Are you constantly hearing water running through your pipes? Are you wondering what the problem could be and what to do about it? We consulted with the experts in this field to give you the solutions below.
Water running constantly in your pipes can be solved in the following ways:
- Adjust the float
- Repair the flapper
- Shorten the refill tube
- Repair the slab leak in the water heater
It can be worrisome when you constantly hear water running through the pipes all the time. Therefore, keep reading to know the causes and the solutions. Also, learn about other strange noises that come from your water pipes, what’s causing them, and the solutions.
How To Stop Water That’s Constantly Running In Your Water Pipes
It can be difficult to identify what is causing water to run all the time in your pipes, yet you cannot see any leak.
The first thing to approach the problem is to turn off all the taps and water heater. In other words, make sure there is no water coming out from any water source. Then sit back and listen. If you can still hear water running, it could be due to several reasons.
The following are the solutions for water constantly running in your pipes and the probable causes:
Adjust The Float
Did you know your toilet can cause the water in your pipes to constantly run through the pipes? Well, this is absolutely true. To begin with, there is a gadget called the float in your toilet, responsible for controlling the flow and height of toilet tank water.
It works by refilling the tank and stopping the water from overflowing. When it is out of position, water will continue to run through your pipes.
The float can get worn out and damaged after long usage, such that it can no longer stop water from flowing. The result is water running endlessly from your water supply line and into your toilet tank.
You may fix the problem yourself or call a plumber to adjust the float to its original position.
Repair The Flapper
If your toilet float is working properly, then check the flapper. It seals the flush valve inside the tank to control the water flow into the toilet bowl. When it is faulty, water will run continuously into the bowl.
You can use colored water like blue food color to identify if this is the problem. Drop the food color into the tank and wait for at least an hour. If the blue color finds its way into the toilet bowl, then your flapper is damaged. Thus, the water in the bowl will turn blue.
You don’t have a watercolor nearby? Close the water supply to your toilet. With a marker, mark the level of the water inside the tank. Wait for around 10 minutes and open your tank. If the water level dropped below the mark, your flapper is damaged.
The solution is to call a plumber to replace it with a new one like the Korky Toilet flapper shown below. Or, if you are up to the task, you may replace it.
Have a look at this toilet flapper on Amazon.
Shorten The Refill Tube
An extremely long refill tube can cause water in the pipes to run without stopping. It is a tube that connects the overflow tube to the fill valve inside the toilet tank. You can easily solve this by shortening the tube.
Repair The Slab Leak In The Water Heater
You may hear water running when you are close to your water heater. This, however, only happens when the heater is on. The cold water enters the tank, gets heated, and then comes out through the water lines attached to it, producing a sound like running water.
To be sure that this is the reason, turn off the heater and wait for around 30 minutes to stop the water flow. There’ll be some water that has remained inside the tank. If you still hear running water, the slab is leaking. This means water is passing through continuously.
As soon as you detect this is the problem, call your plumber to assess and repair the damage.
In Addition To Running Water, What Are Other Water Pipe Problems?
Running water is a problem that can cause your utility bills to increase drastically. That is why you need to find the reason behind the sound of running water in your pipes. However, this may not be the only problem with your pipes. Other problems that should be of concern to you include:
Water Hammer
A water hammer occurs when water moving in the pipes suddenly stops when a valve or faucet is shut off. The abrupt stop of the water creates a wave under pressure producing a loud bang or, in some instances, a lighter bang.
This can be dangerous as the piping in your home can get damaged, including your property.
You can notice this by feeling a vibration as you close the faucet. Or, you may see the faucet shaking. This can be due to a variety of reasons, such as a dishwasher or washing machine shutting off their solenoid valves as fast as 30 milliseconds. This is faster than when you close the faucet yourself.
One of the solutions your plumber may provide is by adding water hammer arresters like the one shown below.
Have a look at this water hammer arrester on Amazon.
Trapped Air Bubbles
Loud bangs can also occur when air bubbles get trapped inside your water lines. A sign that this could be the issue is when you hear a bubbling noise as soon as you open a faucet.
High Water Pressure
When the water pressure in your pipes is too high, they can set off a humming sound that you will hear behind your walls and more so when your water is running. If your home draws water from a well, your water lines are more susceptible to high water pressure.
This problem can decrease the lifespan of your dishwasher and water heater, cause damage to the pipe joints, and increase your utility bills.
Clogged Pipe
A clogged pipe is another problem that can occur. When you hear a gurgling sound, this could be an indication that the pipes are blocked and cannot drain out excess water or waste efficiently. The obstruction could be anything from gunk, debris, or soap.
Loose Or Detached Fasteners
Fasteners attach pipes to your walls, ceilings, or floors. When they become loose or detach completely, there is nothing to hold your pipes. Hence, as water moves through, pipes will rattle, or you may hear them shaking as they bang against other material.
To silence this noise, call your plumber, who will secure the pipes back into place.
Have a look at these pipe fasteners on Amazon.
Worn Out Parts
The pipes in your home constitute several parts, such as valves. Other components include nuts, bolts, washers, etc. When they wear out over time, they may produce a whistling sound, which is sometimes high-pitched.
For example, whistling sounds are most common near the washing machine or dishwasher. This is because there’s a lot of water movement, therefore, the nuts, bolts, and washers are bound to get worn out faster.
Therefore, when you hear a whistling sound near these appliances, call your plumber to check them out and fix the problem.
Cost To Stop Water Running Continuously In Your Pipes
Since most of the causes of water running continuously in the pipes are due to a faulty toilet, the average cost of fixing a running toilet ranges from $50 to $400.
Remember, as you repair the parts in the toilet responsible for running water, the costs are dependent on the severity of the problem and the part that needs replacement.
Adjusting the float is not costly as it is an easy DIY job. To replace the flapper costs between $60 and $120, and to replace a toilet fill valve and shut-off valve costs between $60 and $150.
To fix water heater slab leaks can cost from $500 to as high as $4,000. This is because more complex tools are needed, and the job is labor-intensive. On the other hand, repairing a small portion of your plumbing can cost between $360 and $1992.
In Closing
Whenever you hear water running continuously in your pipes, you need to find out what the problem could be. It prevents the problem from worsening and can save you hefty water bills. There are yet other piping issues that you should be keen on, which you can identify by the sounds produced.
Piping in your laundry and bathroom does not have to be unsightly. You can do something about it by reading our previous posts below:
How To Hide Pipes Behind Bathroom Sink