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Our pipe recently have been making a fog horn-like sound, not near the faucet being used but somewhere in the basement. Is there valve that needs to be replaced? Thanks, Karen
You may need to allow your water arrestors to recharge. In some residences, pipes rise above the tee in order to trap air so that water does not "hammer" when turned on or off. Try turning off the water at the valve into your house. Open the hose bibbs, sink, bath and shower faucets and allow the cold water to drain out. Once drained, turn off the faucets and hose bibbs and turn the water supply valve back on. Start at the closest faucet to the water supply valve and turn them on throughout the house moving from closest to farthest. Air should sputter from each as you go. When you have all of the cold water running, air should be trapped in any arrestor pipes. Turn off the all faucets. Air should now be trapped in the arrestor pipes, softening the noise when water is turned off. If you do not have riser type arrestor pipes you may have cartridge type water arrestors. These are typically in the wall and are hard to get access to. The riser type water arrestor pipes can typically be seen in the attic running straight up 12" to 18" above the pipe tee dropping down the wall to your tub. Also, check and verify that any pipes in the basement are properly anchored. Good luck. If this has proven helpful, please remember to hit ACCEPT, otherwise I do not receive credit. Thank you.
I can try this, but the pipes aren't hammering. We're getting a horn sound when the water is turned on. It does not happen all the time, but some of the time and it doesn't seem to be tied to any one faucet. It sounds like it is coming from the main water shut off line valve, the pressure reducer, or the cold water shot off valve going into the water heater. Would any of these valves be the source of the problem? Would air in the pipes cause this horn sound at these valvle locations?
The pressure reducer may be the source. If it is not working properly your entire system may be under the strain of too high water pressure. Check to see if it is holding pressure down to it's setting. If not, the diaphragm may be shot in it. This is fairly easy to replace. If you continue to get the sound, see if you can isolate it from the hot and cold water side. Turn off valves one at a time through out the house on the cold side first, then the hot side to see if there is any affect. If you end up isolating a valve that is guilty, replace it. Good luck.
Experience: 30 years commercial construction and 23 years house remodeling projects