Whenever someone flushes a toilet (any of the three toilets) the pipes
make a very loud piercing/shrieking/whistling noise for about 10
seconds. Whenever someone runs (usually) hot water for the first time
that day from any of the four faucets, the pipes also make that
horrible noise. This just started happening a few weeks ago after my
dad was messing around with the water heater. I don't know what he was
doing but he kept turning the water (or main water) on and off several
times a day. He might have been cleaning something or doing something
with the water conditioner, I don't know. But shortly after this the
pipes started making the shrieking noise.

Anyone have any ideas on what the problem could be?

Prime suspect (for me anyway) would be the washer is loose where he
was shutting off the water. We had a washer in a hose bib that was
loose and the sound was deafening.

On 9 Sep 2004 23:07:58 -0700, (Mike) wrote:

Whenever someone flushes a toilet (any of the three toilets) the pipes
make a very loud piercing/shrieking/whistling noise for about 10
seconds. Whenever someone runs (usually) hot water for the first time
that day from any of the four faucets, the pipes also make that
horrible noise. This just started happening a few weeks ago after my
dad was messing around with the water heater. I don't know what he was
doing but he kept turning the water (or main water) on and off several
times a day. He might have been cleaning something or doing something
with the water conditioner, I don't know. But shortly after this the
pipes started making the shrieking noise.

Anyone have any ideas on what the problem could be?

(Mike) wrote in message . com...
Whenever someone flushes a toilet (any of the three toilets) the pipes
make a very loud piercing/shrieking/whistling noise for about 10
seconds.
Anyone have any ideas on what the problem could be?

Poltergeists. Get out, now!!!

Mike wrote:

Whenever someone flushes a toilet (any of the three toilets) the pipes
make a very loud piercing/shrieking/whistling noise for about 10
seconds. Whenever someone runs (usually) hot water for the first time
that day from any of the four faucets, the pipes also make that
horrible noise. This just started happening a few weeks ago after my
dad was messing around with the water heater. I don't know what he was
doing but he kept turning the water (or main water) on and off several
times a day. He might have been cleaning something or doing something
with the water conditioner, I don't know. But shortly after this the
pipes started making the shrieking noise.

Anyone have any ideas on what the problem could be?


You'll have to play detective.
Could be one of the toilet fill valves (ballcock).
Try shutting them off.

Could be a pressure reducing valve (would be located near
main valve). These can shriek when at end of life.
Or a shutoff valve not fully open. Dad may have thought
it was opened when it wasn't. Or a shutoff that has failed
internally.

The other suspicious thing is that water use first thing
in the day sets it off. That makes me think of high
system pressure either due to thermal expansion or
a failed pressure reducing valve.

If you don't want to call someone in, your next step
may be to buy a pressure gauge. You can get one that
screws onto a hose connection, such as the water heater
drain valve. That will tell you what is happening.

Probably dad didn't do anything "wrong", but rather
turning things disturbed some part which was about to fail.

Jim

Speedy Jim wrote:
Mike wrote:

Whenever someone flushes a toilet (any of the three toilets) the pipes
make a very loud piercing/shrieking/whistling noise for about 10
seconds. Whenever someone runs (usually) hot water for the first time
that day from any of the four faucets, the pipes also make that
horrible noise. This just started happening a few weeks ago after my
dad was messing around with the water heater. I don't know what he was
doing but he kept turning the water (or main water) on and off several
times a day. He might have been cleaning something or doing something
with the water conditioner, I don't know. But shortly after this the
pipes started making the shrieking noise.

Anyone have any ideas on what the problem could be?


You'll have to play detective.
Could be one of the toilet fill valves (ballcock).
Try shutting them off.

Could be a pressure reducing valve (would be located near
main valve). These can shriek when at end of life.
Or a shutoff valve not fully open. Dad may have thought
it was opened when it wasn't. Or a shutoff that has failed
internally.

The other suspicious thing is that water use first thing
in the day sets it off. That makes me think of high
system pressure either due to thermal expansion or
a failed pressure reducing valve.

If you don't want to call someone in, your next step
may be to buy a pressure gauge. You can get one that
screws onto a hose connection, such as the water heater
drain valve. That will tell you what is happening.

Probably dad didn't do anything "wrong", but rather
turning things disturbed some part which was about to fail.

Jim


I think Jim did a good job and covered almost everything. I have one to
add, but after reading it, return to Jim's reply because you should not try
and go back to the way it was. If I am right, then you want to add a
pressure reducing valve.

If you don't have a pressure reducing valve or if it has failed, someone
may have partly closed the main valve. You may never know, but it so it is
an indication that you need to add or replace the pressure valve.

--
Joseph E. Meehan

26 + 6 = 1 It's Irish Math