Good day!
After more than 20 years, I have recently started noticing a short, low-pitched noise occurring whenever cold water is drawn somewhere in the house. For example, when the washing machine starts running, when flushing the toilet and the cistern is refilled, or simply when quickly opening a tap.
At first, I suspected anything related to water flowing through the basement, such as the utility company’s valves, at least one of which contains a spring, and also the backwash filter, which also includes a spring. It must be something that can start vibrating. If I heard and felt it correctly, the noise does not come from a specific point but rather diffuses from a section of pipe. Such vibrations tend to spread through the house and can then sound much louder and stronger far from their origin than right at the source.
Now I am wondering: Could it be that there is a buildup of limescale somewhere in the pipe system that partially blocks the pipe, causing vibrations when the water flow begins? I mean: in Berlin, everything calcifies if it is not regularly descaled, so why should a fresh water pipe system be any different?
If we assume this is the case: how could something like this be eliminated? If something is vibrating somewhere, the next step would be that something breaks eventually. Under no circumstances do I want a burst pressurized water pipe in my basement, even though such a failure would be detected quickly by sensors.
There is a drain screw in the service room where I could empty the system. If the valve is closed again afterward, it might be possible to introduce an acid through an upper-angle valve on the cold water side. I remember something like "use acetic acid for warm descaling, citric acid for cold descaling." If the appropriate solution is left in the system for a few hours, all the deposits should supposedly flow out thinly at the drain valve afterward, right?
Or are my assumptions going completely in the wrong direction?
Matthias
After more than 20 years, I have recently started noticing a short, low-pitched noise occurring whenever cold water is drawn somewhere in the house. For example, when the washing machine starts running, when flushing the toilet and the cistern is refilled, or simply when quickly opening a tap.
At first, I suspected anything related to water flowing through the basement, such as the utility company’s valves, at least one of which contains a spring, and also the backwash filter, which also includes a spring. It must be something that can start vibrating. If I heard and felt it correctly, the noise does not come from a specific point but rather diffuses from a section of pipe. Such vibrations tend to spread through the house and can then sound much louder and stronger far from their origin than right at the source.
Now I am wondering: Could it be that there is a buildup of limescale somewhere in the pipe system that partially blocks the pipe, causing vibrations when the water flow begins? I mean: in Berlin, everything calcifies if it is not regularly descaled, so why should a fresh water pipe system be any different?
If we assume this is the case: how could something like this be eliminated? If something is vibrating somewhere, the next step would be that something breaks eventually. Under no circumstances do I want a burst pressurized water pipe in my basement, even though such a failure would be detected quickly by sensors.
There is a drain screw in the service room where I could empty the system. If the valve is closed again afterward, it might be possible to introduce an acid through an upper-angle valve on the cold water side. I remember something like "use acetic acid for warm descaling, citric acid for cold descaling." If the appropriate solution is left in the system for a few hours, all the deposits should supposedly flow out thinly at the drain valve afterward, right?
Or are my assumptions going completely in the wrong direction?
Matthias
B
Bausparfuchs9 Feb 2023 09:26The issue is most likely related to the water pressure in your system. It is probably too high.
Usually, there is a pressure filter installed after the water meter. This is where the water pressure can be adjusted.
There are also standard pressure reducers available. Perhaps an old water pipe near your main water connection was replaced or other components were changed, causing the water supply pressure to increase.
That would be the first place to start looking.
Usually, there is a pressure filter installed after the water meter. This is where the water pressure can be adjusted.
There are also standard pressure reducers available. Perhaps an old water pipe near your main water connection was replaced or other components were changed, causing the water supply pressure to increase.
That would be the first place to start looking.
For days now, I’ve been getting closer and closer to the source of the noise. Apparently, I have now quite accurately pinpointed where the sound is coming from. However, this does not necessarily mean it originates there. Piping systems can transmit vibrations to completely different locations. Here is a recording from this morning. It was made at the moment water was drawn from a toilet flush two floors above. The microphone was placed in the heating cellar, where the fresh water pipe branches off. You can feel a distinct mechanical vibration on the cold water pipe there, which also has several 90-degree bends.
My suspicion: Over the years, this section of pipe leading to the heating system has gradually become clogged with calcium deposits, creating a narrowing at some point. When cold water is drawn anywhere in the house, a pressure drop occurs in this branch, and the narrowing in the pipe acts like a reed of a musical instrument.
But how can this issue be resolved? You would need to introduce an acid into the system that dissolves the calcium deposits.
Matthias
My suspicion: Over the years, this section of pipe leading to the heating system has gradually become clogged with calcium deposits, creating a narrowing at some point. When cold water is drawn anywhere in the house, a pressure drop occurs in this branch, and the narrowing in the pipe acts like a reed of a musical instrument.
But how can this issue be resolved? You would need to introduce an acid into the system that dissolves the calcium deposits.
Matthias
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