Guide to Sound Control in Building Supply & Drain Piping
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Normal plumbing drain sounds

As we stated at PLUMBING DRAIN NOISE DIAGNOSIS, Hearing the sound of running water in a building drain is not likely to indicate a problem with the drain system itself. In older buildings where cast iron and steel drain pipes were used, not much sound normally is heard: even the sound of running water, say when a shower is running or when a toilet was flushed. But in a more modern structure that uses plastic or copper drain piping these materials can transmit the sound of running water to the building interior. Builders can reduce sound transmission from plumbing lines by enclosing them in insulated chaseways.

We have also found cases in pipes in a building transmit sounds from one area of the building to another. We've also found that electromagnetic fields generated in a building, say by a bank of electric meters located in one area, can be transmitted to other building areas through metal piping.

Plumbing Noise & Sound Transmission Sources & Control

As described in the book, Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction Chapter 5, Interior Finish:

One of the most common noise complaints in single-family construction is the sound of water gushing through PVC waste pipes.

The best solution, short of using cast iron, is to box in the pipes and fill the cavity with fiberglass insulation. Then enclose the cavity with one or two layers of drywall.

Our photo (left) shows plastic drain waste piping routed through a basement that was being finished and to be used as offices.

The leak stains at the ceiling needed to be investigated and the source corrected before this piping run was enclosed in a heavily insulated drywall pipe chase to minimize sound transmission from the upstairs plumbing fixtures into the lower level offices.

Continuing from from Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction:

Water supply and heating pipes can also radiate noise through the framing if there is rigid contact between pipes and framing or finish materials. This can be a particular problem when heating pipes expand and contract. To avoid these problems, make sure pipe runs are not tight against framing.

While special non hardening acoustical sealants are often specified in commercial work, any high-quality sealant that remains flexible can be effective in blocking sound transmission. Butyl, silicone, and urethane caulk can all be used.

To prevent sound leaks, use sealant around electrical boxes, plumbing penetrations, and any other penetrations in the wall or ceiling surface.

see Acoustical Sealant for Sound Control for additional details.

Other sources of noises associated with water or heating piping in buildings

• Poorly secured water supply or heating piping where pipes run along below floors or ceilings can lead to clanking or other noises. As Carson Dunlop point out in their Home Reference Book,
  
  As valves are opened and closed, vibration can be set up in the piping making it rattle. Sometimes this can be corrected by pushing newspapers into the wall cavity to keep the pipes from contacting the walls or each other. Foam insulation can also help in some cases. Where a pipe passes through the floor system or wood studs, it may rub on the wood and squeak as the pipe expands and contracts with heat.
  
  
• Hot water supply and heating baseboard piping noises where pipes creak, click, and clank at floor or wall penetrations, especially during temperature changes such as heating system on-off cycling or hot water usage.
• Hot or cold water supply piping running water noises may be amplified and transmitted through some building areas when water is running through pipes that are mounted in contact with framing or in contact with floor or wall partition materials.
  
  If you are debugging piping noises in a building and have been unable to locate the source of a running water sound, turn off water at the building water main and listen again.
  
  This step eliminates running toilets and open faucets in the building. Try using a mechanic's stethoscope on water supply piping where the water piping enters the building. On occasion we have found that a running water sound was due to a leak in buried water supply piping outside of the building itself. Sound was transmitted through the pipe itself into the building interior.
  
  Leaving a clearance opening to accommodate pipe movement during temperature changes, and sealing all pipe penetrations (discussed above) can substantially reduce indoor supply or heating piping noise.
  
  
• Water hammer (or hydrostatic shock) is a noisy pipe problem that occurs when valves are shut off quickly. Water hammer can damage pipe connections and result in leakage. See WATER HAMMER NOISE DIAGNOSE & CURE for details.
  
  
• WATER HEATER NOISES: Also see NOISES COMING FROM WATER HEATER for the diagnosis and cure of clanking or thumping noises that may be coming from your water heater or heating boiler.

-- Adapted with permission from Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction. Additional text adapted with permission from The Home Reference Book

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• Steven Bliss served as editorial director and co-publisher of The Journal of Light Construction for 16 years and previously as building technology editor for Progressive Builder and Solar Age magazines. He worked in the building trades as a carpenter and design/build contractor for more than ten years and holds a masters degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Excerpts from his recent book, Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction, Wiley (November 18, 2005) ISBN-10: 0471648361, ISBN-13: 978-0471648369, appear throughout this website, with permission and courtesy of Wiley & Sons. Best Practices Guide is available from the publisher, J. Wiley & Sons, and also at Amazon.com.
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SOUND CONTROL in buildings
  ACOUSTICAL SEALANT CHOICES
  Principles of Sound Transmission
  How Sound Levels are Measured
  Sound Absorption vs. Sound Isolation
  Sound Isolation Strategies
  Cut Off Flanking Sound Paths
  Door Options for Sound Reduction
  Duct Insulation for Soundproofing
  DUCT VIBRATION DAMPENERS
  Sound Transmission Class Ratings
  Sound Control for Walls
  Sound Control for Floors
  Sound Control for Plumbing
  Properties of Soundproofing Materials
    Acoustical Sealant for Sound Control
    Resilient Channel for Sound Reduction
    Insulation Details for Sound Reduction
    Gasketing for Noise Control
  Door Options for Sound Reduction
  Duct Insulation for Soundproofing
  DUCT VIBRATION DAMPENERS
  White Noise & Sound Conditioners

• Marpac, produces white sound generators, a product that they identify as the Marpac sound conditioner. Marpac can be contacted at http://www.marpac.com/ or contact the Marpac Corporation, P.O. Box 560 Rocky Point, NC 28457 Phone: 800-999-6962 (USA and Canada) Fax: 910-602-1435 1-910-602-1421 (worldwide), 800-999- or email: info@marpac.com
• Sound Oasis sound conditioners are produced by Sound Oasis: http://www.sound-oasis.com/ email: info@sound-oasis.com or 1-866-625-3218

Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair

• Our recommended books about building & mechanical systems design, inspection, problem diagnosis, and repair, and about indoor environment and IAQ testing, diagnosis, and cleanup are at the InspectAPedia Bookstore. Also see our Book Reviews - InspectAPedia.
• Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction, by Steven Bliss. John Wiley & Sons, 2006. ISBN-10: 0471648361, ISBN-13: 978-0471648369, Hardcover: 320 pages, available from Amazon.com and also Wiley.com. See our book review of this publication.

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