Do screeching and irritating loud noises fill the air every time you turn on your taps? Do you have to cover your ears every time someone tries to wash their hands or clean the dishes? Noisy taps can cause a major headache. With that said, fixing the issue can be pretty straightforward so before you get straight on the phone to a local plumber, you should consider doing your best to combat your noisy taps.
If you’re handy with DIY, you should be able to pinpoint the cause of your noisy taps and stop that screeching once and for all. To save you time doing so, know that noisy taps usually come as a result of one or more of the following 4 problems:
1. Mineral Deposits in the Aerator
The cause of your noisy taps could be down to a build-up of mineral deposits in the aerator, the water flow device found at the tip of modern taps. This is a very common issue and should be the first check you make.
Remedying this issue is a simple task. Unscrew the aerator and run the taps. If the noise is no longer an issue, you can be sure that the aerator just needs to be replaced. Buy a new aerator, screw it and wave goodbye to your noisy taps.
2. Worn/Incorrect Washers
Another very common cause of noisy taps is the use of worn out washers or washers that aren’t the right size for your taps. To see if this is the problem, you’ll need to turn off the water supply and deconstruct your taps. Once you’ve removed the handles on the taps, remove your old washers and swap them out for a new set of washers. Put your taps back together and turn on the water supply to check if the noises are still an issue.
3. High Water Pressure
High water pressure can also be a root cause of screeching and noisy taps. If you think high water pressure may be your issue, you can test your plumbing system with a pressure gauge. If the results show water pressure levels over 80 psi, this may be the cause of the problem. To resolve a high water pressure issue, install a pressure regulator on your main water line. This should serve to put an end to your noisy taps although you may require specialist help for the installation.
4. Ageing Plumbing System
If none of the above 3 issues appear to be the root cause, your noisy taps may be a result of an ageing plumbing system. In older houses, where scale and debris has built up over a number of years, water will have great trouble getting through. This will result in noisy taps and a noisy plumbing system. In such cases, you might need to have your pipes replaced outright. This can be a relatively complicated job and one that you are advised to hire a plumber to complete.
As mentioned, living with noisy taps can take its toll on your patience. Get rid of that headache and rectify the issue that’s at the root cause of the noise. Remember, if in doubt at any stage when conducting plumbing repairs, call in expert assistance.New Paragraph
