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Since about Thanksgiving my water pipes sing when I turn on a faucet..is this a bad sign?

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likesmountains 52 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-27-09 10:34 PM
Original message
Since about Thanksgiving my water pipes sing when I turn on a faucet..is this a bad sign?
Should I be calling a plumber? It's like the pipes are shaking or something. It started suddenly and has not gone away. Thanks again all of you DIY folks..
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Wash. state Desk Jet Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-27-09 11:33 PM
Response to Original message
1. How suddenly is suddenly and how cold is it
Edited on Mon Dec-28-09 12:17 AM by Wash. state Desk Jet
where you are? Has it effected the water pressure and have you noticed any inconsistencies in water pressure. There is a thing called a air hammer or hammer arrestor that is easy to install ,but the symptoms must be established first.

By the way have you had any additional pluming added recently?

Just a few questions before I go into it.

Shut off the main supply valve. Than turn on all the faucets at yer sinks and shower/bath tub or tubs. turn main cut off valve back on. Than one by one shut off faucets starting at the lowest point in the house. That will recharge yer water line and bring back equal distribution and even flow.It may solve the problem. how cold it it where you are?

Also clean out or replace the aerators attached to your faucets.Particles get trapped in those and restricts flow. Not the problem but can cause slow flow.

How much of your pipes in house are visible? Say in basement if you have one or crawl spaces under the house?Check pipe straps.Check insulation.

If you cannot find the main water supply cut off valve, you can cut the water off at the meter located usually in front of the house on city property unless yer in a rural area. In which case it is near or on your property line.
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likesmountains 52 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Dec-28-09 09:16 PM
Response to Reply #1
2. Wow, thanks! It's been below zero here a lot...and it did start rather suddenly during the cold
weather. My water valve is in the crawlspace and the door is under a few feet of snow so I think I'll call a plumber to check it out. No new plumbing, and the only pipes visible in the house are the ones just under the sinks. Thanks again for the thoughtful response.
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Wash. state Desk Jet Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Dec-28-09 10:00 PM
Response to Reply #2
3. Hold on there, you may not need a plumber!
Clear the snow off the door. Shut off the water supply to the house. Fallow through with turning on all the faucets in the house, than turn the water back on. Starting with the lowest area where a sink is and working your way up shut the faucets off. what you are doing is clearing out air pockets in your water lines and recharging the supply. You can do that.If that don't solve the problem, than call a plumber. It's just a valve, counter clock wise to turn it off ,clock wise to turn it back on.

Look, if you are not sure where the shut off is, or you just think you know, you really need know about using that valve hands on anyway. If you ever have a pipe burst, you will want to know how to shut the water supply off anyway. Now, if there is no change in water pressure that you noticed, than your pipes should be ok. Throw a light under the crawl space, look around ,and do the test-,recharge your water lines. Air pockets.

Good luck!
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NNN0LHI Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Dec-29-09 07:10 AM
Response to Reply #3
4. Good advice there
About a year after I moved into this house I had a water heater start leaking and I had no idea where the water shut-off valve was located.

Took me about half an hour to find it down in the crawlspace. By then we had a big mess.

Sure wish I had searched around and found that valve before I actually needed it so I knew where it was when I did.

Don

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