House plumbing - Dorkiphus.net

Other Technical Discussions A place for technical discussions NOT related to Porsche or BMW. Other makes, home DIY, etc.

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 07-24-2012, 06:18 AM
87turbolook911's Avatar
87turbolook911 87turbolook911 is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Clarksville, MD
Posts: 2,702
87turbolook911
Default House plumbing

So when I turn the the tub faucet on in our upstairs bathroom the pipes make a loud pulsating noise. Only does it for that particular tub. Sounds pretty violent and I can see the pipe vibrating near the water meter in the basement. Only happens with this tub.

Any ideas on what this might be? How to fix?
__________________
Vu
It's not just the cars...It's the people!
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 07-24-2012, 07:32 AM
HoodPin's Avatar
HoodPin HoodPin is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Monrovia, MD
Posts: 10,688
HoodPin
Default

My guess is that you've got a washer that broken in the valve assembly of that tub's water control, and is interfering with the water flow, causing the pulsation. Is it a single or two handle water control (for hot & cold). If single, might do it regardless of temp. If dual controls, is it happening on the cold, hot or both? Would need to disassemble the water control to inspect. Dual controls are easier to work with, though may need a deep plumbers style socket to access if control is deep in the wall. Single control knobs are not so intuitive. Make sure you've turned off the water supply to the tub, or the whole house before disassembling; open the valve to depressurise before starting work.
__________________
- Tony P.

Currently
- 1984 944 SP2 racer
- 1977 911 KM Special vintage racer
- 2012 Cayman R (also the wife's)
- 2000 Boxster S (now mine)

- 1995 993 (garage queen)
- 2007 Cayman S (wife's track beast)
- 2017 F350 (tow monster)
- 2018 Jeep Wrangler

Gone but not forgotten
- 1989 944S2
- 1979 RX7
- 1986 944
- 1991 944S2 (in car heaven...)
- 2001 Chevy Suburban 2500 (FIL's beast now)
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 07-24-2012, 07:35 AM
Vicegrip's Avatar
Vicegrip Vicegrip is offline
Porkchop & SGB for prez!
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: The other Woodstock.
Posts: 13,238
Vicegrip has seven HoF threadsVicegrip has seven HoF threadsVicegrip has seven HoF threadsVicegrip has seven HoF threadsVicegrip has seven HoF threadsVicegrip has seven HoF threads
Default

Water hammer. Can break pipe fittings. As Tony said start by rebuilding the valve(s) on the tub and if it still does it add hammer arestors to the water lines.
__________________
http://vimeo.com/29896988

“Those that can make you believe in absurdities can make you commit atrocities.” Voltaire.

"There is grandeur in this view of life...." Darwin.

The mountains are calling and I must go.

“The earth has music for those who listen”
Shakespeare.

You Matter.
(Until you multiply yourself times the speed of light squared. Then you Energy)

“We’ve got lots of theories, we just don’t have the evidence’.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 07-24-2012, 08:22 AM
87turbolook911's Avatar
87turbolook911 87turbolook911 is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Clarksville, MD
Posts: 2,702
87turbolook911
Default

single handle...

guess ill be heading to home depot soon
__________________
Vu
It's not just the cars...It's the people!
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 07-24-2012, 08:45 AM
87turbolook911's Avatar
87turbolook911 87turbolook911 is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Clarksville, MD
Posts: 2,702
87turbolook911
Default

Looks like the same sound happens when you flush the toilet in the same bathroom???

But the other upstairs bath tub and toilet doesn't make the sound...odd??
__________________
Vu
It's not just the cars...It's the people!
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 07-24-2012, 09:07 AM
HoodPin's Avatar
HoodPin HoodPin is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Monrovia, MD
Posts: 10,688
HoodPin
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by 87turbolook911 View Post
Looks like the same sound happens when you flush the toilet in the same bathroom???

But the other upstairs bath tub and toilet doesn't make the sound...odd??
Since the toilet is cold water only, then its likely something on the cold water supply line to that bathroom. And if the 2 bathrooms are far apart, likely that each has its own water supply risers from the basement.

Could be a pipe that's not well secured on that run. If the pipes are exposed in the basement, and you can figure out which is the cold water pipe running up to that bathroom, run the water in the tub to create the hammering noise, while you try to brace the pipe in the basement to see if the noise changes. You may need to simply put a brace/strap on the pipe to stabilize it.
__________________
- Tony P.

Currently
- 1984 944 SP2 racer
- 1977 911 KM Special vintage racer
- 2012 Cayman R (also the wife's)
- 2000 Boxster S (now mine)

- 1995 993 (garage queen)
- 2007 Cayman S (wife's track beast)
- 2017 F350 (tow monster)
- 2018 Jeep Wrangler

Gone but not forgotten
- 1989 944S2
- 1979 RX7
- 1986 944
- 1991 944S2 (in car heaven...)
- 2001 Chevy Suburban 2500 (FIL's beast now)
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 07-24-2012, 09:25 AM
Vicegrip's Avatar
Vicegrip Vicegrip is offline
Porkchop & SGB for prez!
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: The other Woodstock.
Posts: 13,238
Vicegrip has seven HoF threadsVicegrip has seven HoF threadsVicegrip has seven HoF threadsVicegrip has seven HoF threadsVicegrip has seven HoF threadsVicegrip has seven HoF threads
Default

Air trap in that end of the system. Might be able to inspect and burp it but I would also add hammer arestors (good sealed plunger type) as close to end of the run as you can. Do you have access to plumbing of the tub? Many times there is a panel in a closet or hall that backs up to the bathroom.

How old is the house? Copper or plastic pipes?
__________________
http://vimeo.com/29896988

“Those that can make you believe in absurdities can make you commit atrocities.” Voltaire.

"There is grandeur in this view of life...." Darwin.

The mountains are calling and I must go.

“The earth has music for those who listen”
Shakespeare.

You Matter.
(Until you multiply yourself times the speed of light squared. Then you Energy)

“We’ve got lots of theories, we just don’t have the evidence’.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 07-24-2012, 11:27 AM
87turbolook911's Avatar
87turbolook911 87turbolook911 is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Clarksville, MD
Posts: 2,702
87turbolook911
Default

Unfortunately no access panels, but I'll cut up dry wall anytime

House built in 1999 and has copper pipes.

How does one burp the system?
__________________
Vu
It's not just the cars...It's the people!
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 07-24-2012, 11:10 PM
87turbolook911's Avatar
87turbolook911 87turbolook911 is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Clarksville, MD
Posts: 2,702
87turbolook911
Default

So after further investigation, it looks like the water pressure regulator valve is bad.



Good news is that it's easily accessible and shouldn't be too bad of a job...I hope
__________________
Vu
It's not just the cars...It's the people!
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 07-25-2012, 06:41 AM
Vicegrip's Avatar
Vicegrip Vicegrip is offline
Porkchop & SGB for prez!
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: The other Woodstock.
Posts: 13,238
Vicegrip has seven HoF threadsVicegrip has seven HoF threadsVicegrip has seven HoF threadsVicegrip has seven HoF threadsVicegrip has seven HoF threadsVicegrip has seven HoF threads
Default

Interesting that it only hammers n the one riser. the good news is they are not expensive or hard to swap out. Most go bad in 3 to 5 years but folks don't notice. Some go full pressure, some lock in a position and you get reduced flow during hard draws. OK for one shower but run the washer too and you get a trickel.
__________________
http://vimeo.com/29896988

“Those that can make you believe in absurdities can make you commit atrocities.” Voltaire.

"There is grandeur in this view of life...." Darwin.

The mountains are calling and I must go.

“The earth has music for those who listen”
Shakespeare.

You Matter.
(Until you multiply yourself times the speed of light squared. Then you Energy)

“We’ve got lots of theories, we just don’t have the evidence’.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump