Hello sorry if this message doesn’t go to the correct part of the site I’ve just joined and need help. Problem I’ve got is whenever I run any tap in my house there is a loud droning noise a bit like a ship. You hear the noise anywhere downstairs or upstairs but especiallyunderneath the kitchen sink where the stopcock is! If I open one tap anywhere the noise is there if I open another tap the noise gets louder if I open theboth taps up full or even a thirdtap full the noise gets really loudand then you hear it disappearfast, after it has disappeared andI close the 3rd tap the noise is still not there, after I close 2ndtap the noise is not there, and obviously when I close the lasttap it stops. But when I startagain and open any tap sameagain the loud noise is there!Don’t think it’s water hammer asthere’s no banging. I recentlyfitted a new downstairs toiletand sink with new mixer tap. Ican’t really remember if theproblem was as bad before I installed the new stuff. I’veturned the inside mains of at stopcock and also outside mainsto have a look at the stopcock, changed the washer on thestopcock but still nothing. For a moment when I changed thenew washer I ran the kitchen tapand there was no noise at all,but it only lasted for a min thenit returned. If I get to the bottomof it I’m sure I’d manage to fix itmyself but just don’t knowwhere to start.
- Thread starter Glasgowman
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Welcome to the forum. Although you can post in any forum, the USA forum is here in case of local regs or laws
S
Sharp Point
You say you changed the washer on the stopcock, was the jumper( the part you put the washer on ) really loose? Sometimes they wear so much, the flow of water can spin them and cause a horrible noise.
Yes the part that washer goes onto was loose, but thought it was almost as loose as a new one that I had purchased. I would have fitted new insert but new one was to small to just took back to shop. You reckon I just need a new stopcock insert?
S
Sharp Point
S
Sharp Point
It’s worth a try, they’re only a few quid. Not saying it’s definitely the problem, but it’s worked for me so many times.
Hi,
Its a small steel cyliner fitted inline after the stopcock that absorbs pressure fluctuations when a tap is opened.
Its a small steel cyliner fitted inline after the stopcock that absorbs pressure fluctuations when a tap is opened.
The noise is made throughout the full house from any tap that is opened but but is loudest at the stopcock. I’ll try replacing the inside of the stopcock first of all and see if that helps, thanks for the reply’s
Would a new tap insert do (the bit that screws into the pipe to shut of the water) or a full new stopcock?
S
Sharp Point
Honestly don't think it's your stoptap at all... Going to be a tap cartridge on one of your taps. Do you have any lever taps, 1/4 turn taps? If so isolate them all to eliminate the noise turning one on at a time until the noise reappears then you will know which tap is the culprit. By isolate I mean on a isolation valve hopefully on the pipes leading to taps.
I don’t have any lever taps or quarter turn taps. I did install a new waterfall tap in a new toilet suite but that’s brand new. Any tap that I open up downstairs or upstairs you hear the noise coming throughout the full house but when I open cupboard where stopcock is the noise is really loud
Cold water tank in the loft? If so check here by gently pulling the ball cock up to stop the water.
Yes the new waterfall tap that I fitted. I isolated that wee while ago cold and hot
Yeah I tried that a wee while back, isolated the cold and hot on the new waterfall tap and the noise is still there. Doesn’t matter what tap I open up the noise is still there. But any tap that I open up the loudest part of the noise is when I open cupboard where stopcock is at. Any tap that I open the noise is there if I open another tap it gets louder then if I open a third tap it gets really loud and at that point it disappears with the 3 taps on full. If I then close the 3rd and 2nd tap so that the last of the 3 taps are running the noise has still vanished then I close the last tap. Start again from any first tap and the noise is back
Could be a ballvalve in a toilet, could well be the stoptap itself. Shock absorber like Martin said could work but I'd rule everything else first as they are quite pricey.
Isolate the cold main externally and change the stopcock I would guess it is the loose jumper type and has failed . Cheers kop
Thank you I’m going to give that a go. The internal part of my stopcock thread is 1 1/4” are these easy to pick up? Got one from toolstation but internal part was smaller than the one I have
Is there a check valve fitted above the stopcock. Some cheap versions of these make an awful noise when water is passing through them.
post a picture when your back home one of us will be able to help you out . cheers kop
That’s a few pics uploaded of under the sink, and there is a check valve above the stopcock as you will see
If I was to replace the stopcock and check valve to try and eliminate the problem, would there be enough room in between the pipes to remove and re fit? Just think it looks a tight fit that there would be no room to remove check valve and stopcock once nuts loosened without having to pull on some pipes? Thanks
Hi mate there will be enough play on the pipework to change both the NRV and Stopcock you can get them from any screwfix branch . Cheers kop
Thanks, do you reckon the new stopcock and nrv would be exact same length as the ones that are fitted atm so I didn’t need to mess around with pipe work above or below the valves? Thanks again for all the great help guys
Remove the check valve and hammer the internals out of it then refit. This will help eliminate the valve as your problem and can be properly replaced at a later date.
Will be a straight swap I would guess use the existing nuts if you need to . Cheers kop
Thanks deg & kop. I will be trying it as soon as I get parts next week, now feeling confident that this will be the problem and hopefully get it solved 🙂
Please fit the valves the correct way round, should be arrows on the sides. 😉
Before I even attempt to do this, is changing over a stopcock a fairly easy job for a DIY’r? Could I run into major problems? I fitted isolation valves etc to new toilet and new sink and I managed it without having any leaks etc. Thanks
Not sure on your water system, but you have to isolate water from the inlet side if the stopcock to change the stopcock.
I'm not sure what that will involve in your situation, but it would be worth investigating.
I'm not sure what that will involve in your situation, but it would be worth investigating.
I know how to isolate the outside mains going to my stopcock, I’ve had the internal part of stopcock removed before to replace washer. Was just wondering with the water stopped is it relatively easy for a confident DIY’r to change the full stopcock? Thanks
Judging by what you've managed to do so far, I'm confident you'll be fine for what that's worth. As long as your mains can be properly isolated from outside your property, which you state you can and already have done the worst that can happen is a weep (provided you are keeping the original nuts and olives in place) and you could either remedy that yourself with our advice if it comes to that or at "worst" have to call a plumber whilst leaving your water turned off.
S
Sharp Point
Doesn’t the 22mm pegler stop tap have the finer thread nuts, compared to the wider thread of 22mm fittings? I’d be tempted to get a pair of grips around the old olives and gently twist them off and then put the new nuts/ olives on... with a few wraps of ptfe for good measure
S
Sharp Point
If he’s got in stripped down, may as well
replace there and then. Working in kitchens units is a pig, get in get done get out🙂
not hard to sort out if you have simple plumbing skills as above pegler thread rate is finer but easy swop . cheers kop
Managed to buy a 22m stopcock and 22m double check valve from toolstation tonight, not had the chance to attempt it yet. The stopcock looks same length, but the new check valve does look longer than my existing one and I’ve not got much room to play around with copper pipe etc, maybe I should just call the experts
If I had more copper pipe to play with I think I could manage it, unless I could find a shorter double check valve than I bought?
Sounds to me like you have a valve that isnt open all the way somewhere. Check your main water shut off first.
Managed to squeeze the job in this morning replaced stopcock and double check valve. Problem solved! Thanks so much for all the help. Is it normal for the water to have a sight brown colour when taps are ran especially the hot ?
Nice job, yes it's normal to have discoloured water for a bit after a drain down.
Well done bud not hard this plumbing lark is it normal to have discoloration for a while run taps till clear and jobs done . Cheers kop
Thanks a lot mate and thanks for all feedback and help, really appreciated. No doubt be back for help soon lol as doing a bathroom soon 🙂
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