More on the Foghorn / Moaning sound in my pipes
MAG
Thanks for the help yesterday. But my pipes are still making that
weird vibrating. I've eliminated the following possibilities:
1. Water-filled sections of pipe that are supposed to be shock-
absorbers. I drained all the pipes in the house and refilled. Still
moans.
2. Toilet ball cocks. When the foghorn sound was happening, I inspected
the float valves. Nothing going on there.
3. Connection to washing machine. I had worked on it recently so it was
suspect; messed with valves to no avail.
Have not yet had opportunity to check water pressure in the system. I
need to get a pressure guage.
Any other ideas appreciated!
Marc
Speedy Jim
----------------
> 2. "Toilet ball cocks. When the foghorn sound was happening, I
inspected
> the float valves. Nothing going on there."
Inspected, but did you actually shut the water off to the
toilet(s)?
Sometimes that's the only sure way to rule this cause out.
Jim
j...@noname.com
the valve that supplies the water to each unit(toilet, washer, or
something else that is letting water run through it) when the noise
appears... with me it was once the toilet and another time it was the
bathroom basin... with the bath basin you could feel the vibration in
the stem of the faucet for the hot water... what cause this is the wear
in the valve and the valve vibrates once water is passing it... kinda
like a whistle with the wind passing though it only it water and its
letting something vibrate, in your case the valve either in the toiet or
the bathbasin or the faucets that supply the water to the washer?????
MAG
> >
> > Marc
> the only way you gonna find the noise/fog horn problem is to turn off
> the valve that supplies the water to each unit(toilet, washer, or
> something else that is letting water run through it) when the noise
> appears... with me it was once the toilet and another time it was the
> bathroom basin... with the bath basin you could feel the vibration in
> the stem of the faucet for the hot water... what cause this is the wear
> in the valve and the valve vibrates once water is passing it... kinda
> like a whistle with the wind passing though it only it water and its
> letting something vibrate, in your case the valve either in the toiet or
> the bathbasin or the faucets that supply the water to the washer?????
>
Hmmm. Maybe I'm missing something. Here's the thing: the moaning starts
when water flow stops. So, toilet runs, refills the tank, all is well.
Float valve shuts off (nice and solid; water stops). Then maybe 3
seconds later I get the banshee moan. No water moving in toilet at all.
Now here's where it gets funny. This morning, while the pipes were doing
their foghorn call, I quickly spun the upstairs toilet water cutoff
valve to isolate the toilet as everyone's been advising me. Didn't get
it locked down before the moan stopped on its own, but I did get some
gooey black water dripping out of the valve. "Just a washer, let's
replace it" I thought. An amateur plumbing nighmare ensued. Bottom line
is that I have a new shut-off valve for that toilet.
I'm waiting for the moaning to start up again. Usually takes a day or
two after draining the pipes before I hear it again. Once it becomes
reproducible again, I'll isolate devices until I figure it out...
Marc
Dick Forbes
being a pressure drop valve or some such that was replaced? Is there a
one-way valve in line there? IIRC, one of my in-laws once had a similar
problem in a small town water supply and it was found that the
anti-backup/one-way valve was not functioning properly. A small piece if
calcification or other debris stopped the valve from closing properly, and
the house lines once pressurized (with the anti hammer devices containing
the line pressure), would allow some back flow into the street lines when
there was a significant pressure drop in the line. When everyone on the
street where you live uses water, the line pressure will drop quite a bit.
Have another look at your intake line, it may be the root of the problem.
Timing has an awful lot to do with the outcome of a rain dance.
Dick Forbes
"MAG" <Some...@somewhere.com> wrote in message
news:MPG.18276bafd...@news.md.comcast.giganews.com...
Mr Fixit
Ummmmmm...... maybe it will stop moaning after Halloween.... ?
MAG
gold...@telusplanetspam.net says...
> Back at the beginning of your query, didn't you say something about there
> being a pressure drop valve or some such that was replaced? Is there a
> one-way valve in line there? IIRC, one of my in-laws once had a similar
> problem in a small town water supply and it was found that the
> anti-backup/one-way valve was not functioning properly. A small piece if
> calcification or other debris stopped the valve from closing properly, and
> the house lines once pressurized (with the anti hammer devices containing
> the line pressure), would allow some back flow into the street lines when
> there was a significant pressure drop in the line. When everyone on the
> street where you live uses water, the line pressure will drop quite a bit.
> Have another look at your intake line, it may be the root of the problem.
>
> Timing has an awful lot to do with the outcome of a rain dance.
> Dick Forbes
Very good feedback. The pressure-reducer was replaced (about a year and
a half ago); it is possible that I got a dud or something.
The foghorn noise has happened on weekends, middle of the night, and
other assorted times not specifically correlated with local water use.
But, it's quite possible that odd things are going on with our water
supply.
Marc
MAG
gotmysha...@home.net says...
>
> Ummmmmm...... maybe it will stop moaning after Halloween.... ?
>
Hee hee. I'm not sure whether to call a plumber, or a priest...
Marc
F. Hugh
"MAG" <Some...@somewhere.com> wrote
> Hmmm. Maybe I'm missing something. Here's the thing: the moaning starts
> when water flow stops. So, toilet runs, refills the tank, all is well.
> Float valve shuts off (nice and solid; water stops). Then maybe 3
> seconds later I get the banshee moan. No water moving in toilet at all.
As I wrote on Sunday:
*Trust me on this:
*I had that happen to me this past summer and it drove me crazy! Anytime you
*turn the water on then off it would do it. It's exactly as you described:
*Foghorn. Turn it on and off over and over and you can almost play a tune.
*It ended up being one of the toilets. I just adjusted the float (bent it
*downward a little) in the tank it it stopped. Can't explain it. If you want
*to, try this: Go around and turn off all of the supply valves to your
*commodes. Then do the "water on/off thing". I betcha it will stop. If it
*does, turn one valve on and test again. Do it until you find out which one
*it is, then try adjusting the float.
When mine was doing it, you couldn't see the toilet water doing ANYTHING. No
ripples in the tank or the bowl. It's in the pipes. You need to isolate it
to find out which one it is. In my case, even if you turn the water on and
off at the other end of the house, it would do it. Don't think that's it's
NOT one of the toilets until you check.....
MAG
I think you are right. It was moaning like crazy last night, one long
continuous if somewhat muted foghorn blast. I checked the upstairs
toilet again by turning off the shutoff valve. Nothing. I ran
downstairs, tripped over the sleeping cat, and made it to the downstairs
bathroom before the moaning stopped. The pipe to the toilet was
vibrating quite a bit and there was a ripple effect in the tank. I
quickly spun down the shutoff valve. Moaning stopped! I opened it up
again and it started up again briefly.
So, I think I have a chronic leak from the tank into the bowl (this is
confirmed). Somehow when the level drops to a certain critical
threshold, I guess the float valve goes into shimmy mode, and is
aggravated by pressure fluctuations in the lines caused by other faucets
running/stopping.
This weekend I'll get a complete toilet repair kit and put all new
hardware in, first solving the leaky flapper valve then replacing the
float valve system and hopefully putting this sorry chapter to rest.
Thanks all.
Marc
ielliW sllaB giB
"MAG" <Some...@somewhere.com> wrote
> This weekend I'll get a complete toilet repair kit and put all new
> hardware in, first solving the leaky flapper valve then replacing the
> float valve system and hopefully putting this sorry chapter to rest.
and until you do, that noise will drive you CRAZY!!!!!!!!
Depending on the type of float you have (in the tank), try adjusting the
water level up or down a little, then see if it still does it. It's worth a
shot....
MAG
Fortunately for me, the only one who routinely uses that bathroom is the
cat, and she prefers her litter box to the toilet. So, I've got the
valve shut down, which so far has meant no moaning noise. I'm still
paranoid and continually listen for the noise.
Once flapper valve is fixed perhaps the existing float valve can be
tweaked as you describe. But I'll probably just get all new hardware
(couple extra bucks) rather than risk the need for a second Home Depot
run.
:-)
Marc
ielliW sllaB giB
"MAG" <Some...@somewhere.com> wrote
> Once flapper valve is fixed perhaps the existing float valve can be
> tweaked as you describe. But I'll probably just get all new hardware
> (couple extra bucks) rather than risk the need for a second Home Depot
> run.
It's O.K. They caught the sniper....
;-]