Humming in water pipes

[dsearcy]

Has anyone come across what sounds like humming (Not water hammering) in the water supply lines in a home. Even with the water off, it will sound like Tibetan monks at a morning gathering. And if you have what is the problem and fix for something like this. Thanks,
Don

[Bruce A. King]

The anti-backflow valves on exterior faucets can make a humming sound when the water is first turned off for a few seconds.

Is it occuring all the time?

Make sure the water heater TPR is not discharging a little bit somewhere.

[Jack L. Gilleland]

Does it have gate valves? If the gate gets loose in the valve the least little bit of flow can send one chattering. Oh sorry, plus what Bruce said.

[Russel Ray]

What Jack said.

I had one a few years ago that only hummed when the water inside was turned on, but it was at all faucets, tubs, showers, etc. Since I have had some experience with those nasty gate valves, I suggested to my Clients (and the sellers, who obviously needed to find another plumber) that it was the gate valve. They used my plumber who replaced the valve, solved the humming problem, and told them that every gate valve in the county should be replaced.

[jking2]

If there is humming, there has to be flow somewhere. If there are no visible discharges, and there are under slab water lines, then it could be an underground leak, which could cause serious structural damage.

Jim King

[Jack L. Gilleland]

Good point, water is moving if it is making noise. What kind of heating system? Do they have a return on the HW line or a pump. Hopefully they don't have a leak. I chased a noise once in the water system, seemed like forever, and it turned out to be the transformer for the door bell attached to the same piece of wood as a cold water line. The hum was picked up by the water pipe and it sounded like a plumbing problem. Drove me crazy.

[ldapkus]

Originally Posted by dsearcy

Has anyone come across what sounds like humming (Not water hammering) in the water supply lines in a home. Even with the water off, it will sound like Tibetan monks at a morning gathering. And if you have what is the problem and fix for something like this. Thanks,
Don

Are you in the San Fransisco Bay Area??? There have been recent pro-Tibetan protests and it just may be a morning prayer gathering.

[John McKenna]

Toilet valves can hum when partially open with tiny particles.
It causes the sound to travel upline for some ways.

[Roy Horton]

try singing a few lines LOL

[sparksnmore]

Toilets are almost always the culprit if no water is being used, like John said.
The older type ballcocks with the long float rods.
Easy to check out, just push down gently on the float to locate which toilet is doing it.

I had a service call on one that was pretty loud that really frightened a lady one evening, she thought something was going to blow up.

[Kenneth Dolin]

Thant can be a bear to locate sometimes, any of the faucets or valves could have a torn washer that vibrates as water passes over it, causing the moan. as mentioned earlier toilet ballcocks, main gate valves, are some of the most common culprits. I just did one the other day and it was the cartrigde for the master shower.