Plumbing noises

[BrianD]

Hi all,

as an aside - it looks like askthetrades site is no longer

I have a problem with my plumbing - every now and again we get a loud humming sound.

If I look at the boiler pressure it is low and I adjust this to the appropriate level and the sound goes away.

This is not related to the heating cycle in any manner. We get this happening when my people use the toilet.

I suspected a boiler problems initially but how does this explain the noise when the toilet has been used. We even have experienced this just out the blue. Sometimes the pressure of the boiler registers OK, yet we have the noise.

At no point id the source from the boiler - I can place my ear against it and nada!

I cannot explain this - we do not experience knocking which would indicate air in the pipes.

Any ideas on what I can check? When the noise is going the taps work so I am not sure.

 

[motownmartin]

Bryan do you have a combination boiler?

You say you sometimes get a knocking sound, sometimes that can be caused by your pump not pumping the water around quick enough.

Do you have low water pressure in your area?

Is your stop tap open fully?

Martin

 

[CHJ]

If your stop tap is fully open, do your toilet cisterns fill from a loft header tank, its ball valve seal/washer may be vibrating.

 

[BrianD]

Bryan do you have a combination boiler?
I believe so.

You say you sometimes get a knocking sound, sometimes that can be caused by your pump not pumping the water around quick enough.
No knocking sound

Do you have low water pressure in your area?
It is not great - however it has always been the same

Is your stop tap open fully?
Not sure what you mean here. Nothing has been changed - this has come on suddenly



If your stop tap is fully open, do your toilet cisterns fill from a loft header tank, its ball valve seal/washer may be vibrating.
Well I think it is open - nothings changed - and cistern does fill from a loft tank. Maybe it is the ball/seat.

Would I be able to hear/feel it?

 

[CHJ]

....Would I be able to hear/feel it?

Sound should definitely be more obvious in the area of the mains water pipe going to the loft.

Sometimes a ball cock valve mechanism can fur up with calcium and fail to open fully.

 

[motownmartin]

You say you sometimes get a knocking sound, sometimes that can be caused by your pump not pumping the water around quick enough.
No knocking sound

?

Sorry Brian, misread the sentence.

It sounds as though the humming is caused by a vibrating in the pipes caused by either your header tank or the toilet cistern, check and clean the washers and valves, you might have to replace any worn parts.

Martin

 

[BrianD]

Well it looks like the two of you indicate it is ball cock valve problem is where I need to look - so I'll start there.

Thanks for the info!

I'll post progress.

Cheers,
B

 

[RogerS]

Can't add much but as a couple of asides..

shame if Askthetrades has gone. There's the screwfix Talk forum as an alternative,

Re 'stop cock fully open'...I was always taught never to open any water stopcock or gatevalve fully as it has a tendency to stick in this position. Open to the maximum and then back it off a bit. Also a good idea to periodically cycle any of these (ie turn off then on again) to keep the seals and mechanism free.

 

[misterfish]

We had the same at our previous house - usually when the loft tank was refilling after flushing the toilet.

I experimented with opening and closing the stopcock on the rising main while it was vibrating and could stop or start it at will. As a temporary measure I only partly opened the stopcock and reduced the pressure a bit and it went away. I tried changing the washer in the ball valve in the loft but it made little difference and I ended up changing the whole ball valve assembly for a supposedly whisper silent type, after which the problem went away.

MisterFish

 

[BrianD]

Thanks for all the info.

Just my luck - now that I have stated the issue the problem has not reoccurred! :roll:

Isn't that always!

For heavens sake it has been driving us mad for several days now!

Will post progress when it fires off

cheers.
B