Pipes leaking?

Question

Sound in wall like pipes expanding when water upstairs runs. Happens while water running and for a while after water turned off. Is there a way to tell if pipes are leaking w/o tearing down wall or waiting for drywall to crumble? Or is there another explanation for sound?

Answer 1

If the pipes are leaking, you will usually get water stain quite rapidly and If the sound you are hearing is continuous, I would first try turning on the water all the way and see if the sound goes away, if so, see the bottom paragraph. If not cut an inspection hole, just big enough to get a hand in at the point of the noise. You can then feel up and down the pipe and stud for moisture. A small hole is easy to fix and it is better to be safe than sorry..

If the sound just happens when you turn the water on and then stops when you open the faucet more, it is most likely the clamps holding the pipe(s) in place against a stud have loosened and the pipe is pushing up against it once the pressure changes when the water is turned on.

Answer 2

Not exactly sure what sound you're hearing, pipes don't usually make any expansion sounds, as they don't expand enough to do so, unless they're freezing. If you know where the pump is, go to it and watch the pressure gauge. If the pump pressure drops off steadily when there are no faucets turned on, then you have a leak somewhere. Finding out where is more of a problem, it will probably require tearing some walls apart. If you have a good idea of an area where it migjht be, try getting a stethascope and listening at the wall, or try a glass held to the wall with your ear against it.

Answer 3

This will happen if there is a fixed protrusion in a pipe or an irregular path that water flows through. A sound will be produced by vibration produced in the pipe that travels to other sections of pipes. The continuation of sound will last once water is shut off because water and or whatever material the pipes are made of will allows the sound to propagate until it is dampened out by natural resistance. An analogy is a ripple in water, eventually it will become clam again.

Answer 4

Check the base of the wall or under that area in a crawl space if possible that is one way to determine a leak. You could also rent a thermal imaging gun from your local do it yourself center. The gun will make a thermal image of a wall and from that you can determine if there is a leak.
It sounds like you have "water hammer" or a banging noise. Surge or water hammer, as it is commonly known is the result of a sudden change in liquid velocity. Water hammer usually occurs when a transfer system is quickly started, stopped or is forced to make a rapid change in direction. Any of these events can lead to catastrophic system component failure. Without question, the primary cause of water hammer in process applications is the quick closing valve, whether manual or automatic. A valve closing in 1.5 sec. or less depending upon valve size and system conditions, causes an abrupt stoppage of flow. The pressure spike(acoustic wave)created at rapid valve closure can be high as five(5) times the system working pressure. You can install a water hammer arrester to eliminate this sound.