Water tank noise & sound diagnostic suggestions.

This article provides answers to frequently-asked questions about how to diagnose noise problems with the water storage tank or water pressure tank including hissing, gurgling, bubbling, or clangs, bangs and clashes at or near the water tank.

This article series gives diagnosis & repair advice for well or water pumps, controls, tanks, water pressure, water flow, water quantity.

14 Water Tank Noises: Causes, Cures, Warnings

Water pressure tank and water storage tank noise sources: Summary

This index to types of noises that might be heard at or around a water pressure tank or water storage tank can help you diagnose the cause of specific sounds in the water supply system.

Watch out: Some of these noises are normal and common, such as sounds made by water entering or leaving the water tank, flowing through pipes and valves, while other noises point to trouble such as

clangs or bangs - water hammer noises that may warn of a failing check valve, pump, or pump control or of a water velocity problem that may lead to leaks or even water delivery system failure.

1. Banging noises at a water tank
   
   may be caused by a check valve or by pipes that move in response to vibration or pressure changes in the water system when a pump turns on or off, or when water is being drawn from the system.
   
   See details in these articles:
   
   WATER HAMMER NOISE DIAGNOSE & CURE - review this information first.
   
   Watch out: the vibration and mechanical impact caused by sudden changes in water movement that are heard as water hammer can lead to plumbing leaks.
   
   BANGING BOOMING NOISE DIAGNOSIS & CURE
   
   BANGING HEATING PIPES RADIATORS
   
   BANGING WATER HEATER
2. Bubbling and gurgling noises at the water pressure / water storage tank
   
   or at the water pressure tank is usually air in the well piping system; look for a leak in the well piping system or low water levels in the well.
   
   Other causes of gurgling bubbling noises at the water pressure tank
   
   - normal addition of air to the water pressure tank by an air volume control device - found on water pressure tanks that do not use an internal bladder
   
   - well flow rate is inadequate and/or pump rate exceeds well flow rate in a low-yield small static-head well
   
   - turbulence of water through a partly-clogged opening in piping near the tank or at the tank opening - possibly due to sediment or rust-clogging
   
   - noise of water passing through a water pressure tank bladder that is torn, punctured, leaky, or sticking to itself
   
   - water leaving the pressure tank thorugh a leaky check valve or foot valve after the pump has stopped
   
   See details of all of the known causes of & cures for these bubbling, burbling, or gurgling water tank sounds
   
   at WATER TANK BUBBLING / GURGLING NOISE DIAGNOSIS
3. Buzzing noises at a water tank
   
   may be due to water velocity through piping but
   
   Watch out: check first for a nearby electrical problem such as a failing water pump control or even a short in nearby electrical controls for the water system.
   
   Arcing and buzzing, snapping, popping, or sizzling noises at electrical controls indicates a fire risk as well as possibly indicating an imminent failure of the water supply system.
   
   Also see BUZZING NOISE DIAGNOSIS - topic home



Above: rooftop water storage tanks in New York City (Friedman 2014).

Water entering or leaving tanks, check valves, and water pressure booster pumps, thermal expansion/contraction noises, or simple drips and leaks can all be noise sources at rooftop water storage tanks.

4. Clanking sounds at the water tank
   
   may be caused by a check valve at the tank that is noisy when water flow starts or stops. A check valve may be used to prevent back-flow or loss of water out of the tank and back into the well or other water source when the water supply or pump turns off.
   
   A noisy check valve may be caused by a failing valve, risking loss of pump prime or loss of water.
   
   See details at CHECK VALVES, WATER SUPPLY, DRAINS, PUMPS
   
   where we describe different types of check valves used on water systems, their locations, purposes, troubleshooting and repair.
5. Clicking noises at the water tank
   
   at the water pressure tank, especially if the well pump is submersible (in the well and nowhere near the tank itself) is more likely the water pump pressure control relay clicking in and out to turn the pump on and off. These "click" noises are normal.
   
   See WATER PUMP PRESSURE SWITCH NOISES
   
   including WATER PUMP PRESSURE CONTROL SWITCH CHATTER
   
   Watch out: however - if the clicking is rapid, every few seconds, your well pump is short-cycling and needs repair.
   
   See SHORT CYCLING WATER PUMP
   
   Clicks may also be heard at water tanks and plumbing systems due to thermal expansion or contraction as surrounding temperatures change.
6. Clunking noises at the water pressure tank
   
   Watch out: look for loose or inadequately supported water piping or controls that are being jolted or moved when the pump turns on or off
   
   Also see WATER HAMMER NOISE DIAGNOSE & CURE
7. Dripping noises at the water tank
   
   usually mean that there is a leak to be found and fixed.
   
   See DRIPPING WATER SOUND SOURCES
8. Grinding noise at the water pressure tank:
   
   Watch out: if the grinding is actually coming from the water pump its impeller is obstructed or damaged and needs immediate repair to avoid further damage to the pump.
9. Humming noises at the water tank
   
   may be caused by water entering or leaving the tank or surrounding piping, or you may be hearing pump vibration noises transmitted mechanically through metal piping.
   
   Watch out: if the humming noise is coming from the pump motor itself it is having trouble starting. Turn off the pump and call for immediate repair. The risk is further damage that destroys the pump or at worst, an overheating electrical wire or control that risks a fire.
   
   Also see HUMMING NOISES where we list other sources of humming sounds found in or around buildings.
10. Snap crackle or pop noises at the water tank:
    
    Above we warn about electrical failures and fire risk if these noises are trace to an electrical control, device, motor, or connection.
    
    For rooftop water tanks also see TEMPERATURE CHANGE & ROOF NOISE
11. Screaming or shrieking noises at the water tank
    
    may be an effect of water velocity moving in and out of the tank or through nearby piping. Changes in pressure and and in rate of water use may explain why the sound comes and goes.
    
    See WATER PUMP NOISE DIAGNOSIS that may include shrieking or screaming and see notes below about whistling sounds.
12. 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.
    
    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.
    
    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.
    
    Also see ELECTRIC MOTOR NOISE DIAGNOSIS - bad bearings, screaming motors that may include a failing water pump motor
13. Whistling noises at a water tank are caused by water velocity or changes in water velocity.
    
    See WATER SUPPLY PIPE WHISTLE NOISE - whistling or other high-pitched screaming noises from pipes
14. Water Heater Tank Noises
    
    The water heater is also a storage tank for hot water in many systems. Clanks, bangs, hissing, and bumping sounds are often traced to a water heater in which there are lime deposits or other troubles.
    
    See NOISE, WATER HEATER

Find The Water Tank Noise Source

The start and stop of water pumps or surrounding equipment (a water softener entering regen mode, or make-up water entering a heating boiler) can often help us find the cause of water tank noises as well as pointing to the actual device that is making the noise.

At SOUND EVENT LOG we suggest just what information should be recorded to help track down the source of building sounds & noises.

Take note of the relationship between when a water tank noise is heard and events such as

• water is turned on
• water is turned off
• a pump starts
• pump stops
• temperature changes
• even more subtle observations such as the time of day at which the noise occurs may point to an increase in water use, or for municipal water supply systems, a variation in the water supply pressure from the municipal water main.

At SOUND CONTROL in BUILDINGS

you will find articles on noise or sound transmission control - methods for reducing unwanted building noise levels through building design, insulation, sound isolation, and noise barriers

 

Reader Comments and Q&A

On 2023-03-23 by InspectApedia Editor - delay in pressure switch operation may be a sign of debris clogging the pressure port

@ben,

Usually when there is a delay in pressure switch operation (pressure drops below the CUT-IN pressure and later the pump turns on after a delay) that's a sign of debris clogging of the pressure port on the pressure controls witch or clog in the tubing that brings water pressure to the switch.

That's not a pressure tank issue.

Air hissing noise, depending on the type of pressure tank you have (bladderless) can be an air volume control trying to add air to the pressure tank, or it could be air being released from a snifter valve if your pump is in the well and your system uses that control.

(Search InspectApedia using the on page search box for SNIFTER VALVE to read those details)

On 2023-03-22 by Ben - more on water tank noise like blowing across the top of a soda pop bottle - low pitched moan or whistle

Pump cycles on at 20 psi...pumps to approx 50 psi...charges system ...pump stops ...I wait and watch psi slowly drop to 20 , in 6 - 7 mins. All the while pump is off and PSI gradually drops I hear what sounds like air at the pressure tank ? Air ,or Water , something is hissing like a Cobra ...

I'm in an extremely Dry, cold arid climate . I think I may have a decent ? Workaround ...{ please chime in W/ better ideas } ? I'm not touching the " Spaghetti " Main valve off the copper well line, so I will splice into the PEX line before the Tank place a PSI gauge in the line ,then place a new valve in the line ... all before the tank and existing gauge etc

Therefore ,if I bring the system up to pressure , shut the new valve in the PEX down , turn power to pump off ...and observe if it is in the line coming from well and buried... or somewhere in the tank ?

There are no drips or running toilets etc so thats where I'm at ... let me say I love this site ,and appreciate all advice sincerely Ben

...

UPDATE ...So I spliced in a valve in the PEX line just before the pressure tank .I then let the system pump up to pressure , which it gladly does ,when the pump kicked off I closed /shut the valve and tripped power to the pump , I did not put a psi gauge in the line to the well like I wanted too ...

now I observed the system from the valve to the tank , pressure gauge ,and house side ... The gauge held steady at 40 PSI , and I noticed I didn't hear what I thought was Air hissing ...leading me to believe it was water I had heard ,leaking Back ?

There is no check valve that I see in my system near the tank , I've been in this house for 30 years , same psi tank ... I would rather replace a tank ,than have to dig ! but I dunno

On 2022-07-28 by InspectApedia-911 (mod) - repetitive moaning bass pipe sound at water tank

@FredL,

Let's start with the diagnostics at

WATER PRESSURE STOPS, RETURNS 

I suspect that there is either water running somehwere in the building or there is a leak in your well piping or foot valve and that you're hearing a noise associated with the pump cycling on an doff.

On 2022-07-27 by FredL

References: 100' 6" diameter well 65' from a river [so recovery is no issue]; 80gl Pressure Tank; 1" PVC supply line to house; 3/4" copper supply line in house; 1/2" copper lines to frost free spigots.

Issue: Pressure drops at any faucet to about 10 psi and then a 1 second [or so] moaning bass pipe sound [like you are blowing across a pop bottle top].

It occurs about every 9-10 minutes like clock work if any spigot is dripping.

Please advise on cause and cure. Regards, Fred L

On 2021-12-27 by InspectApedia Com Moderator - Why does my bladder tank chirp when the pump shuts off

@Tim,

I don't know, but if you're sure the noise is coming from the tank and not the control pr pump,, it could be that the opening to the bladder is beginning to stick closed or partly so.

On 2021-12-27 by Tim

Why does my bladder tank cherp when the pump shuts off

On 2020-05-17 by danjoefriedman (mod) - bladder tank "sings" or "whines" when hot water faucet turned on

Mike

Try slightly closing the main water shutoff for the building or the water shutoff into the water heater, just slightly - say a half turn.

If the noise changes then we're probably hearing a water velocity problem.

On 2020-05-17 by Mike z

my water heater or the bladder tank "sings" or "whines" when hot water faucet turned on? Seems like its getting worse

...

Continue reading at WATER TANK DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

Or see WATER TANK NOISE FAQs - questions & answers about the causes of & repair of noises at water pressure tanks posted originally at this page.

Or see these

Recommended Articles

• AIR DISCHARGE at FAUCETS, FIXTURES
• PLUMBING SUPPLY PIPE NOISE
• WATER HAMMER NOISE DIAGNOSE & CURE
• WATER PUMP PRESSURE SWITCH NOISES
• WATER PUMP NOISE DIAGNOSIS
• WATER SUPPLY PIPE WHISTLE NOISE
• WATER TANK BUBBLING / GURGLING NOISE DIAGNOSIS
• WATER TANK DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR - home
• WATER TANK NOISE DIAGNOSIS

Suggested citation for this web page

WATER TANK NOISE DIAGNOSIS at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.

Or see this

INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES: ARTICLE INDEX to WATER SUPPLY, PUMPS TANKS WELLS

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