Is there a PLUMBER in the house?

[burythehatchet]

before I call one on Monday.


Every 30 minutes to one hour, the water pipes in my house vibrate. It started out as a small, barely noticable rattle. Over the past 6 months months it has grown to a incredibly loud "locomotive running through the house" noise. The pipes shake, the walls are starting to shake, and I'm afraid the house is going to collapse around me.

Any suggestions?

[slackmaster]

1. All I can tell you is you'd better get it fixed

Vibrating pipes eventually come un-soldered, which is bad.

Based on the timing that it may be related somehow to your water heater cycling, but that's just a SWAG.

Get a plumber in there to figure out what needs to be strapped down.

[burythehatchet]

2. yikes.

I didn't realize

[kaos]

3. My good deed for the year.......

It is called water hammer...My guess is you need a pressure regulating valve on your cold water supply ....
Google search water hammer for more info...
http://www.plastomatic.com/water-hammer.html

[burythehatchet]

6. Thanks. I think this is the ballpark I need to be in

appreciate the lead

[BiggJawn]

4. Toilet cycling?

You need Professional Help, Butt Crack and all....

[achtung_circus]

5. If this is a new phenomenon

the water hammer is probably caused by saturation of existing arresting devices. It's common for plumbers to install air chambers to absorb the shock of a valve turning off suddenly. Over time the air in these chambers is absorbed into the water and the chamber fills with water, rendering the air chamber useless. Commercial water hammer arrestors have a membrane between the air and the water, preventing degradation of performance.

The good news is that by draining your water pipes you recharge the air chambers. It's a simple enough things to do. Reply if you want precise directions.

How old is your house and how long have you lived there?