Creaking/ticking pipes when heating is on

[jamenergy]

Hi,
(will start by saying I'm glad such a forum exists)

I just moved into a property, and when the central heating comes on, there are periodic ticking/creaking noises coming from certain parts of the house.

Based on some rough internet research, it seems like this could be due to expanding pipes fitted too tightly to something, or something like that.

I have a few questions that may have obvious answers, but I literally know nothing.

1) How likely is it that it's the expanding pipes/fitting issue?
2) What kind of method would you use to locate the offending pipe precisely?
3) Other people have dealt with this by inserting some kind of felt into a joist? What is a joist anyway?
After a bit of googling, it looks like some kind of small clip for securing pipes? Can someone find a good picture of one for me?
4) Can someone recommend a solution/material, and give an example of the product online?
5) Could I do the investigation/adjustment myself (with a friend/family member etc) or would it be a job only for experts?

thanks for your time, guys
really appreciate any help, even if you just want to redirect me to some other page discussing this

For 2), I was thinking...
Remove the carpet (maybe just half the room, it's fairly large, and I have some idea where the clicking is coming from already)
Try to remove some floorboards
Turn on heating
Listen around for the clicking?
It doesn't sound too hard in principle, but these things are always harder than they sound.

 

[townfanjon]

You are on the right lines pal, all what you have said is true. It sounds like the installers have thrown the system in, probably not using any clips. You will be able to lift carpets etc and secure some of the pipes. However if the pipes are tight around joists you may have to carefully chisel a bit off. You can try slide some pipe insulation up the pipes to areas where you cant reach.
One word of warning though dont make the job worse by securing the pipes too tight and STRESSING them.

 

[Plumbstar Tom]

its a difficult one as you may keep finding more issues. Joists are what the floor boards are fixed to. You will need to lift carpet then take your best guess as to which floor boards to lift.

 

[Best]

Copper pipes touching against the joists (the timber beams below the floor) will not creak much, if at all, providing the pipes are not jammed tight.
You need to lift floorboards anywhere you hear creaks & make sure the pipes have a little space each side of them & are not too close to top of joist where they will rub against bottom of floorboards. A few pieces of damp proof membrane or other heavy polythene will guarantee no noise. If any pipes coming up through floor are very tight to one side, they can creak also.
Make sure you have the pipes marked on floorboards & use light screws to put the boards down again.