"Clunk" noise when cold water turn off ... help!

MimiJane

Hi guys,

Just wondering if anyone can help with a really annoying plumbing problem …

Whenever we turn off a cold water tap or the washer's going, etc., there's a very loud "clunk" noise, which vibrates throughout the house and drives us mad. We've turned down the water pressure (to half) which has only made a slight difference. The water pressure coming into the house is apparently low anyway, so the flow now we've turned it down is not really sufficient.

I’m presuming the problem is vibrating pipes/pipes knocking against the joists, but have no idea how we can locate the offending pipes without taking the house apart! A couple of years ago, we had a new bathroom ... we explained the problem to the guys fitting it and they very kindly took up the floorboards upstairs to try and locate the problem, but couldn’t. Thinking now the problem might lie in the kitchen, but really don’t know.

We think now is the time to bring a plumber in (pre-decorating stage), but we’re obviously loathe to because of the cost and what if he can’t find the problem anyway?

For info., we’ve had this problem every since we moved here 3 years ago.

Any plumbers out there got any experience of this sort of problem? Is it something we could maybe ourselves, or do we have to call in the experts do you think?

I'd be really grateful for any advice.

Mimi x

cargo

Did you move in this house from new?
I only ask as I have done few jobs in the past 12 months for a Building company.
Which after 6 months or so had some complaints of banging pipes and squeaking/creaking noises.
I am a Plasterer the firm asked me to remove the boxing in from around pipework to investigate. "plasterboard"
On two occasions the noise was coming from the soil stack being boxed in to close to the studding which caused a slight rubbing sound when water was run or flushed away.
The last one which was more difficult to locate turned out to be a clip come away from the plastic piping "cold water feed" this caused the pipe to bang against the studding when the water was run and turned off.

MimiJane

Hi,

No, the house was built mid-sixties, but has never been cared for. Loads of people have lived here and moved on after a few years, leaving some horrendous DIY jobs for us to put right!

markleedsuk

Hi, the most likely cause is water hammer, you will need to fit a shock arrestor which is basically a small expansion vessel which should resolve your problem. However you may still need to locate the loose pipework if this does not fix the problem completely.

http://www.bhl.co.uk/category/Flexcon_Water_Shock_Arrester

There are cheaper ones about but this will give you an idea what they look like.

MimiJane

Thanks for this.

Is the shock arrestor best fitted by a plumber do you think?

TimBuckTeeth

I bought a shock arrester from here (scroll down to part 11355) for around £11:
http://www.bes.co.uk/products/109.asp

It needs a female threaded 1/2" socket on the water pipe to attach to, so maybe need a plumber if you haven't done any pipework before. It needs to be fitted near to the tap that is causing the problem.

I would check the pipework and add extra pipe clips first as this is cheap to do DIY and may well solve the problem.
Then get a plumber to check if there are any problems with the pipe layout and fit a shock arrester.