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Author:
ginercook (FL)
I noticed that there is dripping sounds inside the wall after flushing all the toilets (2 toilets upstairs and another one downstairs), it starts with fast dripping sounds then slows down, lasts like 30-45 seconds. It is not likely from the plumbing system because there is no dripping sounds when I flush the toilets with the water supply turned off. What puzzles me is that the sounds of water filling the toilet is inside one wall while the dripping sounds is behind another wall when flushing the toilets (upstairs and downstairs) with water supply turned on. Hope you guys can help me, thanks a lot.
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Author:
hj (AZ)
it is probably just expansion of the water piping as warmer water flows through them. It will be rapid at first because that is when the maximum temperature change occurs. As the pipe warms up there will be less expansion so the sounds slow down. If you listened very carefully, you would probably hear the same sounds as the pipes cool off, but that process is much slower so it is hard to hear them.
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Author:
ginercook (FL)
Thanks for the input. It is summer and I am florida, and the water supply pipe only runs cold water, so I do not think there is much temperature change, do you still think that is the sound of pipe contracting? Sometimes, I still can hear the "dripping sounds" when I flush the toilet again right after the "dripping sound" from the first flush stopped (supposedly the temperature just equalized, right?). Thanks!
Edited 2 times.
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Author:
KCRoto (MO)
Thermal expansion and contraction occur at faster rates when the temperature difference between the outside air and the water inside the pipe are greatest. Cold water in high heat and hot water in the cold air have the same basic effect.
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Author:
Fixitangel (NC)
Agree with HJ and KC about THERMAL expansion/contraction of supply piping rubbing against studs/joists, etc. However, there is another possibility, which is PRESSURE expansion. This would be especially true if the supply pipes were CPVC or Pex. They will swell/contract with pressure, and depending on how well the pipes are supported and clamped, may rub and tweak a little when pressure in the pipes varies. I would not loose any sleep over it. Kinda like a tweaking tree branch outside the bedroom window. Get used to the sound, or cut the tree down.
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Author:
hj (AZ)
The water in the pipe is at "room temperature" and the water coming in will be at a different temperature, probably warmer, so expansion WILL take place.
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Author:
hj (AZ)
"Pressure expansion" would seldom have anything to do with flushing a toilet, and would be a fairly rare occurance except under certain specific situations.
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Author:
ravi102769 (VA)
If the toilet fill tubes do not have an air gap you could be siphoning from the tank. Try pulling the fill tube out of the overflow and see if the sound stops.
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Author:
ginercook (FL)
The situation gets worse, the "dripping sounds" can be heard not only after flushing the toilets, but also after turn the water faucets on. The sound is still only heard inside the same wall. Thanks
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Author:
KCRoto (MO)
The only real solution is to open the wall and change the strapping to something that doesn't rub as much, and putting some fiberglass batt insulation inside to control the noise. Theoretically, if you could actually get lubricant to the spot where the expanding pipe is rubbing on the strapping attaching it to the wall, it would stop the noise for the most part, but that isn't possible in any realistic scenario.
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Author:
ginercook (FL)
Yesterday, I put something under the flapper after I flushed the toilet to keep the water running. Surely, the "dripping sounds" appeared 30 seconds after I flushed the toilet, it lasted for 20 some seconds then stopped while the water was still running. Do you guys still think it is temperature contracting? Thanks
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Author:
KCRoto (MO)
The only reason that the sound stops is because the expansion/contraction is done. Once the pipe changes temperature again, it will make noise again.
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