Plumber Helper

Do you hear a loud, high-pitched noise, like squealing when you turn on water from your faucets or shower?

The squealing sound you hear may be water rushing through an obstruction in the pipes.  You may be able to eliminate the squeal easily and inexpensively.

Like blowing air on an empty pop bottle, air and pressure can cause sounds in your pipes. So  what’s causing the whistle in your pipes? First, if you have an older home you may have worn-out galvanized pipes. Galvanized pipes corrode from the inside out, with large rust deposits forming on the inside surface.  Sometimes chunks of this corrosion can break away and get lodged in valves or faucets.

Also, if you’ve recently remodeled bathrooms or replaced the water heater, etc.you may have accidently introduced dirt into the system. And any time work is done on old pipes, you risk disturbing corrosion or sediment already in the pipes.

Here are a few things to try. Check all your water valves and make sure they′re fully opened. This includes the valve at the water meter, the shut-off valve to the house and the valves to the water heater.

Next, give the system a good flushing.  Open both hot and cold valves to the tubs and all the sinks.  Make sure that you remove any aerators from bath and kitchen faucets so you get maximum flow. Let the water run for a few minutes to make sure all lines have been purged.

If you think the culprit might be the line to the water heater, turn the valve to the water heater intake off and disconnect it from the water heater. Then attach a hose, turn the valve on and bleed that line alone. This will bypass your hot water lines.

If these things don’t fix the problem, check the water pressure to the home, which can be done by the water company. Pressure should be about 60 pounds per square inch. Much more and you risk putting undue stress on your pipes. If the pressure is too high, you may have to install a pressure reducer in the main line. This is a job best left for a plumber, unless you are skilled with a pipe threader and soldering torch.

Also If you do have galvanized pipes and you are planning to stay in your home along time, consider replacing them. It’s expensive, but in this case a pound of prevention is worth a ton of cure.