Why Does My Plumbing Squeal?

Water Valves

• When the squealing noise in your house’s plumbing sounds only when you use a certain plumbing fixture, the problem could be from a loose washer on the fixture’s water supply valve. The squealing noise from the loose washer travels through the water pipes leading to the fixture, making the squealing louder. Test the water supply valve by slowing closing it while the plumbing fixture is running. If the supply valve is the source, the squealing will worsen and then suddenly stop. Swapping out the old, worn washer in the water supply valve or installing a new valve on the water line will eliminate the squealing.

Pipe Obstructions

• Blockages in your water supply pipes can cause the pipes to squeal because the opening inside the pipes is restricted. The debris can be from dirt that has entered the water supply pipes while work has been performed on the plumbing, mineral deposits that have accumulated in the pipes or the pipes themselves breaking down from the inside. You can bleed your plumbing in an attempt to remove the obstructions in the pipes. You must first open all of the valves in your water supply pipes, and remove the aerators from all of the faucets in the house. Finally, turn on the hot and cold water on all of the faucets, allowing the water to run for five minutes.

Water Pressure

• Water pressure that is too high can make the plumbing squeal and eventually lead to damage. Your plumbing should have a maximum water pressure of 60 pounds per square inch, or the pipes can become damaged. Your water company can measure your plumbing’s water pressure or you can measure it yourself by screwing a water pressure gauge, which you can find at your local hardware store, onto one of your faucets. If the water pressure is too high, contact a plumber to have a water pressure reducer installed in your plumbing’s main water supply line.

Pipe Straps

• The hot water pipes in your house may produce a squealing sound if they are not secured properly. Pipe straps anchor the pipes to wall studs or other secure surfaces, keeping the pipes from knocking into the studs or other pipes. As hot water flows through the pipes, the pipes expand. If the pipe straps are not secured tightly enough, the pipes can begin moving and rubbing against the pipe straps, producing a squealing sound until the pipes cools down and stops moving. If the pipe that is squealing sits behind a wall, you must cut into the wall to tighten the strap and put an end to the squealing.

Toilet Squeals

• A leaking flapper valve, or the rubber stopper that sits in the drain in the toilet’s tank, can also lead to the plumbing squealing. As water leaks past the flapper, the water level in the tank drops to the point the valve on the ballcock opens slightly, allowing water to refill the tank. The squealing becomes worse if any other plumbing fixtures are running at the same time, changing the water pressure flowing into the toilet. Dropping food coloring into the toilet’s tank helps you see if the water is leaking past the flapper valve and into the bowl. If so, replace the flapper.