Why are my hot water pipes making a horendous noise when I turn on the tap?

Question

It's getting worse each time I use it

Answer 1

Actually I think you don't need a plumber.... what you do is this:

Turn off the hot water at the source.... then turn the faucets all on for the hot water all over the house.... then turn the water back on at the source.... then turn the faucets off.

All the air will be gone and so will the noise.

Answer 2

First, try running the cold tap as you run the hot tap to stop the noise. Second, get an allen key and let the air out of all the radiators one by one. The heating will need to be on while you do this. Keep your hand at the top of the radiator (and some tissues round the valve), and feel the heat rise. When it is hot at the top, close the valve quickly or else you will get scalded or have oily water all over the place. If this doesn't work, then the airlock is somewhere else, and you will need a plumber. It might be cheaper to join British Gas' 3 star scheme. Good luck!

Answer 3

You have a condition known as water hammer, and unless you are a handy person, you will need a plumber. Assuming you have some plumbing skills, you will need to buy two "tees" two "street elbows", two six inch "nipples", and two "caps". Assuming you have 1/2" copper pipes obviously all these pcs need to be 1/2" copper also. This is per faucet, making the noise.

Anyway you will need to turn off the water, cut into the existing lines and install the tee. One in each line. Connect the street elbow to the open end of the tee. Connect the six inch nipple and cap to the elbow. Turn the water back on and check for leaks.

The air trapped in the tee, elbow assembly will reduce water hammer. You should also replace the valve assembly at the faucet itself. Sometimes these parts become loose and chatter making the same noise as you describe.

In fact replacing the valves themselves first is probably a good idea because it is the most likely source of your problem. The ultimate repair however would be to do both and enjoy the silence.

Answer 4

The suggestions that you bleed the,radiators to stop banging when you turn on a tap amuses me. What the hell has the heating system got to do with water flow to the taps.
The most likely solution is to replace the internals of your hot water taps as they could be worn and causing what is called, as someone has already said, a water hammer. If your taps are causing this problem, there is something else you will have to do, and that is adequately clip your pipework to keep it rigid. If it can rattle, the noise of a loose jumper in a tap will be greatly amplified.

Answer 5

The cause of the noise WILL NOT be fixed by bleeding your radiators, a heating circuit and a domestic hot water circuit don't even use the same water !! If the water in your radiators came out your taps you'd be poisoned.

It sounds very much like water hammer or a jumping tap washer this will cause a whining or a banging noise. You can also forget the air lock theory, when your hot water is air locked the water stops coming out of the tap or splutters and runs slowly.

Get a local plumber out to cut a stand point into the pipework at your domestic ballcock supply pipe and change the tap washer just to be sure. You should get change out of £50.

Answer 6

this is due to air in the system u will need to bleed ur rads do it with ur central heating switched on bleed each rad til the hissing sound stops and water starts to come out hav a towel handy for that let ur system heat up for an hour n then check ur rads again if ur rads r cold at the top u still hav air in the system the key for ur rads u can buy from any hardware store sometimes it can take several attempts to clear them if u do it more than twice u may need to refill the system which u should hav a tap on the bottom of ur boiler for this check ur manual 1st tho to make sureu get the right 1

Answer 7

I think the others maybe correct with the air in the system, but also try bleeding the radiators, have you got a 'key', if not you can get one anywhere, B&Q, Homebase, any plumbers shop. But are you talking mains or heating system? The mains cold water could do it if the pressure is low, but it does sound like the heating system with air in. Good Luck!

Answer 8

Yeah it is either air in the system or perhaps the pipes are not fixed properly, phoning a plumber in your local paper would probably help. All the best

Answer 9

Try turning your boiler thermostat down a bit. Could be your hot water system is too hot, causing airlocks which will rattle around the pipes.

Answer 10

When installing plumbing you need to stub up a pipe and cap it off. This is supposed to leave air trapped in the pipe that is sticking up, this provides an air cushion and is supposed to prevent your problem.