Insulate Noisy Plumbing Pipes

Learn how insulating noisy plumibing pipes can stop water hammer when the toilet is flushed. Find out how PVC pipes in the walls are the cause of the water hammer, and how easy it can be to get rid of…

LESLIE: Brian in South Dakota is dealing with a very noisy bathroom. Tell us about the problem.

BRIAN: Yes. We have three bathrooms in our 1997 home: two on the main level; one in the basement. When you flush the toilet of the master bathroom on the main level, it makes a horrific noise throughout the entire home. What would cause that?

TOM: Hmm. Water hammer. That plus the fact that the – there’s nothing better than plumbing pipes to transmit sound. Do you hear it when the water runs down the pipes or do you hear it when the toilet fills?

BRIAN: Hmm. I guess probably when it runs down the pipes.

TOM: Yeah. Not that unusual, Brian.

BRIAN: Really?

TOM: Yeah. I mean what happens is you have PVC pipes in the walls and – I love when like the powder room backs up against the dining room, so you get to listen to this during dinner (Leslie chuckles), you know?

LESLIE: Right during your holiday meal. Bam-bam-bam-bam-bam.

TOM: Yeah. Not that unusual, though. The walls do transmit the sound quite easily. And the only thing that you can do is you could consider blowing insulation into the walls that contain the plumbing pipes; that might quiet it down a bit.

BRIAN: OK. I’ll try that. Thank you.

TOM: (overlapping voices) Alright. Well, glad to give you that tip. Thanks so much for calling us at 1-888-MONEY-PIT.