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Plumbing Question

Discussion in 'Off-Topic Discussion' started by dexdawg, Jun 15, 2011.

  1. Jun 15, 2011 at 4:36 AM
    #1
    dexdawg

    dexdawg [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Any plumbers out there???? In my 5 year old townhouse I occasionally hearing a humming/vibration noise coming from the unfinished basement where the main water line comes into the house through the basement floor.

    This only happens when we turned on a faucet, any faucet in the house, or the shower and sometimes when the toilet flushes. Mainly when faucet water is running. As soon as the water is turned off the sound goes away.

    I live in a townhouse with sprinkler system. There is a pressure reducing valve installed after the main shutoff but sprinkler system is branched off before the PRV. Any ideas of what this could be or what to start looking for or checking?
     
  2. Jun 15, 2011 at 4:39 AM
    #2
    yotamikez

    yotamikez Street glide or die

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    Sounds similar to my buddies issue. He left his hose on and it would cause a vibrating/humming noise. Maybe check the hoses? Just a thought.
     
  3. Jun 15, 2011 at 5:35 AM
    #3
    oldstick

    oldstick Medicare Member

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    It's your water pipes (probably metal) slightly vibrating due to the water flow. The sound gets amplified usually where the pipes come in contact with your floor or wall joists, similar to a guitar body amplifying the string vibrations.

    If the basement joists are still open, try to find the places where there is contact with the wood and put insulation or padding in there. This may or may not help because usually the loud hums happen only at a certain specific amount of water flow, not necessarily every time a faucet is on.
     
  4. Jun 15, 2011 at 5:47 AM
    #4
    dexdawg

    dexdawg [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I'm pretty sure most of the pipes are PVC except the ones used for sprinkler system, which are copper. My basement is finished with drywall ceiling except for the small area where the main comes in. I've been in the house for almost 5 years and this just started happening maybe 6 months ago. I will have to check to see if anything is touching a joist.
     
  5. Jun 15, 2011 at 6:23 AM
    #5
    Pugga

    Pugga Pasti-Dip Free 1983 - 2015... It was a good run

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    Your domestic water is PVC?!?! :confused: I didn't know that was even used, I thought copper was fairly universal for water supply and PVC for sewer.
     
  6. Jun 15, 2011 at 6:44 AM
    #6
    skytower

    skytower Well-Known Member

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    Hitch and wiring, aux back-up light, rear strobe lights, radio and underseat sub.
    Take the hangers off, put a wrap of rubber around the pipe, and reattach the hanger.
     
  7. Jun 15, 2011 at 6:59 AM
    #7
    OH-MAN

    OH-MAN Well-Known Member

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    The washer on the faucet needs to be changed.
     
  8. Jun 15, 2011 at 7:19 AM
    #8
    puckstopper55

    puckstopper55 Well-Known Member

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    assuming hangers were used at all. From what I have heard, a lot of new builds use minimal hangers. One of them could be slightly loose.
     
  9. Jun 15, 2011 at 7:26 AM
    #9
    wmdpowell

    wmdpowell Well-Known Member

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  10. Jun 15, 2011 at 7:28 AM
    #10
    skytower

    skytower Well-Known Member

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    Hitch and wiring, aux back-up light, rear strobe lights, radio and underseat sub.
    Water hammer only happens when turning on/off the faucet.
     
  11. Jun 15, 2011 at 7:52 AM
    #11
    oldstick

    oldstick Medicare Member

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    I think PVC can raise a ruckus also.

    In your case I would suspect the immediate area where the main water line enters through the basement wall. Also as someone suggested, a bad faucet or washer could be a culprit, especially if the noise is only when that particular faucet comes on.
     
  12. Jun 16, 2011 at 3:03 AM
    #12
    dexdawg

    dexdawg [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I checked my water pressure on both the front and back hose bibs. Got reading of about 80 psi on both which I'm told is high for residential. Plus the PRV is rated at 50 psi. So for now I've made the adjustment on the PRV and we'll see what happens.

    From what I can see the strapping and hangers are there. The noise only happens when the water is running so I think that kind of eliminates water hammering.

    I'm not looking at one particular faucet because the noise happens when any faucet or shower water is turned on. I'm not giving up yet, just trying to eliminate one thing at a time. Thanks for all the help. Here is a photo of my basement set up.

    [​IMG]
     
  13. Jun 16, 2011 at 3:19 AM
    #13
    yotamikez

    yotamikez Street glide or die

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    So no hose was left on?
     
  14. Jun 16, 2011 at 3:28 AM
    #14
    dexdawg

    dexdawg [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Sorry but no hose left on but thanks for the suggestion.
     
  15. Jun 16, 2011 at 3:30 AM
    #15
    yotamikez

    yotamikez Street glide or die

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    Damn well now im interested to see whats wrong so let us know.
     

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