“Hiss” or “Whoosh” from pipe vibration and orifice pressure reduction. “Splashing” or “Babbling Brook” sounds from water flowing around the pipe. Rapid “beating/thumping” sounds from water spray striking the wall of the soil cavity. Small “clinking” sounds of stones and pebbles bouncing off the pipe.
Plink. Plink. It's the sound of water droplets falling one after another, maybe from a leaky faucet or through a cracked ceiling. It's the kind of sound that can keep you up all night.
Water leaks in underground, pressurized pipes may make many different sounds: “Hiss” or “Whoosh” from pipe vibration and orifice pressure reduction. “Splashing” or “Babbling Brook” sounds from water flowing around the pipe. Rapid “beating/thumping” sounds from water spray striking the wall of the soil cavity.
Popping Sounds
If you hear one or more loud “popping” sounds coming from a wall in the residence, this noise could indicate pipes bursting. When water freezes, it expands in size. Consequently, chunks of ice in a frozen plumbing system sometimes press against pipe, blocking the flow of water.
Ground microphones and listening discs are among the basic tools that plumbers use to pinpoint leaks. Using sound technology, they can hear the noise of escaping water and dripping even through a layer of concrete.
First, check the meter measuring the water being used in the house and notice how it moves. Then turn off every faucet and toilet, plus any other appliances connected to water within the property. Check the meter again to see if it is moving. If it is, you have a leak somewhere in the house and it could be underground.
For plumbing leaks, it's important to hire a professional and experienced plumber who has the correct equipment to locate leaks. Plumbers have leak detection equipment that can quickly and accurately detect the source of leaks.
Fixing an exposed pipe in a crawl space or basement is $150 while repairing a leaky pipe inside a wall starts at $150 and can go up to $350 or more. A pipe in the wall behind a kitchen cabinet will cost $500; if the faulty pipe is in a ceiling, it can cost $700 to $2,500.
Like most plumbing problems you'll encounter, water leaks don't fix themselves. A pipe leak won't magically go away. If you procrastinate, or leave it to “next weekend,” that water damage is only going to get worse.
Watch the Water Meter
Turn off all water faucets in your home and make sure the washing machine and dishwasher are not running. Check the water meter and make a note of the numbers you see. Come back in an hour and check again. If the numbers have changed, there's a leak somewhere.
Damage and Rot
That leak may appear small where you see it, but chances are it's leaking more in places you can't see. That standing water can seep into your foundation and cause cracks; it can cause your wood beams to rot; and it can cause your pipes to rust and deteriorate, making the source of the leak even bigger.
Usually, a pipe leak can go undetected for weeks or even months before showing obvious signs of damage.
When detecting these leaks, professionals will use electronic location equipment and acoustic tools to find out the origin point of the leak. These services typically cost between $99-700 depending on how deep and severe the issue is.
To make matters worse, loud noises coming from your piping can actually be an indicator of a bad plumbing problem or series of plumbing problems in your pipes. If left untreated, these clogging and drainage issues can become disastrous over time.
Fortunately, noisy pipes are not often cause for concern if dealt with properly. The issue usually lies with simple issues that you can either handle yourself, or that can be dealt with through a routine call-out.
Can leaky pipes make you sick? Yes, a leaky pipe can make you sick from mould or from sewer gases.