Building water supply pipe whistle or shriek noise diagnosis & cure.

Whistling, shrieking water pipe noises can drive you mad. Here we discuss the causes of water supply piping noises such as whistles or shrieks, we cite pipe noise research, and we explain how these whistling pipe noises can be cured or prevented in the first place.

Remarkably, as you'll see in the discussion with some of our readers, some of these noises are traced to drains - it's not only supply piping that can cause plumbing noise.

Other types of building pipe noises both in the supply system (such as water hammer or pipe vibration) and in the plumbing drain system (such as gurgling drains) are discussed in companion articles linked to at CONTINUE READING at the end of this article.

Water Pipe Whistle or Shriek Diagnosis

Reader question: Since this past fall, I started to get a whistle in the pipes. I Have tried to look it up and get never the same answer.

I just saw that could have been turning the outside faucets off could have caused backed up the air in pipes.

I am not sure what to do, as I am selling my house and I don't want someone to turn them on and hear that and be turned off.

A couple people have said [that I should] turn all the water faucets on at once for 5 minutes, as that would work.

I just want a professional, easy solution, because I can't hear [the pipe whistling sound] when the outside hose front or back of the town house are on. Nor do I hear the pipes shrieking when the bath room basin, bathtub, clothes washer are in use, nor when you flush toilets.

[The sound is heard at] the kitchen sink. The pipe whistle sound is not so bad there but then when we go to the second floor of the townhouse, that's when the tub and sink in there [make a whistling sound when in use].

[The water pipe whistling noise becomes much louder ] when the shower is on

Reply: here's where we start diagnosing whistling pipes

Water supply piping noise complaints are usually related to the pressure and flow velocity of water in the piping system. Because water pipe noises tend to be greater at higher pressures or velocities, often we can immediately stop the noise by adjusting water pressure OR water flow rate.

At PLUMBING NOISE CHECKLIST we note that plumbing noises that produce high-pitched hissing or whistling sound may be heard as water runs through building supply piping. This sound should stop immediately when you turn off any fixture that is running water in the building.

You may be able to stop or reduce plumbing supply piping noise by changing the water system pressure at a municipal water supply valve. Try first just slightly reducing the incoming water pressure by closing the main water shutoff valve about 1/2 turn while you hear that piercing pipe whistle (you'll have to take one hand off of at least one of your ears to take this measure).

Now we'll get more specific about how we diagnose and fix this horrible water pipe sound

History as a clue in diagnosing building water pipe noises

If you think that this problem was not present when the building was new but has been getting worse over time, that argues for a mineral deposit or debris deposit, possibly along the length of piping but also possibly in a faucet, control, even a fixture spout strainer that is having effect.

Mineral deposits, if that is a factor in pipe noise (see corrugated piping noise research cited below), won't disappear by simple flushing.

If you think that the problem has always been present then I suspect a pipe layout, design, support, or one or more individual valves, controls, or even a pressure tank problem.

Watch out: while you're inspecting the plumbing system be alert for lead supply piping (red arrow in our photo) that may be at end of life or might be a health concern, and look for leaks, inadequate pipe support, or other stuff you failed to notice that you might fix before a plumbing leak becomes a catastrophe.

Running faucets to "fix" a pipe whistle noise by flushing the water system

I'm doubtful that just running all the faucets for an interval will fix a pipe noise, except on the slight chance of flushing out a bit of debris somewhere that happens to block flow so as to cause the flow rate to set up a harmonic vibration or cavitation in the piping system.

Flushing air in water supply piping to remove a pipe whistle or shriek

I'm also a little doubtful that air in pipes would cause an ongoing whistling noise. It is possible to trap a bit of air inside of a horizontal water (or hot water heating system) pipe, and I agree that at least in theory the effective reduced diameter of piping in the area of air trap might be related to pipe noises.

But because unlike heating systems, water flows in building piping generally at higher pressures and flow rates than in hydronic heat (where air traps are more common), I'd expect air to be forced through the piping and discharged at faucets even if there was a recurrent source of air in the system (such as a well piping or control or air volume control defect ).

Details about these points are at

• AIR DISCHARGE at FAUCETS, FIXTURES


• WATER TANK AIR VOLUME CONTROLS

List of Common Sources of Pipe Whistle or Shriek Sounds

I have found a range of plumbing noises, banging, clanking, and whistling that occur when water is run in some buildings and that would diminish or stop entirely when we changed the flow rate to faster or slower than a critical rate that seems to set up a vibration in the system.

Sometimes even a small flow rate such as a filling toilet can cause a horrible shrieking or whistling in the supply pipe system, so I infer that the sound is not simply caused by a high flow rate.

Squeals and shrieks from water pressure tank

A squealing water pressure tank sound is often due to water passing through a restricted valve or pipe clog.

Shrieking from a water pressure tank that incorporates a bladder may be due to a partly collapsed bladder or obstruction at the tank entrance fittings.

Details about this point are

at WATER TANK BLADDERS & CAPTIVE AIR

Other Sources of Building Shrieks & Whistles probably not related to water piping

We recently installed a Bosch gas-fired tankless water heater at a home in the Mexican state of Guanajuato.

The heater was powerful, efficient, and could handle up to 4 fixtures at once. But we were shocked to hear it producing an incredibly loud shrieking whistling noise whenever the water flow rate or gas firing rate increased at the heater.

A service call from Don Pedro's Bosch service expert explained that some power-vented water heaters can develop a resonance vibration at the flue or flue vent connector depending on a combination of factors including the venting rate, vent diameter, vent elbows and bends, and chimney height.

The solution involved replacing the flue vent connector with a larger diameter metal pipe and taping over a portion of an air intake to change its resonance point.

Before beating whistling or shrieking pipes into a quiet state we should be quite confident that the building noise complaint is only related to water supply piping, that is, the whistling or shrieking sound is not related to or caused by the drain system, and more suitably, not related to hot water heating equipment nor hydronic or steam heating system noise.

Details are at

• BANGING HEATING PIPES RADIATORS
• STEAM VENTS also can make a whistling noise
• We've documented other shrieks such as at HVAC system compressor pumps
  
  at NOISES, HVAC SOUND
• We list all known sources of building plumbing system noises
  
  at PLUMBING NOISE CHECKLIST
• Still more building shrieks and whistles not due to mechanical systems have been traced to wind noise, swinging signs, loose chimney caps, even odd roof shingle defects.
  
  See NOISE / SOUND DIAGNOSIS & CURE - home
• WATER HEATER NOISE DIAGNOSIS, CURE -
  
  in addition to bangs and rattles (scale in water heaters) in 2017 we investigated and obtained repair help from Bosch for a shrieking tankless water heater installed in San Miguel de Allende.
  
  The sound was traced to a resonant frequency air or exhaust movement interacting between combustion air intake and exhaust flue outlet gases.

Cavitation in water piping: holes, leaks, valve design as noise sources

A high pitched shriek or whine also occurs during fill-ups of water tanks whose water level is controlled by a float. In that case the noise seems to come from a combination of stick float mechanism that may not fully open the fill valve and thus a partial restriction in the water line.

Some discussion of the effects of holes in piping systems and the causes of cavitation inside the piping system is in order. I suspect, based on limited field testing and a review of research literature that cavitation may explain some water pipe whistling and shrieking.

You can demonstrate the hypothesis that cavitation occurs in some water control valves at some valve positions by opening or closing the valve just slightly from its current position.

For example at our offices in Mexico water is supplied by intermittent, varying pressures in the street water mains from which water is pushed by city pressure to a rooftop water storage tank. Water to the building is then fed downwards from that tank - a common system world wide.

See ROOFTOP WATER TANKS

I have observed that at times when our rooftop water tank is filling the whole water system produces a horrible shrieking sound that some visitors describe as water pipe whistling.

I speculate that the noise is due to cavitation in one of two locations: the inlet water main valve or the float valve that controls filling of the water storage tank.

I find that while the pipe whistle-shriek is active, if I zoom over to the main water shutoff-valve and close it slightly, the shrieking stops immediately. If I re-open it to its prior position the whistle renews until the water tank has filled.

This sound does not always occur, depending probably principally on the supplying water main pressure but possibly on other variables in temperature, even barometric pressure, or the condition of the water tank float valve.
I don't claim this is the only possible explanation of water pipe whistles but it seems a likely one.

We also observed both whistling and banging clanging water hammer in the water supply piping system of the Casa Azul hotel in Queretaro, Mexico - an incredibly loud sound that would appear or disappear depending on how many fixtures were in use and probably on variations in the hotel's water supply pressure.

Diagnostic Questions for Water Supply Pipe Shriek or Whistle Noises

But I agree I've not researched enough on whistling sounds in plumbing systems. Can you tell me more precisely (you already took a stab at this)

• Have you tried, during the whistling, various measures to amend the flow rate of water such as turning the main water supply valve slightly more towards its closed or open position?
• What is the building and noise history: how old is the building,
• When was the pipe whistle first observed, and how has the pipe whistle noise changed over time. For example has plumbing work been performed recently? Was piping added, modified, shortened, changed in diameter?
• What are the building piping materials: copper, galvanized iron, plastic?
• Is corrugated copper or plastic piping in use in the building?
• What is the building water supply: private well or municipal supply
• What is the building water quality: is the water supply high in mineral content
• What is the building hot water performance: how is hot water made and have there been signs (such as diminished hot water flow rate or water heater tank noises) indicative of scale formation in the system
• Does the noise occur only on cold water flow, hot water flow or either or both at once?
• Does your home uses a water pressure tank?
• How does the noise relates to water flow rate and number of fixtures in use
• Where is the noise is loudest
• Do you hear the noise when you're sure no fixture is in use?
  
  Check for running toilets, for a leak outside the building, or for remote noise sources transmitted into the building via building water supply (or drain) piping
• Are you sure it's a water supply pipe noise? Similar water noises may show up in building drains and even in air conditioning or heat pump refrigerant piping.

Cures for Water Pipe Whistling & Shrieking Noises

Besides these research citations on water pipe noises, people have invented things intended to silence the pipe whistle. Not surprising, some of the inventors also appear among some of the pipe sound research.

Below we include a list of pipe noise reduction measures, starting with a few installation details. But the key steps in managing pipe whistling and vibration caused by water flowing through the piping system involve adjusting the pressure and flow rate in the system.

JGL Acoustics recommends that the maximum water flow rate in gallons per minute in a building piping system ought to be 4 feet per second. Translating this into something a normal human being can understand, that means that water flow in supply pipes should be:

Notes to the data above

Separately, Canadian CMHC research (1996) found that increasing water pressure increased the noise level in buildings by +5 dBA to +9dBA when water pressure increased from 40 psi to 100 psi (which is high and well above recommended in-building water supply pipe pressures).

Interestingly the CMHC research found that the noise transmission varied by building structure (wood vs steel frame, for example) but CMHC found that there was not a significant advantage in sound reduction obtained by increasing the pipe diameter from 1/2" to 2".

Above data adapted from "Plumbing Noise", JGL Acoustics, publication No. 8, JGL Acoustics, Inc., 6421 Lake Washington Blvd. N.E. # 209, Kirkland WA 98033, Tel: 206-827-1057

• Confirm that the whistle or shriek is due to plumbing:
  
  a quick test is to shut off the water supply when you hear the noise. If the noise doesn't stop this is not a building water supply piping problem.
• Check for running toilets 
  
  and fix them before doing anything else.
• Secure loose water supply pipes:
  
  on occasion we find pipes that vibrate and wiggle around, perhaps due to cavitation or other water movement inducements. Wiggling pipes ought to be secured anyway to avoid developing leaks.
  
  When adding water supply piping support use sound-isolating fittings. We list some noise isolating pipe hanger suppliers under plumbing noise silencer devices below. Rigid pipe supports such as metal strapping, clamps, or even the plastic J-hook type support are the greatest source of pipe noise transmission in buildings.
• Important: Try turning down the water flow rate 
  
  at the main water shutoff-valve.
  
  See WATER SHUTOFF VALVE LOCATION
• Important: Try adjusting the water pressure:
  
  If there is a pressure regulator on the house side of the main water shutoff valve, as is the case for many municipal water supply systems and if there is no additional shutoff on the house side of the pressure regulator, try setting the pressure regulator itself to a slightly lower pressure.
  
  Reducing water pressure or flow velocity is the single quickest, least costly step that should reduce building water pipe noise generation.
  
  See WATER PRESSURE REGULATOR ADJUSTMENT
• Important: Change the water control valve:
  
  the main water control valve or shut-off, or other water flow control valves or devices in the building piping system are one of the most common sources of pipe noise. If you can trace the noise to the valve itself, try changing the valve brand or model. Other than simply adjusting the valve to a lower rate, this may be the least-costly step in shutting up screaming pipes.
• Important: Change the water pressure regulator:
  
  some water flow control valves are more noisy than others. If the water pressure regulator is the noise source consider changing the brand or model of the control.
• Important: Adjust individual plumbing fixture water supplies:
  
  If the shrieking whistling water pipes are peculiar to use of just one or two plumbing fixtures, try adjusting the water supply valve to each of those fixtures. Often closing the valve slightly, or opening it if the valve was mostly shut, will change the flow rate enough to stop water pipe cavitation noises at the fixture.
• Add water pipe insulation 
  
  if creaking or pipe movement are contributing to the noise complaint
• Install a water noise silencer device 
  
  or noise isolating pipe supports if pipe vibration is a problem
  • Water Pipe Vibration & Noise Isolating Hanger Systems  
    • Isolation Hangers, Acoustical Solutions, Inc., Tel: 800-782-5742 USA, Website: http://www.acousticalsolutions.com
    • Isolation Hangers, Vibro-Acoustics, Inc., Vibro-Acoustics Corporate Office 355 Apple Creek Blvd Markham, Ontario L3R 9X7, Canada, Tel: (416) 291-7371 , Email: info@Vibro-Acoustics.com , Website: http://www.vibro-acoustics.com/ Excerpt from the company's information on Isolation Hangers:
      
      Suspended building systems including equipment, ductwork and piping are either noise and vibration sources or paths which can transmit vibrations into the supporting structure. Structural floor, ceiling and roof systems act as sounding boards, turning these vibrations into audible noise.
      
      Vibro-Acoustics’ vibration isolation hangers help reduce this problem.
      
      Our hangers are typically installed inline with threaded rod supports to break the rigid support path.
      
      Vibro-Acoustics’ uniquely-engineered springs are used for low frequency vibrations, and our elastomeric isolators help absorb high frequency vibrations. A combination of both options is also available to maximize performance.
    • Pipe Supports, Vibration Isolators, HVAC Accessories, Chand Engineering, Bal Kalan, Majitha Road, Armitsar (Punjab) 143 001, India, Tel: 91-183-257-3581, Email: info@chandengineering.com, Website: http://www.weicco.com
    • Pipe Supports, James Walker Australia Pty Ltd PO Box 13, Lion Works 32 Clapham Road Regents Park NSW 2143 Australia
    • Spring & Neoprene Isolation Hanger, Kinetics Noise Control, Tel: 877-457-2695, Website: http://www.kineticsnoise.com
    • Vibration Control Products, Mason UK Ltd., United Kingdom, Tel: 44-0 1252 716610, Email: info@mason-uk.co.uk, Website: http://www.mason-uk.co.uk
  • Use plastic water supply pipes 
    
    when re-piping or installing new water pipes in a building. Hunaidi at Canada's NRC who studied plumbing noise found that plastic piping is about 10 dBA less noisy than copper pipes when both are rigidly clamped. However if you use noise-isolating plumbing supports either pipe material will be equally quiet.
  • Water pipe noise silencing products & systems
    • Molloy, James F. "Combined valve and water silencer." U.S. Patent 2,588,555, issued March 11, 1952.
    • "Quiet anti-siphonic float actuated valve US 2779350 A" an. 29, 1957 I .1. c. OWENS 2,779,350

Water supply pipe noise research: cavitation, flow, whistles, shrieks & Building Plumbing System Noise Reduction Methods

Here are some interesting citations on the topic. They indicate that you and I are not totally weird in looking for a solution to water pipe sounds.

• Brothers, K., Using the IWA Performance Indicators and Noise Mapping for NRW Reductions in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Proc. Water Loss Specialist Conference, International Water Association, Brno, Czech Republic, pp. 227-233, 16-18 May 2001
• Cary, Jr Wilson Miles. "Ball-cock-valve silencer." U.S. Patent 1,703,295, issued February 26, 1929.
• Hunaidi, Osama, "Acoustic Leak Detection Survey Strategies for Water Distribution Pipes", No. 79 (2012), national Research Council, Canada (NRC), Website: https://www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca, retrieved 4/6/14, original source: https://www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/ctu-sc/ctu_sc_n79 NRC Construction, Ottawa K1A 0R6 T: (613) 993-2607; F: (613) 952-7673; www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/ctu
• Hunaidi, O., Detecting Leaks in Water-Distribution Pipes, Construction Technology Update No. 40, Institute for Research in Construction, National Research Council of Canada, 2000
• Hunaidi, O., Chu, W., Wang, A., and Guan, W. Detecting Leaks in Plastic Water Distribution Pipes, Journal AWWA, Vol. 92, No. 2, pp. 82-94, 2000
• "Plumbing Noise", JGL Acoustics, publication No. 8, JGL Acoustics, Inc., 6421 Lake Washington Blvd. N.E. # 209, Kirkland WA 98033, Tel: 206-827-1057, retrieved 4/6/14, oiriginal source: http://www.jglacoustics.com/acoustics/ss_articles/plumbing_noise.pdf
• "Research on Plumbing Noises in Multiple Unit Buildings", Canadian CMHC, Research Report: Recherche sur les bruits de plomberie dans les edifices à logements multiples (1996), Technical Series 96-226, retrieved 4/6/14, original source: http://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/publications/en/rh-pr/tech/96226.htm
• "Sound & Vibration Control", 1999 ASHRAE Applications Handbook, retrieved 4/6/14, original source http://www.mne.psu.edu/lamancusa/me458/ashrae_isolation.pdf
• Fuchs, H. F. "Generation and control of noise in water supply installations. Part 2: Sound source mechanisms." Applied Acoustics 38, no. 1 (1993): 59-85.
  Moussou, P., S. Caillaud, V. Villouvier, A. Archer, A. Boyer, B. Rechu, and S. Benazet. "Vortex-Shedding of a Multi-Hole Orifice Synchronized to an Acoustic Cavity in a PWR Water Piping System." In ASME 2003 Pressure Vessels and Piping Conference, pp. 161-168. American Society of Mechanical Engineers, 2003.
• MJM Acoustical Consultants, Montreal, PLUMBING NOISE IN MULTI-DWELLING BUILDINGS MJM Acoustical Consultants Inc., Montreal, September 1990.
  
  A research project conducted in the acoustical laboratory of the National Research Council of Canada, on behalf of the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. The objective of this research was to determine the acoustical performance of various pipes and plumbing installations; the report is available in both French and English. [This is a long, 133 p. document] http://www.mjm.qc.ca/publications/en/177891_plumbing.pdf
  
  See http://www.mjm.qc.ca/en/recherche_pub.html for a complete list of research projects
• MJM Acoustical Consultants, Montreal, REDUCTION OF PLUMBING NOISE IN LIGHTWEIGHT CONSTRUCTION A.C.C Warnock (National Research Council Canada, Ottawa, Ontario) and M.J.Morin (MJM Acoustical Consultants inc., Montreal, Quebec), Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, Volume 88 - Issue S1, P.S135 (1990)
  
  Noise from plumbing fixtures can be a source of great annoyance in single-family and multi-family homes. Noise-control articles and textbooks usually recommend the use of resilient supports for pipes and other fixtures as a means of controlling noise.
  
  A study funded by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation and undertaken by MJM Acoustical Consultants* at NRC examined the changes in noise level produced by different types of pipes, different methods of mounting pipes, different wall types, and the addition of sound absorbing materials in walls. Noise sources used included an ISO standard plumbing noise source, a toilet, a sink, and five common bathroom faucets.
  
  Closed cell rubber foam supports were found to be the most effective of the resilient materials tested, providing reductions in A-weighted noise levels around 20 dB. This article gives a summary of the results obtained; it is available only in English. *Plumbing Noise in Multi-Dwelling Buildings, MJM Acoustical Consultants Inc., Montreal, Sept. 1990
• Moussou, P., Ph Testud, Yves Aurégan, and Avraham Hirschberg. "An acoustic criterion for the whistling of orifices in pipes." In ASME 2007 Pressure Vessels and Piping Conference, pp. 345-353. American Society of Mechanical Engineers, 2007.
• Nakiboglu, G., S. P. C. Belfroid, J. Golliard, and Avraham Hirschberg. "ON THE WHISTLING OF CORRUGATED PIPES: EFFECT OF PIPE LENGTH AND FLOW PROFILE." [PDF] Journal of Fluid Mechanics 672 (2011): 78.
  
• Nakiboglu, Gunes, Stefan PC Belfroid, Devis Tonon, Johannes FH Willems, and Avraham Hirschberg. "A parametric study on the whistling of multiple side branch system as a model for corrugated pipes." In ASME 2009 Pressure Vessels and Piping Conference, pp. 389-398. American Society of Mechanical Engineers, 2009.
• Rayleigh, John William Strutt Baron. The theory of sound. Vol. 2. Macmillan, 1896.
• Rudenko, Oleksii, Güneş Nakiboğlu, and Avraham Hirschberg. "Onset of flow induced tonal noise in corrugated pipe segments." Journal of pressure vessel technology 136, no. 5 (2014).
• Semrau, Stefan, Romuald Skoda, Walther Wustmann, and Klaus Habr. "Experimental and numerical investigation of noise generation due to acoustic resonance in a cavitating valve." Journal of Sound and Vibration 463 (2019): 114956.
• Testud, Ph, P. Moussou, Avraham Hirschberg, and Yves Aurégan. "Noise generated by cavitating single-hole and multi-hole orifices in a water pipe." Journal of Fluids and Structures 23, no. 2 (2007): 163-189.
• Testud, Ph, Yves Aurégan, P. Moussou, and Avraham Hirschberg. "The whistling potentiality of an orifice in a confined flow using an energetic criterion." Journal of Sound and Vibration 325, no. 4 (2009): 769-780.
• Tonon, Devis, B. J. T. Landry, S. P. C. Belfroid, J. F. H. Willems, G. C. J. Hofmans, and Abraham Hirschberg. "Whistling of a pipe system with multiple side branches: Comparison with corrugated pipes." Journal of Sound and Vibration 329, no. 8 (2010): 1007-1024.
  
• van Eckeveld, A. C., J. Westerweel, and C. Poelma. "Mitigation of whistling in vertical corrugated pipes by liquid addition." Experiments in Fluids 58, no. 9 (2017): 1

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Reader Q&A - also see RECOMMENDED ARTICLES & FAQs

On 2022-12-10 by Bill - help fix water meatetr screaming noise - whistling/ whine noise finally traced to toilet drain pipe

My water supply pipe is shared with next door. Water flowing into the house is measured thru a mechanical type meter. When next door turn on a tap my water meter screams in agony and a supply of water dribbles out of my kitchen tap. The meter is situated under the kitchen sink.

The only way to scilence the noise under these circumstances is to turn off the stop tap and isolate the water supply and meter in the house. Not surprisingly this does work!

I am looking for a cause for this ahead of calling the water company.

The current mechanical meter was installed in the summer to replace an electro mechanical water meter which had come to the end of its life. There were no such problem with this meter.

Just to add this problem is recent over the last month.

On 2022-12-10 by InspectApedia (Editor) - water meter screams in agony

@Bill,

Like the Poughkeepsie police desk sergeant told Anna Banana when she called to ask the police to tell Metro North to stop blowing their train whistle on approaching the Poughkeepsie railroad station because she didn't like the noise ...

Well that's one I've never heard before.

I've heard water meters scream in agony, but that dribble of water out of your kitchen tap when the neighbor turns on water from a shared supply suggests to me that there is a water hammer problem, possibly related to a combination of water pressure and water flow rate.

Before calling the water company, I would

1. ask the neighbor if she has noticed plumbing leak or noise symptoms when you turn on a tap in your home

2. try turning the water main shutoff valve down to close it slightly - reducing the water gpm velocity a bit to see if that changes the problem

3. Are there any other water-related noises like an audible slamming or banging noise (usual water hammer noise) when you close a running tap?

Let me know what happens.

On 2022-12-13 by Bill - check with neighbors - screaming water meter

@InspectApedia (Editor), I will try to collor the neighbours and ask them what they have noticed about this phenomenon; they must have heard the noise and are probably as fed up with it as I am. Similarly I'll ask what they have observed when I turn my kitchen tap on.

I suspect their water system doesn't make undue noise in the latter case or I would have heard it. The phenomenon doesn't occur for me when I open the tap. Unfortunately the neighbours are reclusive and it may be difficult to approach them for a informative response.

My meter was replaced in May and up until the screaming started when, I believe, next doors tap was suddenly shut off my kitchen sink cupboard would finish the action with a thump.

I have tried a variety of positions for the stop tap under the kitchen sink, but it makes no difference to the screaming / dribbling except for when it is closed right off.

Here's something, I have taken to cutting the supply at various times by turning off the stop tap just to get a break from this. Even when the tap is turned off the screaming can erupt be it only briefly before it is quelled permanently, or at least until I turn on the water again.

On 2022-12-13 by InspectApedia (Editor)

@Bill,

Right, thanks for the added detail.

My suggestion is to try closing the water main shutoff valve a turn or so - not the individual fixture shutoffs.

Let me know if that works.

On 2022-12-23 by Bill - adjust the water supply stop-tap to stop water meter noise?

My descriptions were refering to adjusting the stop tap before the meter., where the main enters the house. The stop cock down stream from this is in the street and controles the supply to four houses.

To clarify I reset the stop cock inside the house which controls the water to all water outlets not just the kitchen tap. It also seems that when the plumbing at the kitchen sink begins to whine and a thin dribble emerges from the tap this can continue indefinitely even when the neighbours has stopped drawing water from the main, though it also can just start and then stop.

Why can a tap start to scream and dribble out a stream of cold water when the outside main is in a stable state, ie. under pressure but with no water being drawn off from that branch of the main (save for the dribble of course?

On 2022-12-24 by InspectApedia (Editor)

@Bill,

Water at certain velocities can make a whine or screaming noise in piping or fixtures.

But why is your faucet dripping if it's in the off position - a leak to repair?

On 2022-12-24 by Bill

First I wanted to correct my previous statement that the stop cock in the street is down stream of the cock in the house it is of course up stream and I should have put this.

Thank you for your reply. The tap at the sink dribbles water, and it a good flowing dribble!, when the screaming begins and stops when it ends.

Last night I was in the kitchen and the screaming started and then quickly subsided. I could then hear the sound of water moving in a pipe; next door drawing water I expect Eventually the movement stopped and the pipework under my kitchen sink in unison concluded with a thump.

On other occasions the screaming and water flow from the tap must start while I am out for when I return the bowl in the sink which was empty when I left is full with water overflowing into the sink and down the drain.

I have returned to the house at the end of the day to be greeted by the screaming as I open the front door; as if to say welcome home!, and the water is streaming out into the sink I imagine it starts early in the morning and has been carrying on for the rest of the day.

On 2022-12-24 by InspectApedia (Editor) - screaming could be from water velocity noise when your neighbor runs water

@Bill,

I can understand water hammer noise when a neighbor runs water when you share common water piping.

IF there are leaks at your faucet only when there is water hammer, for sure you'll want that fixed.

Water hammer can damage pipes, cause leaks, or just be annoying.

See WATER HAMMER NOISE DIAGNOSE & CURE

The screaming could be from water velocity noise when your neighbor runs water, noise transmitted to your space.

Please read our suggestions on the page above.

On 2023-01-08 by Bill

@InspectApedia (Editor), Thanks, I am reading all this and trying to make sense of It.

The water hammer / single shock thump started after the meter was changed by the water company. The change was from one type of water meter to a different type. Is it plausible that the new type of meter induces the water hammer when the original one didn't?

I have applied pressure down the kitchen cold tap stem which, although it doesn't stop the screaming or water dribbling loss from the tap when the neighbours are making water demand, it does stop the defect as soon as they stop. So stooping the noise and water loss continuing all day until I return and can stop it.

On 2023-01-08 by InspectApedia Publisher - changing a water meter might change the water velocity or flow rate

@Bill,

Sure, changing a water meter might change the water velocity or flow rate.

On 2023-01-16 by William Sharek - whistling/ whine noise traced to toilet drain pipe

The problem in our case came from the TOILET DRAIN (the basin behind the toilet bowl). We had a loud whine or whistle. This happened once every couple days.

At first, the plumber said it because we did not turn the faucet all the way on or off in the basement that led to the outside water hose. Later, he discovered there was a slow drip in the bathroom toilet due to a weak drain plug. Once he replace this, the problem disappeared.

On 2023-01-16 by InspectApedia Publisher

@William Sharek,

That's very interesting, and I apologize for the nerve behind my reply, but I feel compelled to offer a slightly different explanation.

It would be quite odd for a drain to make a whine or whistling noise in response to a slow drip of a bathroom toilet into the waste line. A drip puts a miniscule amount of water into a 3" or 4" diameter pipe. Water velocity of such a volume in such a drain would be not be a noise factor.

But a slow drip in a toilet means, by definition, that the level of water, either in the bowl or in the flush tank, is slowly dropping, drip by drip.

When the water level in the tank falls low enough, the toilet fill valve will open to re-fill the toilet tank. Perhaps that small volume and short refill cycle was opening the fill valve for a short and not-fully-open interval, creating the whine or whistle, actually coming from the water supply system.

Ask your plumber if this explanation sounds right and if not please ask the plumber for a bit more detail as that would be most helpful to other readers here.

Thanks.

On 2023-01-17 by Bill

@InspectApedia Publisher, I have been reading your information in the main text and as the problem appears to originate outside the property, ie. before the stop tap which isolates the property's supply from the main, the only thing that I can think of doing is to restrict the flow by turning down the stop tap on the main in the street which supplies several properties.

Is it OK in to do this? Is there anything else I can do outside of breaking into the main beyond the property and what else can I do there?

On 2023-01-17 by InspectApedia Publisher

@Bill,

Yes, a small adjustment in a main water valve will change the water flow rate slightly and that can be diagnostic of the cause of water pipe noises.

On 2020-11-30 by Josh- water pipe singing/whining/vibrating sound starts out fairly loud, slowly tapers off - noise in 1st section of entering water pipe

Hi All,

We've recently had issues with our hot water heater and then, separately, the pressure reducing valve on the water main line. Both of these items have been replaced within the past two weeks.

Everything seemed to be working fine for about a week here until yesterday morning. Wife got up in the morning to take a shower and we both heard a whining sound in the house. I ran water in the kitchen sink and, again, the whining sound. Once we were sure we both heard it, I had her open the kitchen tap again while I tried to find the sound.

The sound seems to be strongest in the basement, right near where the main line enters the house.

More specifically, it seems to be within the first 10ft of pipe coming in. In the first 6ft/horizontal part of pipe there is the main shutoff valve, water meter, pressure reducing valve, backflow preventer, secondary shutoff valve. The next 4ft or so bends straight up/ vertically toward the floor joists and only has a gauge that doesn't seem to read any pressure.

The sound is a singing/whining/vibrating sound that starts out fairly loud and slowly tapers off to nothing. If I turn on the water for a short duration (say a few seconds in the kitchen sink) and then turn it off, the sound will happen for 5-10 seconds after the water is off

If water is on for a prolonged amount of time (say taking a shower on the second floor), the sound will start after a few seconds of having the water on, continue the whole duration, then hang around for a few seconds after the water is off. It does the same thing whether I turn on hot water, cold water, or both.

Info about the house: The house was originally built in 1908 but has been added on to/remodeled several times.

Most of the piping looks newer but I can't guess at the age of anything. I do know that there is a 3/4" line coming into the house (because of the 3/4" line PRV that was just replaced) with a water meter that is at most 10 years old.

The house has a basement (where the main line, PRV, and water heater are located, no sinks/showers/toilets), first floor (3 sinks/1 toilet/1 dishwasher/1 washing machine/1 outside faucet), and second floor (1 sink/1 toilet/1 shower).

One other thing of note is that I am getting air sputtering out of my 1st floor bathroom sink occasionally. I've seen that air in the lines could cause something like what I'm describing but I don't know what the best process is to get air out of the lines if that's the case.

Any help would be awesome. Thank you!

On 2020-11-30 - by (mod) - water pipe singing/whining/vibrating sound that starts out fairly loud and slowly tapers off

Josh

It's possible that the water velocity moving through piping or through the water meter itself (or a nearby valve or fitting) is indeed the whining or singing vibration that you're hearing.

Often we can diagnose that phenomena by leaving the tap open exactly in the position at which the sound in being produced, then at the main water shutoff, try closing the valve slightly. If the noise changes it's probably a velocity issue.

Changing the flow rate slightly at the main valve or at the pressure regulator is sometimes a cure.

On 2020-11-30 by Josh

Thanks for the reply! I was trying to gather more information last night and slightly closing the main valve was one of the things I tried. It didn't seem to make an immediate difference but I didn't give it a lot of time to settle out either.

I also turned the adjustment screw on the pressure regulator about 1/4 turn (I know that isn't a big difference) to increase pressure and was still getting the sound. I'll give both of these another shot tonight and give them a few minutes to see if the sound subsides.

Any other recommendations for troubleshooting that I could try at the same time? As I mentioned, I had a new water heater installed with no issues for around a week and then I had the pressure regulator replaced and that seems to be when the issue started. Maybe the rubber washer in the PRV didn't seat correctly? Would air in the lines make sense if the system had drained a lot of water when replacing the PRV?

Again, thanks for the help!

On 2020-11-30 by (mod) - Water Pipe Whistling Noise Causes, Cures, More Research

The observation that you hear the water pipe singing/whining/vibrating sound that starts out fairly loud and slowly tapers off suggests that pressure is dropping in the system and probably water velocity as the sound diminishes.

When I've tried changing the water velocity and if it made a difference, the change in pitch of the noise or even its cessation was immediate - as soon as I turned the shutoff sufficiently closed (or more-open).

A similar test that changes velocity is to see if the noise changes when it's present and you simply increase the flow rate by opening other taps.

Air in water supply lines usually purges itself unless there's an unusual air source but might affect pipe noises as air can show up as cavitation (Semrau 2019).

Also if the noise is new and accompanied a water heater installation, look for use of corrugated flexible copper water pipe connections (van Eckeveld 2017).

Besides what i cited earlier on this page there is plenty of research on water pipe whistling sounds and it's an old problem (The Cary 1929 patent is an example), some of which points out more subtle water pipe whistle noise sources.

On 2020-05-31 by Dennis - noisy water pumps and piping in 8 floor condo building

I live on the 7th floor of an 8th floor condo complex. When I am in the bathroom , I can hear the two newly installed water pumps running thru the piping. The whole new water system was recently and the new pumps seem to be controlled by frequency.

There is a run of about 10' of 4" copper pipe to the main system. The noise at the pump site is over the noise limits and and carries thru the whole 84 units. The pressure is over 150 psi. I suggested cutting a section of the 4" copper line out and replacing it with a rubber fitting or plastic pipe. I am not a plumber--just a homeowner.

On 2020-06-02 - by (mod) - sound isolating supports and insulation can reduce water pipe noise

There are sound isolating supports and insulation that often can solve the problem.

Details are at PLUMBING NOISE TRANSMISSION CONTROL 

On 2020-05-26 by Chuck - noise at water shutoff valve at time of turn-off

When the water is turn on water passing thru the water valve is noisy. It continues fora few sec
After water is turnedoff.'

On 2020-05-27 - by (mod) -

Chuck

Is your water supply from a municipal Source or do you have a private pump tank and we'll system?

On 2020-05-25 by lynn - sink has a high pitch whistle

My sink has a high pitch whistle when water is not running. Why

On 2020-05-25 - by (mod) -

Lynn

A high pitched whistle coming from a sink that's not in use is very odd indeed. When, with respect to running water does the whistle show up: immediately after turning water off, when the sink is draining, or many minutes or hours later?

Are we sure the noise is from the sink and not something near it?

On 2018-12-23 by Cathy - whistling noise happens right after I take a shower and turn off the faucet.

The whistling noise happens right after I take a shower and turn off the faucet. Then If I turn the bathroom sink faucet on then off the noise will usually go away. Please tell me how to fix that problem.

On 2018-12-06 by KennyD - water pipes sometimes shriek lightly immediately after the faucet is shut off,

My water pipes sometimes shriek lightly immediately after the faucet is shut off, but quite often it shrieks at different times when there is no water usage and toilets and faucets are not leaking

On 2018-03-04 by Ann Stewart - careful spelling, punctuation, grammar help clarity of water pipe noise diagnosis article

I want to compliment you on your writing. So much of what one reads on line now uses just horrible grammar and/or spelling it's painful.

I figure either you're an English teacher or you're over 65 or both. At any rate, THANK YOU for writing so well. ruby2zdy@comcast.net

On 2018-03-05 - by (mod) -

Thank you so much Ann. We work hard to provide researched, authoritative, useful information so I'm thrilled when you find it so.

I also know that errors slip in to the writing for lots of reasons including what my my cellphone does if I'm dictating. I also leave some mis-spelled words by readers (or by me) deliberately to let them know we're not snobs and that we're focused on content.

We also welcome questions, criticism, content suggestions.

My English teachers starting with 4th grade (Mrs. Hartz) and continuing with Mrs. Jodi Wampler in high school are people I remember with gratitude. In one of my first essays I wrote that ... at the age of nine Charles Dickens went to work in a whorehouse. Mrs. Wampler gently noted that she thought I did not quite mean what I had written. It was a warehouse.

...

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Or see WATER SUPPLY PIPE WHISTLE NOISE FAQs - questions and answers about noises from water pipes that were posted originally on this page

Recommended Articles

• PLUMBING NOISE CHECKLIST
• PLUMBING SYSTEM NOISE DIAGNOSIS & CURE - home
• WATER HAMMER NOISE DIAGNOSE & CURE - loud bangs also related to water velocity in pipes

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