Vibration/foghorn noise from two pipes next to water tank

wikp

Hi everyone,

This sound is disturbing, I wonder if anyone can help?

There is a vibration leading to a loud humming/foghorn noise coming from one side of the water tank and two pipes next to it. It lasts for one to two minutes and then stops, at different times throughout the day and night. Mostly noticeable between 1pm-12am.

A ball valve was replaced above the water tank but this did not help perfectly with the noise.

Radiators have been bled. The pressure of the boiler was under 1 and that has been increased to around 1.3.

Before all these changes, the noise was occurring once every hour. I don't know which of the above actions has caused the noise to occur less frequently (between 2-4 times a day now).

Next to the water tank there are several pipes, and going into the water tank there are several pipes, too. Only two of the pipes that are next to the water tank, but not directly going into the water tank, vibrate. The other pipes either next to or going into the water tank do not vibrate. And when I put my ear next to the water tank, I can hear it vibrating inside, too. More noticeably from the side of the tank next to the two pipes that also vibrate.
The pressure on the boiler has been dipping slightly even though it was raised a few weeks ago- I was told it should stay at a constant pressure for at least a year.

The company who deal with the gas/boiler were here before the plumber and they suggested the ball valve needed replacing and so that's what the plumber did.  However the plumber has said he doesn't think it's ball valve related.

The noise does not occur when a toilet is being flushed or when taps are being opened and closed. Even when the boiler has been switched off from the mains, the vibration and foghorn sound still occurs inside the water tank and the two pipes next to it.

There are two neighbours above and next to the flat.

If it was just a few seconds, maybe I could forget about it, but it's the length of the hum- over a minute sometimes- and the loudness, that is so disturbing!

Thank you for all the suggestions, no matter how insignificant.

[Deleted User]

Hi,

the two pipes that are vibrating, if they are touching, can you wedge them apart or put some packing behind them, sometimes just needs something to cushion the pipes.

wikp

[Deleted User] said:

Hi,

the two pipes that are vibrating, if they are touching, can you wedge them apart or put some packing behind them, sometimes just needs something to cushion the pipes.

Thank you for the reply.
The pipes are not touching but the vibration is coming from these two pipes as well as internally from the water tank. The
two pipes that vibrate are marked in red in the picture.
 

Paula_Smith

Try wedging some material between the red marked pipes and the horizontal one - it should help to stop them moving.
Don't make it too tight as you don't want to put too much pressure on them.
If that helps you might find that clipping them to the wall will be even better.

wikp

Paula_Smith said:

Try wedging some material between the red marked pipes and the horizontal one - it should help to stop them moving.
Don't make it too tight as you don't want to put too much pressure on them.
If that helps you might find that clipping them to the wall will be even better.

Thank you for the reply, Paula. I will try with some foam and update with the results. My concern is that if it does work- and maybe even more effective with clipping- it will be a band aid type situation and wonder if the vibration coming internally from the water tank is indicating some kind of danger with the tank. 

[Deleted User]

Hi,

have a look and see if the ball valve is rubbing against inside wall of the tank, it has maybe shifted a bit since being fitted.

wikp

frugalmacdugal said:

Hi,

have a look and see if the ball valve is rubbing against inside wall of the tank, it has maybe shifted a bit since being fitted.

Thank you frugalmacdugal. The area where the ball valve was placed, above the water tank, has been boarded up and I will need to get a plumber out again to look into it- but as the plumber felt that it was not ball valve related and more likely water tank related (it is fifteen years old)- which would mean having to contact the company who deals with the boiler/water tank- I am in a conundrum as to who to go to. 

Your suggestion makes sense to me, though, as since the ball valve was fitted, the frequency of the noise has reduced (down to between two to four times a day versus more than ten) but the length of time it foghorns (1min to 2 min) is the same. 

May I ask, frugalmacdugal, whether the ball valve being 'off' or 'out of position' would cause the inside of the water tank to vibrate, too? Would you also know if there is a difference between a regular ball valve and an equilibrium ball valve or whether they are one and the same thing?

Thank you very much.

[Deleted User]

Hi,

I was thinking that as tank was refilling the motion of the water was causing the ball valve to 'caress' the side of the tank causing the vibration.

Though, considering the original complaint, you would think that the plumber would make doubly sure that that was not going to happen.

Sorry, can't help with the 'technical' ball valve question.

wikp

[Deleted User] said:

Hi,

I was thinking that as tank was refilling the motion of the water was causing the ball valve to 'caress' the side of the tank causing the vibration.

Though, considering the original complaint, you would think that the plumber would make doubly sure that that was not going to happen.

Sorry, can't help with the 'technical' ball valve question.

Thank you frugalmacdugal,

Interesting. The only thing is that the random times of the noise- for example 1.30am last night, blah- when no taps are being opened and the bathroom is not being used, i.e. literally no use of any part of the house whatsoever- makes me wonder about that. But I am not remotely plumbing knowledgeable and so not currently able to connect the dots. Any dots!

Agreed about the plumber.

No problem, you've been super helpful and have provided me with some avenues to explore. I will update yourself and Paula once I get this sorted. 

Thank you.