I have long noticed that when I turn on the hot water tap in the bathroom, there is a popping noise in the wall about every 2 1/2 seconds. Now it has started in the kitchen wall when I turn on the hot water. Also want to note that the kitchen sound coincided with the arrival of freezing temperatures we are having right now. Anyone think it has to do with contracting and all those mysterious things that happen when cold things warm up? By the way, it didn't happen last year during cold weather. Of course, my concern is that I don't want a broken pipe in the wall and I am wondering if this noise is serious or not. It certainly is irritating. Thanks. Carole

-- Carole (carle@earthlink.net), March 03, 2002

Answers

could be the warming up of the pipes, ,or air in the lines,, I know when its freezeing out,, deep freeze,, air will get into the well pump,, sometimes. JUSt a thought

-- Stan (sopal@net-port.com), March 03, 2002.

I would shut off water, drain all the pipes (open several faucets), then close and turn water back on. Your water hammer reservoir may be waterlogged.

-- Rose (open_rose@hotmail.com), March 03, 2002.

I don't think it is connected to your water pipes at at all. I believe that if you further investigate you will find that the sound you are hearing is actually coming from your vents conected to the drain. If that is the case, there is nothing to be concerned with as it is simple contraction/expansion.

-- Tis I (really_tis_i@yahoo.com), March 03, 2002.

What type of pipes does your hot water run through? Do you have a water hammer plumbed in at the hot water tank? It could just be the pipes moving in their clampings when the temperature causes them to expand. They might be clamped too tightly kind of like barbed wire being clamped tightly to a fence post.

-- Emil in TN (eprisco@usit.net), March 03, 2002.

Our hot water pipes make noises as the hotwater is coming through the line. When I turn on the hotwater in the kitchen, I can tell it is almost there when I hear the pipe making noises. I've always supposed it is the expansion of the metal from the heat of the water.

-- LBD, Maryland (lavenderbluedilly@hotmail.com), March 03, 2002.

If your thermostat on the water heater is set to high or is malfunctioning it can cause steam bubbles in your lines. This can cause a severe water hammer efect.Not to mention dangerous overpresser and scalding hazards.

-- M.C.W.in Ark. (huntinmike@animail.net), March 03, 2002.

OK, I'm an idiot...what's a water hammer???

-- gilly (wayoutfarm@skybest.com), March 04, 2002.

water hammer happens when you shut the flow off suddenly and you hear a loud knocking. Lots of houses have water hammer arrestors, a valve that stops this from happening.

I would guess it's just expansion of your pipes from the temperature change.

-- Dave (multiplierx9@hotmail.com), March 04, 2002.

My in-laws water line does the water hammer thing really bad. If you turn the water off too quickly there's a huge thunk from the basement. We never had that problem until our check valve broke and had to be replaced. Now ours thunks too but still not a bad as the inlaws.

-- LBD, Maryland (lavenderbluedilly@hotmail.com), March 04, 2002.