home repairs

“To diagnose noisy plumbing, it is important to determine first whether the unwanted sounds occur. Though it is still advisable to contact a plumber to repair any problem, it is also wise to know the fundaments and basic repair in your home plumbing.”

How to diagnose, track down & fix plumbing drain noise problems. This article explains how to cure or get rid of annoying plumbing drain noises in buildings. We explain that one first needs to understand the type of drain noises – some indicate plumbing problems to fix. Where drains operate normally but are noisy, we discuss adding sound deadening insulation.

That “blub blub” or “glug glug” noise you hear from a building drain might mean that there is a problem with the drain system itself, such as a partial drain blockage, a drain venting problem, a drain odor problem, or even a failing septic system.

This article explains the cures for plumbing drain noises, and we refer to key companion articles that assist in that diagnosis.

How to repair problems causing plumbing drain sounds

Just a bit of snow sitting atop the plumbing vent that extends above the snow level on the roof (photo at left) is probably not a problem – heat from escaping vent gases should melt through a bit of snow.

But as we illustrate and explain below, in very cold weather moisture can freeze inside and block the plumbing vent above the roof line – just one of many possible sources of blocked plumbing vents and plumbing drain noises.

2 Types of Plumbing System Noise Sources

First, it is helpful to divide cures for plumbing drain, waste, vent piping sounds and plumbing fixture sounds into two groups, because the actions we will take are distinctly different in each.

1. Plumbing defect noises associated with plumbing system problems or defects whose identification and diagnosis is discussed at PLUMBING DRAIN NOISE DIAGNOSIS z

   and right here at PLUMBING DRAIN NOISE REPAIR.

   Our complete list of various plumbing system noises is
   at PLUMBING NOISE CHECKLI ST

2. Plumbing drain/waste/vent noises that occur normally during plumbing operation, such as the sound of wastewater rushing through a copper main building drain, perhaps overhead in a basement family room, are cured by adding insulation in strategic locations or where cost-justified, by changing the type of plumbing materials (copper changed to cast-iron or example).

   Information about controlling plumbing noises in buildings by isolating sounds, stopping noise transmission, or adding sound insulation is at SOUND CONTROL for PLUMBING

   At NOISE, PLUMBING DRAIN DIAGNOSIS we include a question and answer case (with photos) discussing loud plumbing drain noises in a home along with our recommendations.

How to Stop Plumbing Noises by Adding Missing plumbing vents

Add missing plumbing vents to stop gurgling & slow drains

The photo shows a large house with only one plumbing vent visible (click the image for a larger view).

We didn’t see vents over or anywhere near the portion of the home which houses a kitchen and bath. While it might be possible for the building to have a working vent system, the combination of its age and other details raised a question worth investigating further.

If we find that there are other “short” plumbing vents which were covered by the deep snow in this photo, they need to be extended.
When plumbing vents are simply not provided, the proper repair is to install missing vent piping, up through the building and through its roof. In old buildings you may see vertical plumbing lines that were added, in plain view, inside the living space. But modern construction “hides” these pipes in the building walls.

If you want to install modern, hidden plumbing vents, and providing your plumber has shown you that in fact they’re missing, you may want to wait until other more extensive interior remodeling are in the works.

Install vacuum breaker plumbing vents (e.g. V-200™) where routing a new vent line is troublesome

Meanwhile the plumber may install an illegal vacuum breaker to improve drainage – these products can be added wherever a drain is having trouble getting enough air to flow properly, but in most jurisdictions their use is subject to approval by the local plumbing inspector.

At PLUMBING DRAIN VENTS we explain the basics of proper plumbing vent piping and how plumbing vent piping errors cause trap siphonage, odors, and noises.

Stop Plumbing Drain Noises by Adding Sound Insulation

At NOISE, PLUMBING DRAIN DIAGNOSIS we include a question and answer case (with photos) discussing loud plumbing drain noises in a home along with our recommendations. Excerpts are below:

The level of plumbing drain noise transmitted into a space where you actually hear it in the building depends on these factors:

• the acoustic transmission properties of the thinner walled plastic piping,
• the proximity of the piping to occupied space,
• the absence of noise insulation around the pipes, and
• details of exactly how the pipe was routed and supported. Specifically, pipes that are in solid contact with building framing or drywall transmit more noise. Pipes that were suspended using acoustic-isolating hangers transmit less noise to …

Read more: http://inspectapedia.com/plumbing/Drain_Noise_Repair.htm