Residents of apartment buildings know firsthand about this phenomenon. Sometimes it is a barely audible hum, and sometimes it is felt throughout the riser or house. Today we want to talk about why the tap is buzzing when the water is turned on. At first glance, this is not a very serious problem, but sometimes it causes certain inconveniences. Let's figure out why this problem occurs and what methods exist to deal with it. There are many theories that explain why pipes hum. In practice, plumbers identify four main reasons that cause this phenomenon.
Bad or poorly done repairs
Understanding why the faucet is buzzing when the water is turned on, you first need to remember whether you have recently repaired plumbing equipment. If the answer is no, and the noise is repeated, then you need to find out if one of the neighbors recently carried out any work. In addition, you can call the service organization (housing and communal services), perhaps the plumbers, working in the basement, poorly connected the elements.
If you find out that such actions have taken place, then this may well be the reason why the tap is buzzing when the water is turned on. However, we'll fix it. Eliminating the buzz is not difficult. Poorly fastened pipes are fixed, and the hum disappears instantly. However, this may not be the only issue. If inexperienced plumbers have placed pipes very close, then vibration will inevitably appear. In this case, there is nothing left but to wrap each of them with foam insulation.
Excess pressure in the system
And we continue to talk about why the tap is buzzing when the water is turned on. One reason could be overpressure. You can determine it by the pressure of the water, it is usually very good, and when the tap is fully opened, the jet bursts out with noise and hiss. There is another way to diagnose. The buzz may appear if you open the faucet quickly. In this case, you need to devote time to this problem, or even better, call a plumber to assess the situation.
How dangerous is this phenomenon? The fact that it can lead to depressurization of the system. Moreover, you cannot reduce the pressure yourself, so you have to come up with something else. To reduce the load, you will need to install an air chamber. It is she who will dissipate pressure, as a result of which the hum will stop, and you can breathe freely.
Exceeding the upper limit of normal
Since it's not always easy to understand why a faucet is buzzing, it's best to seek professional help. Forplumbing is a common job, he will quickly assess the situation and find the right solution. Sometimes he may be powerless and advise you to contact the water service provider. If water enters the system under high pressure, you can’t do anything with a buzz on your own.
Here the logical question would be: what is the normal water pressure in the system? Usually this figure is 2 atm. This indicator is optimal for the operation of a washing machine or dishwasher. However, the upper limit is 6 atm. In this case, you need to deal with the service provider until you find the best solution.
Self-installation of airbox
Let's continue to consider cases where we are able to remedy the situation. First of all, you need to decide why the tap is buzzing when you turn on the water. The reasons may still lie in excess pressure, however, if the indicators do not exceed the critical level of 6 atm, then you may well make your own adjustments.
To do this, you only need to make your own camera. To do this, you need to use an additional section of pipe. The second option is even more preferable - this is the use of a factory muffler. After installing such an element, the pipes will experience less stress and will last much longer.
Clogged pipes
If your home, and, accordingly, plumbing equipment is 10 years old or more, then you should not be surprised that the tap is buzzinghot water. The reasons for this are simple - it is a decrease in the diameter of the pipes due to a banal blockage, which leads to vibration, and it leads to the appearance of noise. It is very well transmitted through the pipes, and you can usually hear it not only in one apartment, but throughout the riser.
First you need to diagnose and determine if your pipes are really clogged. To do this, you will need to disconnect the mixer from the pipe and carefully inspect it. The dirt accumulated on the walls clearly demonstrates the overgrowth of the hole. This may be one of the reasons why the faucet is buzzing. The instruction on how to clear the blockage is as follows.
Most often, dirt is deposited not in the middle, but at the ends of the pipeline. Therefore, you can try to clean them yourself. I would like to note one more point: the problem of clogging is typical for propylene, as well as plastic plumbing products. At the same time, the fact that the diameter of the mixer hoses usually differs from the size of the pipes themselves contributes to the deposition of dirt in certain places.
Ways to clear blockages
You are mistaken if you think that it is worth pouring some unique liquid like Mole into the system and the problem will be solved. You will have to work on your own. Blockage can be cleared in three ways:
- Hydraulic flushing.
- Pneumatic flushing.
- Mechanical cleaning.
Let's first look at the flush option. This isflow of water. To do this, it’s not enough just to connect the hose, so they use electric, fairly powerful pumps. However, in this way, blockages can only be eliminated in pipes of small diameter. This method is not suitable for thick products. In this case, heavy particles will still have time to settle on the walls.
How mechanical cleaning works
This option is acceptable only if the blockage appeared in certain sections of the pipes. To do this, the water must be turned off. This is the first condition that must be met before starting any repair work. The disconnected pipe is cleaned with a thick wire, and for the best effect, a ruff is attached to it. If it is not possible to clean the hole (deposits on the walls have petrified and become part of the system), then this section is cut out and replaced with a new one. And to eliminate further problems, it is necessary to tightly fasten all the elements using sealed rubber gaskets. Please note that even when disassembling the structure, you need to remember the location of all elements.
Mixer failure
This may also be one of the reasons why the faucet starts buzzing when the water is turned on. It should be noted that this is the simplest problem that is fixed in a matter of minutes. Diagnostics can be carried out independently, for this, open the tap and observe. If the pipe starts to vibrate, then either a faulty mixer or a shut-off valve is to blame. To solve this problem, it is necessary to turn off the water in the riser and proceed with a simple repair.
Most often in this case, the cause is simply a worn gasket. Remove the valve and carefully inspect it (the gasket is located at the end of the stem). If it has taken a pointed shape, it is necessary to replace it. After that, we assemble the structure and put it in place. After this procedure, the noise should disappear. We add that this only applies to old mixers that are equipped with crane boxes. If you have a modern single-lever or ball valve, then look for the reason elsewhere. In these designs, the gasket that blocks the flow of water is simply absent, so it cannot be the cause of noise in the pipes. By the way, if you still decide to disassemble the faucet, you can immediately change the faucet to a more modern one.
Instead of a conclusion
We examined the most common reasons why the tap is making noise, buzzing, whistling. Now you can, without the help of plumbers, make simple repairs and eliminate the annoying source of noise. It is not worth ignoring such a symptom for a long time, because, in addition to the factor that irritates the ear, it signals that there are problems in the water supply system, and if measures are not taken, they can lead to more serious consequences. Therefore, without delay, carry out the necessary diagnostics, and if necessary, call plumbers.
