If you’re hearing a whistling sound coming from the plumbing in your home in Arizona or Nevada, this may seem like a cause for concern. However, this does not always mean an expensive repair or replacement is in your future.
Some home plumbing repairs are minor, but if you feel you cannot solve the problem yourself, then it may be time to hire a professional. Our Ambient Edge technicians provide round-the-clock service so that you don’t have to fix a problem that wakes you up in the middle of the night. Call us. We are proud to provide our customers with a 100% satisfaction guarantee, which includes our being punctual and efficient on all our service calls.
Whistling Water Heater
There are several reasons why your water heater may be whistling. Let’s take a look at a few.
Valve Issues
You may either have a loose drain valve or an issue with the Temperature Pressure Relief (TPR) valve. The drain valve is located at the bottom of the water tank. If it is loose, this can allow air to enter the heater, which causes the whistling that you hear. Interestingly, if you have not used your drain valve to drain your tank in a while, you may hear a whistling or other strange noises due to the build-up of sediment at the bottom of the tank.
If the whistling is coming from the TPR valve, this may be a sign of a major problem. Another aptly named valve, the purpose of the TPR valve is to release the pressure from inside the heater only when it builds up to a dangerous level. If the pressure is able to reach that level, then there may be something wrong with the tank.
Cracked Tank
A water tank can become corroded over time. When this happens, the wall of the tank weakens, and this can lead to cracks and, subsequently, leaks. If your whistling is coming from a cracked tank, then you need an emergency repairman to fix the tank immediately. Else, the crack can grow larger, and you risk suffering a catastrophic flood situation in your home.
Cold Water Inlet / Hot Water Outlet
Near the top of your water heater’s tank, you can find the water inlet and outlet. Over time, these features can wear out, more often on the hot water outlet. When they do, you may hear a whistling sound.
What to Do for a Whistling Water Heater
Just like electricity, before you try to solve any problems with your water heater, you should always turn it off first. You should also wait until the temperature of the water tank drops so you don’t burn yourself. From there, try to tighten the connections on the heater, then examine the heater for signs of corrosion.
If you see moisture on or near your water tank, you may have a leak. If you turn the water heater back on and you still hear whistling, then it’s time to give a professional a call.
Whistling Pipes
If your pipes are whistling, this could be the result of either deterioration or a build-up of minerals in your pipes. The key is to find exactly where the whistle is coming from.
The best way to do this is to turn on one faucet at a time and see if the whistling is coming from that particular faucet. For instance, turn on the cold water for your bathroom sink, then turn it off. Then turn on the hot water. Is it either of those? If so, is the sound coming from the faucet itself, or from the plumbing underneath? This is great to know in advance because even if you can’t fix it yourself, you can give a plumber a better idea of where to start.
In some cases, if you can’t find the source of the whistling from a particular faucet inside the house, then the problem may actually lie with your water meter.
Toilet Whistling
If the source of the whistling is your toilet, this is likely related to the toilet’s fill valve, which may slowly be leaking. To diagnose the problem, remove the lid of the toilet tank and tighten the fill valve until the whistling stops. This will provide you with a temporary fix until you can repair or replace it. And, of course, if that doesn’t work, call a professional plumber for help.
Is Your Home Plumbing Whistling? We Can Help!
If you’re in Nevada or Arizona, and you’re experiencing whistling plumbing, our technicians can help. We understand that the idea of fixing your plumbing can be intimidating, and we are happy to help. Simply fill out our contact form, or call us. Don’t let plumbing issues sit, or you risk experiencing the devastating effects of a flood in your home. Call us now!