When I turn the water on there is a noise. It seems the pipes are vibrating. I'm trying to get someone out to take a look at it but in the interim, is it really dangerous to be using the faucet at all?
2007-06-27 02:52:29 · 10 answers · asked by Eric0100 1 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
IT WILL BE OK TO USE, IT IS PROBABLY JUST AIR IN THE LINES THAT IS CAUSING THE VIBRATION
2007-06-27 02:56:07 · answer #1 · answered by whateverbabe 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is completely fine. What you are hearing is the 1/2 inch copper water pipes banging either against a joist in the basement or against your sink. What happens is that those water pipes are under constant pressure so that the water flows out when you turn on the faucet. When you close the faucet the pressure increases slightly since it has no where to freely flow to like when the faucet is open. Thus, when you open the faucet the pressure is finally "released" and it causes the pipes to jump or bang against a joist or something.
There are a few inexpensive ways to deal with this. What I would do first is to have someone stand in the basement or wherever the "bang" is coming from when you turn on the water. Most likely what you will find is that the pipe is not properly supported or nailed down. Over time with several hundred or thousand bangs it is possible that you can break one of the soddered joints, but it is a long shot. I would go to lowes or home depot and buy some copper pipe strapping or some nailable pipe support brackets. The strapping looks like a "U" with two tabs on either side of the "U". You place the strap over the pipe and gently press it against a joist or something else and screw in two screws to hold it in place. It is important to use screws (drywall screws are fine) as if you use nails, over time they will loosen up and you will hear the banging again. The nailable pipe support brackets look like a piece of copper wire bent in a "U" and the tips of the "U" are bent over with sharp points on them. Again, you just slide the "U" under the pipe, take some of the pressure off and just use a hammer to pound the two pointed ends into a joist. It is also important to use copper covered pipe support brackets or copper covered pipe strapping as regular galvanized or steel brackets will have a chemical reaction with the copper pipe and can cause the pipe to degrade and possibly leak. Copper on copper won't cause any problems.
If you do this in a few places, you will notice the "bang" goes away.
The other option is that you can call a plumber and have them put in "air ballasts" which look like long copper tubes with the ends capped off. This allows the air to accumulate in these ballasts and neutralizes the bang that the pipe makes by the air & water transfer out of the faucet. However, considering that most plumbers get about $40 to $70 an hour, I would try the other alternative first.
Good Luck!
2007-06-27 10:13:51 · answer #2 · answered by Mike T 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it is perfectly safe. You won't cause any damage. The banging is more than likely from lime build up in the pipes, or air in the system or you need to replace the washer in the tap. Get good advice from a hardware shop about what can be done before you get a plumber in as it will help you to not get cheated out of valuable cash. Try and sign up with British Gas as well they have a home care scheme that has paid for itself 12 times over so far for us and we are in very old house and have constant leaks, breakdowns and radiator problems!!!
2007-06-27 09:57:44 · answer #3 · answered by Confuzzled 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You have a pressure issue in your pipes. I'd recommend you call a plumber. If you continue to use the faucet, you will run the risk of damaging the faucet or bursting the pipes beneath the sink.
2007-06-27 09:55:45 · answer #4 · answered by Oklahoman 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
You have a problem here so get a plumber who knows what they are doing to fix it this could be all sorts of things causing this to happen.
2007-06-27 09:57:40 · answer #5 · answered by kim t 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you should probably want an expert to check it out cause the pipe might pop and your house will be flooded
2007-06-27 09:58:07 · answer #6 · answered by c to the s 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I would not chance it use another sink maybe within your house.You never know what the problem can be!
2007-06-27 09:55:30 · answer #7 · answered by r 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
silly, how dangerous can water be?
do you own or rent?
2007-06-27 09:56:12 · answer #8 · answered by onherandoffher 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
no
2007-06-27 10:15:28 · answer #9 · answered by john v 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it is fine-
2007-06-27 09:55:07 · answer #10 · answered by sunflower 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋