Why are the water pipes buzzing in the apartment and what can be done about it

Residents of high-rise buildings often complain that they hear hum and hum in the water pipes. Extraneous noise interferes with resting calmly at night and is pretty annoying during the day. As a rule, the water pipes in the apartment buzz when the taps are closed, but there is also a hum when the water is started. In any case, the problem needs to be addressed. The sooner the better.

Causes of humming in water pipes

Experienced craftsmen identify several reasons why the system can hum day and night. To deal with each of them, you need to study the mechanism of the appearance of noise.

Incorrectly carried out repair of water supply communications

If pipes of cold or hot water are buzzing after recently carried out repair work at neighbors in the riser, the reason may lie in a violation of the repair technology. The pipes are not securely anchored to the wall, not fixed at bends or bends. Perhaps a mistake during installation was made by the plumbers of the management company when replacing any elements of the system, the pipes did not fit well. Another option for mistakes when repairing a water supply system is an excessively close location of the hot water supply and cold water supply lines to each other. As a result, at the moment the liquid moves through them, the tubes vibrate, collide and create a characteristic hum.

They solve problems like this:

• Poorly fixed elements are additionally strengthened.
• Closely spaced pipes are wrapped with foam insulation material.
• The mistakes made are eliminated.

If there is no experience in working with plumbing equipment, it is better to invite specialists to carry out the work. Especially if the source of the noise is in the basement of the house.

Tubal infarction

This problem occurs due to the fouling of the inner walls of the line with rust and salts. As a rule, a similar problem occurs more often in old high-rise buildings that have not been repaired for a long time. In this case, the pipes hum when you turn on the water.

The section of the line decreased significantly over time, while the pressure in the system remained the same. Water that has no space for free movement provokes line rattling, hum, and third-party noises. There are two ways to deal with the problem:

• Radically - by changing all the water pipes, at least around the apartment. Better to throw off the neighbors and change the engineering network along the riser. Ideally - to touch upon the communications in the basement. Then you can definitely guarantee the reliable operation of the water supply system.
• Temporarily using the flushing method. For this, a hydraulic unit is used. The disassembled pipe is completely rinsed under high pressure to remove deposits on its walls. Previously, you can walk along the line with a cable with a brush at the end. But you have to be careful here. Often old communications do not withstand high atmospheres.

To assess the condition of the pipes in the apartment and unambiguously diagnose a "heart attack", you need to dismantle the mixer and inspect the line clearance. As a rule, it is in this place that more deposits accumulate.

Too high pressure in the pipes

For the utility network in apartment buildings, the norm is a pressure of 2 atm. The borderline highest rate is 6 atmospheres. If this figure is even higher, the pipes make noise when you open the water. A strong hum and whistle is heard. This situation is dangerous. High stress can cause water hammer on the pipeline walls.In this case, the depressurization of the connections, gaps in the sections of the engineering line, including in the toilet cistern or the bathroom mixer, are inevitable).

To eliminate the problem of high pressure in the network, you need to involve a company that provides such services. Temporarily, you can install an air chamber at the junction of the pipe with the valve. It will take in excess air in the system when the water is turned on. Doing more serious work in this case is prohibited.

Malfunctions and breakdowns of plumbing equipment

Particular attention should be paid to all shut-off elements of the system - taps, fittings. In them gaskets often wear out, crane axle boxes suffer. This is especially true for old valve reversing valves. It is important to take into account that for this reason, the characteristic noise and hum will be noted in all apartments along the riser. To find out which of them is problematic, you should turn off the inlet tap one by one and monitor the appearance of noise in other rooms.

All faulty elements are replaced with new ones, the gaskets are updated, and special sealants are used.

Modern ball or single-lever valves do not have gaskets and valve-axles, so they definitely cannot be the cause of the appearance of external noise in the pipeline for cold or hot water.

Preventive measures

In most cases, the prevention of the appearance of a constant hum in the water supply refers to those cases when the repair of engineering networks is already being carried out in the apartment. It is advisable to consider the following points to prevent the appearance of noise in the pipes:

• Correctly select the line cross-section depending on the system pressure.
• Focus on the material of the new pipes. Better to use white PP or gray PVC.
• When installing two parallel lines for cold and hot water, make sure that the communications are located at a sufficient distance from each other (at least 1.5 cm).
• Fasten the net to the wall securely with special clamps. This will eliminate rattling.
• Use ball valves or single-lever valves as shut-off valves.
• When installing a water meter, be sure to install coarse filters in a set with a check valve. They will protect the taps and pipe joints with the mixer from deposits.
• Use only paranite gaskets on hot water pipes. They respond well to high temperatures.

To prevent the hum of utility lines down the riser from the basement, make sure that the management company performs its duties in good faith. In case of any suspicious moments, invite your plumber to fix the problems, otherwise the entire riser will suffer.