Your home’s mysterious noises can make it seem like a scary place, but thuds in the pipes, rustling in the attic and scratches against windows are not supernatural.
They are, however, a cause for concern — especially for your bank account.
Every creak, hiss and clank coming from your pipes or walls is a cry for help to fix these problems before they cost you even more money.
Do you think your home is trying to tell you something? Click on the sounds below and learn how you can fix the problem.
1. Hiss…
Toilets that run constantly or don’t flush properly are a common problem.
To fix a toilet, adjust the float to control the water level in the tank — then replace the flapper valve before adjusting the chain length between the handle and the flapper. If the chain is broken or corroded, replace it.
See How to Remove and Replace a Toilet for more details.
2. Drip…Drip…Drip…
Leaky faucet? Turn off the water supply before removing the fixture’s cover and handles; these are held on with screws on the valves.
Now remove the old worn washer and replace it with one of the same size and thickness. Then reassemble the pieces in reverse order.
Read: How to Repair a Leaky Faucet
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3. Thud…Thud…Thud…
The thumping sound often heard when water to a faucet or other plumbing fixture is turned on or off is called water hammer. It almost sounds like a jackhammer in your walls and it’s caused by a sudden change in water pressure in the pipes.
You can prevent it by installing a water hammer arrester or water expansion tank in the water line near your hot water heater.
Both these devices work by providing a compressible cushion of air that acts as a shock absorber to reduce spikes in pressure in the waterline. Watch this video to find out more.
Great idea using actual sounds.It helps to really identify problems sounds.