Why Does My Plumbing Sound Like A Foghorn?

The plumbing system in your home is a complex one full of many different components. If you start to hear strange noises similar to a foghorn coming from your plumbing, there’s reason to be concerned. You should explore all of your options and try to get to the bottom of the issue immediately.

If your plumbing sounds like a foghorn, you have a problem somewhere within your plumbing system. A foghorn sound can be caused by your toilet, shower, water pipes, water heater, and many other components of your plumbing system.

A foghorn sound is similar to a deep, reverberating hum that rings in your ears even after the sound has stopped. Plumbing systems make many noises when things are amiss and a foghorn is one of them. In this article, we’ll look at some common causes for foghorn sounds in your plumbing and what to do about them.

Your toilet is one of the most common culprits behind foghorn noises. They aren’t overly complicated fixtures and have few moving parts. Those parts, however, can get damaged from time to time. The part that often causes a foghorn noise is the ballcock valve.

When you flush your toilet the ballcock valve, also known as the flapper, has the job of opening to let water back into the tank and then closing when it’s full. This then causes friction and a shuddering noise to emanate from your toilet. If it’s not the ballcock valve, another possible reason is that the washer assembly inside of the valve is broken.

Here’s what you should do to remedy this issue with the ballcock.

Both dishwashers and washing machines are prone to the same problems and the same foghorn noises indicating those problems. As your washer or dishwasher is filling with water, it’s not uncommon to hear a loud rattling that can turn into a foghorn noise. This usually indicates that the valve is bad on either the hot water line or the cold water line.

Regardless of which valve is at fault, it’s important that you take care of the problem. Otherwise, one of your solenoid valves could bust and a massive water leak could result. Solenoid valves are tricky to work with and ones on your washing machine are difficult to get to. You’ll likely have to call in a professional plumber to fix a worn-out valve.

The first place that you should check if you hear foghorn noises is your water lines. The reason is partially that it’s commonly the issue, but there’s a more important reason. Foghorn noises in your water pipes can indicate a problem that could lead to a burst pipe.

This problem is usually as simple as tightening the pipes up or properly fastening them to the wall or ceiling. If you notice the pipes shaking as water is flowing through them, a foghorn noise is in the near future. If you secure the pipes and there are still strange noises, the problem lies elsewhere or you have a more series water pipe issue.

If you check all of your appliances and all of your exposed water pipes and still can’t figure out where the noise is coming from, you’ve got a problem. There are plumbing pipes running all through your home, including behind your walls, below your floors, and above your ceiling. If you’ve exhausted all other possibilities, the only remaining option is that a pipe you can’t see is causing the foghorn noise.

It’s time to call in a professional plumber to fix the job. They know what to look for and how to track down your foghorn noise. They’ll check to make sure all your pipes are properly secured, that they haven’t worn out, and that you have the correct water pressure.

Your water heater is extremely important to have a comfortable and clean home. If it’s making a foghorn noise, you had better fix the problem immediately. The reason that water heaters make foghorn noises is usually that sediment has built up on the burners of the water heater.

Your water heater is often the recipient of hard water full of impurities. The dirtier your water is, the more likely you are to have sediment problems on your burners. To prevent this from happening, you should have your water heater serviced and flushed annually to keep it clean and foghorn free.

Related Questions

How much does it cost to fix foghorn pipes?

The cost of fixing a foghorn pipe depends on where the problem is coming from. Replacing a pipe can cost anywhere from $100 to $300 depending on how long the work takes and what type of pipe you install.

Are foghorn noises common with old plumbing?

Foghorn noises are more common in old plumbing than they are in newer homes. The older your pipes and plumbing fixtures are, the more common foghorn noises are.