A loose faucet is the most obvious cause of a plumbing system that sounds like a foghorn. During high water pressure, the faucet flutters and emits a noise similar to a foghorn. Showerheads may present the same problem.
Fortunately, tightening all the screws around a loose faucet, as well as the pipes connected to it, can fix it pretty easily.
You can also try disconnecting and reassembling each part again if that doesn’t work. Hopefully, this will resolve the issue, but if it does not, a plumber can replace the faucet for you.
Reasons That Make Your Plumbing Sound Like A Foghorn
The moment you begin to feel as if you are in the middle of an ocean, trying to strafe your way through fog, following a loud foghorn, then you need to ‘dive deeper’ and fix your plumbing problem.
When you don’t have much experience with plumbing issues, they can be rather confusing and complex. You may find it difficult to understand the large network of pipes, vents, drains, and sewer lines beneath the floor.
Plumbing can make sounds like foghorns, which is totally illogical. As if a siren is humming loudly.
The noises in the plumbing system are not to be ignored, as they can be an early warning sign of more serious problems. Let’s investigate why plumbing makes such bizarre noises.
1. Thermal Expansion
You might hear squeaking sounds coming from your house floor at night. A house expands slightly during the day due to heat and contracts back to its original size at night as a result of thermal expansion.
A humming sound is sometimes created by expanding faucets and fill valves that open a bit. A similar phenomenon is often responsible for water heater failures as well.
By installing an expansion tank and a pressure gauge, this problem can be resolved by preventing high water pressure and preventing thermal expansion.
2. Sound From Dishwasher
There is also a possibility that the noisy foghorn sounds you’ve been hearing are caused by a dishwasher.
There may be a problem with the solenoid fill valve causing these noises. Drain valves are opened and closed by this valve. In addition, it allows the dishwasher to receive the necessary amount of water.
The dishwasher will leak water when it is not running if the fill valve is damaged and make foghorn-like noises. It is recommended that you hire a professional to fix this issue since it is a bit technical.
3. Water Hammer Effect
There is a possibility that you are experiencing what is known as a “water hammer effect” whenever a faucet is turned off or water stops flowing from a pipe.
There is a direct connection between this issue and the pipelines running through the walls and floors that crumble under heavy water pressure, resulting in loud noises.
The closed valve of a faucet produces a shock when water rushing at high speeds slams into it. Not only does this shock make a loud noise, but it can also damage loose fittings and pipes.
The water hammer effect can be mitigated by tightening loose pipelines and replacing damaged fill valves and faucets.
In order to prevent any damage to your pipelines, install a pressure-reducing valve if your water pressure remains excessive. The recommended water pressure for homes is 80 psi.
4. The Faucet Is Loose
You might hear awkward plumbing noises as a result of a loose faucet or tap. If a faucet starts whistling when you turn it on, it is likely to be a hardware problem.
Flowing water makes a loose faucet vibrate and rattling sounds are produced as a result.
5. Toilet Tank Leakage
While filling a toilet tank, you might have noticed that it makes a constant noise. Once it has been filled, the sound should stop. A leak in the tank might be causing the sound if it persists.
For whatever reason, the rubber flap inside the tank might deteriorate, causing water to flow in and creating a constant noise. Replacing the faulty flapper with a new one will solve this problem.
6. Compromised Ballcock In A Toilet
The most common cause of foghorn sounds in the bathroom is a defective toilet ballcock.
Known also as a fill valve or flapper, a ballcock is a mechanism installed inside the tank of a flush and it prevents backflow or overflow by bringing water into the tank.
As water enters the tank, it turns on and collapses as it fills. There is a possibility that a deteriorating flapper is responsible for the hissing noise.
A broken flapper or an improperly adjusted flapper will allow water to fill past the overflow valve, causing a foghorn sound.
Furthermore, if the flapper is loose, it won’t close properly and will oscillate, causing a loud echo to occur. You can experiment with lifting and flushing the flapper to see if the foghorn sounds stop.
You know where the problem lies if the sound has disappeared. Replacement of the ballcock is the simplest solution to the ballcock issue. Any hardware store near you can provide you with one.
What Other Problems Can Cause a Foghorn Sound?
In addition to these common problems, foghorn sounds are also caused by some less common problems. Among them are:
Water Supply Line Problems
Noises can also be caused by problems with your water supply lines. Older homes may not have well-secured supply lines. The result is the sound of water hammers and foghorns. Your plumbing team needs to address this issue since you are dealing with your main water lines.
Faulty Pipe Installation
Plumbing noises can also be caused by faulty pipe installation. Professional assessment is needed in this scenario, since it is unlikely you will realize that the pipes were installed incorrectly without a plumber’s assistance.
Washing Machine Issues
Washing machines can also cause water hammers. If you hear the sound as the machine fills up with water, the solenoid fill valve may be malfunctioning.
The problem can be resolved by replacing this valve. Replacing this valve may require the help of an expert, since it is hard to reach.
Water Pressure Concerns
There may be loud noises inside your system as a result of water pressure. High pressure can build up in pipes if the pressure reducing valve fails to function properly, causing many loud noises.
The phenomenon is known as a water hammer. These strange sounds can be stopped by replacing the pressure regulator or repairing it.
What Causes a Foghorn Sound from the Water Heater?
Consider when the last time you had the water heater cleaned if the water heater seems to be the problem.
Water is heated by minerals that build up in the tank and on the burners as a result of the process of generating hot water. It is possible to hear loud noises from your system when the burners become dirty.
It is best to schedule a water heater flush to resolve this issue. In addition, this will prevent you from being left without hot water when your water heater breaks down.
Luckily, this is a problem that can be prevented with proper maintenance. To prevent sediment buildup, we recommend flushing your water heater annually.
The likelihood of your water heater making loud noises in your home is lower if you take care of this maintenance issue.
What Causes a Foghorn Sound from Inside the Walls?
There are times when it is harder to detect the foghorn sound. Perhaps it seems to come from within your walls.
In this case, it can be more challenging to solve the problem since you cannot see inside the walls. When you have an older home, you might suspect this sound is coming from old pipes.
Also, loose pipes can cause foghorn sounds as well as banging and rattling if a bracket has come loose around them.
A plumber should be able to fix the problem if the sound is coming from inside your walls. Using their tools, they can find the source of the problem and fix it without causing too much damage to your home.
Bottom Line
It is disconcerting to hear your plumbing making a loud, foghorn-like noise. When an emergency occurs, it can cause a disruption to your family’s life.
Even though foghorn noises are rare plumbing emergencies, it’s still a good idea to have them repaired. No matter what causes your loud plumbing noises, it can be disconcerting.
In this case, it is wise to hire a professional plumber. Whether there are damaged faucets or fill valves or loose pipelines, they will fix the problem by replacing them or tightening them.
As a last resort, you can ask them to install a pressure-reducer valve to avoid damaging the pipelines.
