supply lines. Therefore, plumbing tap issues can signal a lot of other underlying problems.

However, as far as most plumbing taps are concerned, your best option is often a faucet replacement, but our friendly plumbing technician is always happy to check the issue in greater detail before determining the best course of action. Without plumbing maintenance and repairs, you may find yourself needing new kitchen accessories, such as a new kitchen sink.

Need Help With Your Noisy Plumbing Tap?

It can be relieving to finally know the exact reason behind your noisy plumbing tap. Once you know why your faucet is making so much noise, you can roll up your sleeves and attempt to fix it.

The most basic toolkits have the equipment you need (like a screwdriver and wrench) to complete this type of plumbing repair. If it’s not the state of your toolkit that you don’t have confidence in but your own DIY skills, don’t worry. Our licensed and insured plumbers have silenced plenty of loud faucets in their time, and they can add your taps to their list for your peace of mind!

Simply call 1-877-554-9776, and we’ll send out an expert plumber to your Ontario home – whenever you need them! After a quick assessment, they’ll locate the issue causing your plumbing taps to scream (or vibrate) and make the appropriate repairs or replacements.