Water pipes are banging randomly and the plumber had no idea! Anyone know what might be causing it?

DarrenLee02

I wonder if there is anyone who could help diagnose a plumbing problem. I'm in a semi-detached council house, last renovated about 8 years ago, I don't know if that included plumbing work when a combi boiler was installed. For the past month there's been random banging noises, obviously from the pipes. The plumber has been and said it wasn't water pressure, checked the combi boiler, but apart from that was pretty useless. Each bang is followed immediately by a dripping sound. It happens randomly, not just after a tap running, though it happens then too. It lasts for about 10 to 20 seconds then ceases. Approx 3 or 4 times a day. Not anywhere near any radiators.

It's a mystery. Plumber suggested recording the noise for him to help diagnose, but it's so random that's not possible. Google is a minefield suggesting everything from gopher infiltration to an imminent explosion.

I appreciate any ideas, even any potential leads to refine a Google search.

TLDR: Random waterpipes banging, plumber couldn't figure it out, water pressure is fine, what could be the cause?

Carrot007

Get a decent plumbing, noises are not hard to work out what is going on. (opr course you might not like all the floors and anywhere hiding pipe ripped up?)

Unless they are so random they are ghappening when you are not turning anything on. In whihc case they are next doors pipes.

Of copurse you plumber might be being a bit to polite saying it would cost top much to fix to be worth your time.

DarrenLee02

Wel it's a council house, so obviously no expensive replacement or repair works are going to be done. If it's not identifiable without a lot of work, i.e. lifting floors, then it will just have to be one of those things to be lived with. It's not a great ordeal anyhow.

It's bugging not knowing what's causing it though.

Eldi_Dos

Have yourself or neighbour recently got new washing machine. Some machines that weigh the laundry to calculate the amount of water to use can cause noise like you describe.

Laz123

Have you checked the combi boiler's flue isn't getting blocked.

DarrenLee02

Eldi_Dos said:

Have yourself or neighbour recently got new washing machine. Some machines that weigh the laundry to calculate the amount of water to use can cause noise like you describe.

Actually, next door are privately owned, and they had their kitchen done a few weeks ago. They might have got a new washing machine while they were at it. I'll ask her, you might be onto something if that's a possible cause.

DarrenLee02

Laz123 said:

Have you checked the combi boiler's flue isn't getting blocked.

The plumber would have checked I'm sure. He said it was nothing obvious. Hmm.

searchlight123

i used to have this same issue. lived with it for a few years! turned out to be one of the low flush toilet syphons causing it. once that was changed over - no more pipes banging. think my plumber called it water hammer. the noise was not coming from anywhere near that toilet either. very strange, but easy and cheap to resolve - in my case anyway.