What’s That Banging Noise In Your Plumbing?

Many people, even if they are homeowners, tend to ignore the occasional banging and groaning of their plumbing pipes, especially if their home is older. Certainly, the systems in older homes tend to make more noise. but, more than likely, it could be something simple that is easily resolved before becoming a real nuisance.

There are several possible causes and solutions to the noises you hear coming from your pipes. You can do several things to try and narrow it down. If turning on the water creates the noise, then chances are a pipe is clanging against another object. Most of the time, you can track down the location of the problem by following the sound and vibration. A pipe could have become loose, striking a wall, or another pipe. The offending noise can then be silenced by creating a buffer with a piece of wood, rubber hosing, tape or insulation.

Sometimes, hot water will create a rumble of steam through your system, an indication to lower the temperature on your hot water heater. Pipes also have air chambers that cushion a shock effect that’s created when running water is suddenly turned off. These chambers can fail or become waterlogged, causing a “water hammer” sound. You can possibly clear this yourself by opening up the noisy faucet with the water turned off, to let it completely drain, so that the chamber can refill with air, restoring the cushion.

As always, whenever you have a concern about the plumbing in your home, it is a good idea to have your system inspected by your local plumbing professional to make sure that everything is functioning properly.

How to Choose the Right Water Heater for Your Home

A water heater provides the hot water you and your family need so it is important to choose the right one for your home.  Here are some tips to help you in your decision.

You will have to determine which fuel type for your water heater to buy.  This will be electric, natural gas, or propane gas.  Then you will have to think about the size of your family to pick the right capacity for your water heater.  They are measured by gallons and this number lets you know how many gallons can be heated at one time.  If you choose a water heater that is too small, you will run out of hot water when you are taking a shower or doing laundry.

If you choose a water heater that is too big, you will never need all of the hot water and will be wasting energy heating up more than you need.  It takes electricity to keep the water warm and the smaller heart you get, the cheaper your utility bill will be.

The next step is to measure the area where the water heater will go to determine what size will fit in that space.  You will need to measure the height and width to ensure that you don’t get one too big to fit the area.

Once you know what water heater you need, you can contact your local plumber to help you find the right one and install it for you.  They will make sure everything is connected correctly and working so that you have hot water when you need it.

Choosing a Replacement Water Heater

Replacing your water heater when it quits working is usually a high priority, but a trip to the local home improvement store can leave you feeling overwhelmed with all of the choices available.  You can make it easier by breaking the decision down into different considerations.

First, you will need to determine your energy source. Most traditional water heaters are either electric or gas, but you can also purchase one that is operated by a heat pump or powered by the sun. There are also tankless water heaters or indirect water heaters that operate with the home’s heating system.  You should find out if you have another option other than the type of water heater you were already using and compare the costs and operating efficiency of the two.

Next, you will need to select the right size for your water heater.  Each type of water heater will give you certain options, but you will need one large enough to keep you from running out of hot water during your peak usage.  However, you don’t want to pay for a tank larger than you need.  Besides the higher purchase cost, you will also have the continual cost of keeping that much water hot and ready for use.

Once you’ve narrowed down your choices, you will want to find one that is energy efficient to save on operating costs.  Your final decision will also be based on the different costs of the water heaters that match your criteria.

To make your decisions easier, you can call a plumber.  They can advise you on the right size for your household and answer any questions you might have.