Plumbing Noise Diagnosis & Cure FAQs

Q&A on Diagnosing & Curing Plumbing Noises

Washing Machine Drain & Vent Noise Q&A

Will clearing a blocked vent cure glug glug noises at the washing machine drain?

I’m hearing drain noise glug glug noise in washer machine drain in 29 story high rise building in the second floor washer machine drain.

I think the plumbing vent line is plugged. If I clear vent pipe will it solve noise issues? On 2019-05-14 by Ricardo De Leon

Reply by (mod) - glug glug noise at washing machine drain may be EITHER a blocked or inadequate vent OR a blocked drain

Ricardo

Not necessarily:

The glug glugging noise is caused by EITHER a blocked vent OR a partly-clogged drain (or a failing septic system). So sure, try inspecting and un-blocking both pipe systems.

See NOISE, PLUMBING DRAIN REPAIR - fixing plumbing noises at drains by fixing drain or vent problems and

see PLUMBING VENT DEFECTS & NOISES

and CLOGGED DRAIN DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR.

Vent Design for a Washing Machine Far From Existing Plumbing Vent

I am moving a washing machine and the new location will be about 7 feet from the existing drain / vent.

Can I add a new vent near the washer, take it up into the attic and tie into the existing vent? On 2011-10-19 by Steve

Reply by (mod) - try an AAV?

I have to say washing machine drain noise and drain performance are among the more frequent reader questions we've been getting from our readers.

About half the time I think that the drain and standpipe are under-sized: I prefer a 1 1/2" or larger drain and vent while some installers are using a 1 1/4" washing machine standpipe.

The result is that the washing machine's own hooked drain hose fits so snugly into the standpipe drain top that it prevents air from entering the line, resulting in noisy or poor washer drainage.

Yes you could avoid washing machine drain noise trouble by a properly sized vent extending up into the attic where it ties into an existing vent stack, but you might also find a less expensive and easy solution using an air admittance valve closer to the washing machine.

See AAV CAPACITIES & SIZING GUIDE - choose the right air admittance valve

LG washing machine makes air bubble glug glug glug sounds

Hi, my new LG washing machine makes air bubble glug glug glug sounds only at the end of various draining cycles during the wash. During the middle of draining session, it sounds smooth then glug glug glug... and finish. I couldn't tell if the noise came out from the standpipe of the washer drain hose.

My shower, dishwasher, toilets sound fine. Do you think, this is the pump or the pipe is clogged or just simple nothing to worry about? Thank you. On 2019-01-27 by Dino

by (mod) - washing machine air bubble glug glug glug sounds only at the end of various draining cycles - Slow Drain / Failing Septic?

Dino the most-common cause of glugging noises at a washer drain is a partially-blocked drain line or septic system. - Daniel

Gurgling & Slow Drain FAQs

Sink gurgles and toilet does not flush: Plumber says the cause is thin-walled pipes

We moved into a house which added back addition with a master bedroom and bathroom.

We noticed noises from the sink like gurgling and sometimes the toilet doesn't quite flush.

We were told after a plumber used a camera that the piping used, which is legal in Florida, is a very thin paper like piping and that that piping is the problem.

Do you have any idea how did this substandard piping get approved? Is this situation something you've heard about. On 2019-02-13 by June

by (mod) - gurgling noises at the sink would not be caused by thin wall piping; here are likely causes

Sorry but without more specifics I don't know exactly what the pipe is about which you were inquiring. However it doesn't quite make sense to me the thin wall pipe with cuz gurgling and partially blocked drains. If the pipe is proper diameter and properly sloped it would not, it seems to me, be the issue unless we are missi g something.

More likely the issue would be that there's not proper venting of the drain or the drain is not in fact sloped or doesn't use all of the right types of fittings and connections such that it's clog prone.

The fact that the toilet doesn't flush well tell me that either a plumbing vent is missing or clogged or that a drain line is probably clogged.

When a vent OR drain is clogged that can produce the gurgling noise you describe

There are more subtle problems that could cause that problem too, such as under-sized or improperly routed or located plumbing vent lines, and I'm more suspicious of a routing or location or even a missing vent when the gurgling slow drain is at an addition to the original building.

Perhaps you could ask you investigating plumber to be more specific. It's true that some plastic plumbing drain lines are noiser than their cast iron or galvanized iron older cousins, so we might hear water running in such a drain - fixable by insulation in many cases - but that would NOT explain the slow toilet drain.

Start by looking for a vent defect or a drain clog - get another plumber on site. - Daniel F.

Dripping Water Noises in Buildings FAQs

\Is dripping noise from A/C condensate disposal normal?

I think you've given me the answer with "even a heat pump or air conditioner condensate pump cycling to send water into the drain system may make periodic drain noises," but I just want to be sure this is normal.

When the heat pump is working, whether in winter for heat or summer for cold, the sink downstairs drums, sounding as if water is dropping into it.

Which makes sense, as that's what's happening. Is this normal? I ask because in earlier years I don't recall the sound.

If not normal, what should I be doing about it? Thanks. (Great web page. Full of useful information.) On 2019-01-23 by Steve_K

Reply by (mod): Factors affecting hearing dripping noises in a building drain

Yes, Steve, a condensate pump will usually send water into the building drain system only periodically depending on the rate at which the air conditioner or heat pump is removing moisture from indoor air, the size of the conditioned space, and of course the actual indoor relative humidity level. And yes that noise might be normal.

Whether or not you actually hear a dripping noise from an A/C condensate disposal system and the water it sends into a drain depends on a number of factors.

• The rate of discharge and volume of condensate water discharged into the drain line
• The drain line material (plastic drains are noisier than cast iron or steel drain lines)
• The drain line routing or location (through walls or ceilings of occupied spaces)
• The absence of noise deadening insulation
• Ambient local variables such as the level of background noise

Watch out: don't rule out the possibility that there's a drain leak into a building wall or ceiling cavity. If the problem is a leak in a drain line and if the rate and location of the leak is making a dripping noise, then you'll hear that drip whenever water is run into that drain from any source - not just from the air conditioner condensate pump.

Details are at DRIPPING WATER SOUND SOURCES

Floor Drain Noise Q&A

Condensate drain into a floor drain makes rain noise

We had a new floor drain put in when we put a shower in the basement. They put in another hole which has an screwed on cover recessed into the floor and a plastic top on it.

It sounds like rain noise coming from the drain, but it's not raining. They also left the old floor drain which still works. On 2018-10-04 by Judy

by (mod) - water movement noise may be normal

Judy:

If there is a small diameter drain tube emptying into a floor drain; perhaps that tube is from an A/C or heat pump condensate disposal system or from a water softener drain system.

Either of those may produce a dripping sound or a sound of water movement.

Floor drain in my basement emits a gurgling sound only when the heat pump comes

The floor drain in my basement emits a gurgling sound only when the heat pump comes on. Any ideas? On 2015-03-04 by Joe -

by (mod) - gurgling draining condensate

Joe: I suspect there's heat pump condensate draining into the floor drain: take a look and let me know what you see.

Watch out: if that drain is gurgling that could be because it's not vented or because it's partly blocked.

Plumbing Noise Transmission Q&A

Can a public sewer noise actually be transmitted into my home?

Is it possible for a sound to transmit through a sewer line into a home. It sounds like a pump or grinder. The motor noise is at a constant RPM that does not vary in pitch, but sometime the sound level varies. On 2018-04-25 by Sam

Answer by (mod) - sound to transmit thru a sewer line into a home

Yes, sound can be transmitted by solid piping over great distances. And vibrations or some other noise types may be easily transmitted thorugh solid piping materials.

But my OPINION is if you are hearing noises from a public sewer from some mechanical object such as a pump or sewer grinder that would more likely be the case if your home is close to a sewagr pumping station.

Details are at NOISE TRANSMISSION PATHWAYS

For help figuring out where the noise you describe is coming from, see NOISE SOURCE LOCATION - LOG FILES

IF the noise is originating at a nearby sewage station AND IF that noise isn't coming from equipment that needs repair, then separately at SOUND CONTROL in BUILDINGS we provide a series of detailed articles on noise or sound transmission control that may be helpful to you.

I woke up to 4 toilet volcanos and discovered that the city was high pressure flushing the sewer lines

Last year I woke up to 4 toilet volcanos and discovered that the city was high pressure flushing the sewer lines on our block. Despite refilling all the obvious traps, a strong sewage smell persisted, coming through a wall that has plumbing in it, but not in any bathroom.

I called a drain company and they put a camera down the line and found nothing wrong. (It's a new house)

However, as soon as they left the smell disappeared. The only thing they did was take the toilet off for the camera. This year, the exact same thing happened.

Unfortunately, this time, we took the toilet off and the smell has persisted. I have no idea why that worked the first time but I hoped it would work again. I've had two plumbers come and they are dumbfounded. Do you have any ideas? I've been pouring water down all the drains to no effect. On 2017-12-01 by Melissa

More toilet smell odors in San Diego

I thought I'd add that I am amazed San Diego doesn't require plumbing blueprints. I have all the blueprints for the house but I don't know what is in that wall. This makes met more reluctant to open up the wall and I wouldn't know where to start.

Hi Dan, thank you so much for reading and responding to my comment. Yes, I understand about the wax ring.

The situation here is the opposite- the sewage smell stopped when the toilet was removed and replaced - using the old wax ring. In both cases, the smell began when the outside public sewer was being jetted.

The odor is not near the toilet, but coming out of a wall one story up. that's what I am struggling to do - explain why the removal of a distant toilet would stop the odor coming out of a wall some distance from the bathroom. Of course it might be just chance that it resolved the day when I had the drain camera.

I am trying to come up with any possible explanation. Of course, reseating the toilet may have created a better seal even with the old ring. But-
If the problem was the ring, and the plumbers did change that unbeknownst to me, (or it sealed better) then why would the smell have returned after the sewer jetting?

I appreciate all thoughts on this and will certainly have the wax ring changed and report back. On 2017-12-02 by Melissa -

Explanation & Suggestions by (mod) -

When a toilet is removed and then put back on to the flange connector at the floor surface we usually find it's necessary to install a new wax ring to obtain a proper seal.

Otherwise even though the toilet may be bolted down securely maybe leaking sewage into the floor structure or sewer gases out that point

That does sound like a leaky vent line. You could could cut into necessary wall or ceiling and inspect or try a pressure test.

Banging Noise in Pipes or at Plumbing Fixtures Q&A

Banging noise when toilets are flushed

We recently had our bathtub faucet changed. The plumber turned off the water at the meter. When installation was complete the water was turned back on. When our toilets are flushed we get a banging noise in the pipes. What could be causing this and how can it be fixed? On 2017-10-24 by Thomas Kemp

Reply by (mod)

Thomas, it's possible that when the plumber turned water back on at the meter a slight change in how far that main valve was open has changed the flow rate in your home - increasing it a bit.

Try closeing the main water valve just 1/4 turn - that might cure the banging noise you describe.

A complete explanation and more advice is at  WATER HAMMER NOISE DIAGNOSE & CURE - home

More examples of troubleshooting this problem ar at  WATER HAMMER NOISE FAQs

Running Water Noises in Buildings Q&A

What's causing sounds like, water running in one wall of our laundry room?

We have, what sounds like, water running in one wall of our laundry room. The wall backs up a small washroom, so there is a drain vent enclosed in the wall, as well.

There is absolutely nothing running in the house. I have even gone so far as to look at the water meter (in the street/sidewalk) and the flow indicator (small triangle) is motionless and doesn't change its position over time.

Could the noise just be drain/vent related? (air movement or outside noise resonating from the roof) On 2017-06-13 by Karl

by (mod) - examples of sources of running water sounds when you think no water is being run in the building

Karl

Since you report the running water noise at a specific wall - backing up to a small washroom, it's possible that water use elsewhere is draining into a drain in that wall. Examples could be among those I'll list below.

Indeed tracking down running water sounds can be tricky; some examples to consider:

See our list at RUNNING WATER NOISE in BUILDINGS: CAUSE & CURE

Also see PLUMBING SYSTEM NOISE DIAGNOSIS & CURE