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Noisy pipes? You are more than likely a victim of simple expansion and contraction

The ticking, clicking and cracking noises are a byproduct of the plastic drain lines that are rubbing against the wood framing members of your home. These pipes grow in size as they are heated by the hot water that passes through them. This does no damage to your home or your plumbing it’s natural.


The expansion is normal, but the associated noise we try and keep from happening but in some cases this is impossible to achieve.
The reason your previous homes were noise-free could be many. Perhaps the plumbing drain lines were cast iron and experienced very little movement when hot water passed through them. Plastic drain pipes are far superior to cast iron and will last longer than cast iron but they do expand and contract.


What is the solution to fixing noisy pipes?

At Raptor Plumbing we try to create larger holes thru wood openings and run drain lines with space between pipe and wood to keep this from happening but in some cases this is not possible. We cannot cut away wood or enlarge holes in joists or studs. There are strict limits to the notches and holes that can be made in framing members governed by building officials. We can compromise the structural integrity of your home if we take
away necessary wood.


Plastic has an enormous expansion-contraction coefficient. The material grows in size dramatically and will crack and pop if it rubs against anything. But the pain is twofold as you most probably know. Once the hot water stops flowing through the pipe, the plastic drain lines begins to cool and contract. It makes the same cracking noise as it shrinks back to its original size.


Exorcising these demons from your walls is not easy. Doing this almost always involves removal of the drywall or plaster. The contact zone will need to be enlarged if possible so that an air gap exists for the pipe to freely move. When we remove wood in one place this could move the contact of the plastic pipe further down the line creating noise in other places. The process could go on and on.