Guide to Sound Control in Building Supply & Drain Piping
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This article explains methods and materials used to control plumbing piping & plumbing fixture sound transmission in buildings: how to assure quiet plumbing fixtures, plumbing drains, supply piping, heating piping in buildings.
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How to Control Plumbing Noise in buildings
This article series discusses noise and sound control in buildings, and includes excerpts or adaptations from Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction, by Steven Bliss, courtesy of Wiley & Sons.
The page top photo shows our client commenting on a mix of plastic (more noisy) and cast iron (more quiet) drain piping in a building basement where renovations and conversion to occupied space were planned.
Our building sound control articles begin at SOUND CONTROL in buildings. Other noise and sound diagnosis and control articles are found at NOISE / SOUND DIAGNOSIS & CURE.
Also see WATER HAMMER NOISE DIAGNOSE & CURE.
At PLUMBING DRAIN NOISES we explain the basics of proper plumbing vent piping and how errors cause trap siphonage, odors, and noises. We discuss how to diagnose and cure drain sounds at PLUMBING DRAIN NOISE DIAGNOSIS. Other advice about controlling plumbing noises in buildings is at SOUND CONTROL for PLUMBING. More details about plumbing drain line venting can be found at PLUMBING VENT DEFINITIONS & CODES, also PLUMBING VENT DEFECTS & NOISES and at CLOGGED DRAIN DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR.
As we explain in more detail at PLUMBING DRAIN NOISE REPAIR, we divide plumbing drain and fixture noises into two groups:
- Plumbing defect noises associated with plumbing system problems or defects whose identification and diagnosis is discussed at our complete list of various plumbing system noise: PLUMBING NOISE CHECKLIST , a sub-topic of building NOISE / SOUND DIAGNOSIS & CURE. We focus on plumbing drain noises at PLUMBING DRAIN NOISE DIAGNOSIS and at PLUMBING DRAIN NOISE REPAIR.
- Normal (but annoying) plumbing system noises that will be corrected by noise transmission control or sound insulation are discussed here at SOUND CONTROL for PLUMBING, a section of SOUND CONTROL in buildings where we describe controlling the transmission of noises in buildings.
Normal plumbing drain sounds
As we stated at PLUMBING DRAIN NOISE DIAGNOSIS, Hearing the sound of running water in a building drain is not likely to indicate a
problem with the drain system itself.
In older buildings where cast iron and steel drain pipes were used, not much
sound normally is heard: even the sound
of running water, say when a shower is running or when a toilet was flushed.
But in a more modern structure that uses plastic or copper drain piping these
materials can transmit the sound of running water to the building interior.
Builders can reduce sound transmission from plumbing lines by enclosing them
in insulated chaseways.
We have also found cases in pipes in a building transmit sounds from one area
of the building to another. We've also found that electromagnetic fields generated
in a building, say by a bank of electric meters located in one area, can be
transmitted to other building areas through metal piping.
Plumbing Noise & Sound Transmission Sources & Control
As described in the book, Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction Chapter 5, Interior Finish:
One of the most common noise complaints in single-family
construction is the sound of water gushing through
PVC waste pipes.
The best solution, short of using cast
iron, is to box in the pipes and fill the cavity with fiberglass
insulation. Then enclose the cavity with one or two
layers of drywall.
Our photo (left) shows plastic drain waste piping routed through a basement that was being finished and to be used as offices.
The leak stains at the ceiling needed to be investigated and the source corrected before this piping run was enclosed in a heavily insulated drywall pipe chase to minimize sound transmission from the upstairs plumbing fixtures into the lower level offices.
Continuing from from Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction:
Water supply and heating pipes can also radiate noise
through the framing if there is rigid contact between pipes
and framing or finish materials. This can be a particular
problem when heating pipes expand and contract. To avoid
these problems, make sure pipe runs are not tight against
framing.
While special non hardening
acoustical sealants are often specified in commercial
work, any high-quality sealant that remains flexible can
be effective in blocking sound transmission. Butyl, silicone,
and urethane caulk can all be used.
To prevent
sound leaks, use sealant around electrical boxes, plumbing
penetrations, and any other penetrations in the wall or
ceiling surface.
see Acoustical Sealant for Sound Control for additional details.
Other sources of noises associated with water or heating piping in buildings
- Poorly secured water supply or heating piping where pipes run along below floors or ceilings can lead to clanking or other noises. As Carson Dunlop point out in their Home Reference Book,
As valves are opened and closed, vibration can be set up in the piping making it rattle. Sometimes this can be corrected by pushing newspapers into the wall cavity to keep the pipes from contacting the walls or each other. Foam insulation can also help in some cases. Where a pipe passes through the floor system or wood studs, it may rub on the wood and squeak as the pipe expands and contracts with heat.
- Hot water supply and heating baseboard piping noises where pipes creak, click, and clank at floor or wall penetrations, especially during temperature changes such as heating system on-off cycling or hot water usage.
- Hot or cold water supply piping running water noises may be amplified and transmitted through some building areas when water is running through pipes that are mounted in contact with framing or in contact with floor or wall partition materials.
If you are debugging piping noises in a building and have been unable to locate the source of a running water sound, turn off water at the building water main and listen again.
This step eliminates running toilets and open faucets in the building. Try using a mechanic's stethoscope on water supply piping where the water piping enters the building. On occasion we have found that a running water sound was due to a leak in buried water supply piping outside of the building itself. Sound was transmitted through the pipe itself into the building interior.
Leaving a clearance opening to accommodate pipe movement during temperature changes, and sealing all pipe penetrations (discussed above) can substantially reduce indoor supply or heating piping noise.
- Water hammer (or hydrostatic shock) is a noisy pipe problem that occurs when valves are shut off quickly. Water hammer can damage pipe connections and result in leakage. See WATER HAMMER NOISE DIAGNOSE & CURE for details.
- WATER HEATER NOISES: Also see NOISES COMING FROM WATER HEATER for the diagnosis and cure of clanking or thumping noises that may be coming from your water heater or heating boiler.
-- Adapted with permission from Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction. Additional text adapted with permission from The Home Reference Book
Continue reading about methods for sound control in buildings by using the links provided just below.
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Technical Reviewers & References
Related Topics, found near the top of this page suggest articles closely related to this one.
- Marpac, produces white sound generators, a product that they identify as the Marpac sound conditioner. Marpac can be contacted at http://www.marpac.com/ or contact the Marpac Corporation,
P.O. Box 560 Rocky Point, NC 28457 Phone: 800-999-6962 (USA and Canada) Fax: 910-602-1435 1-910-602-1421 (worldwide), 800-999- or email: info@marpac.com
- Sound Oasis sound conditioners are produced by Sound Oasis: http://www.sound-oasis.com/ email: info@sound-oasis.com or 1-866-625-3218
Carson, Dunlop & Associates Ltd., 120 Carlton Street Suite 407, Toronto ON M5A 4K2. (416) 964-9415 1-800-268-7070 info@carsondunlop.com. The firm provides professional home inspection services & home inspection education & publications. Alan Carson is a past president of ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors. Thanks to Alan Carson and Bob Dunlop, for permission for InspectAPedia to use text excerpts from The Home Reference Book & illustrations from The Illustrated Home. Carson Dunlop Associates' provides:
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Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair
 The Home Reference Book - the Encyclopedia of Homes, Carson Dunlop & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, 25th Ed., 2012, is a bound volume of more than 450 illustrated pages that assist home inspectors and home owners in the inspection and detection of problems on buildings. The text is intended as a reference guide to help building owners operate and maintain their home effectively. Field inspection worksheets are included at the back of the volume. Special Offer: For a 10% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference Book purchased as a single order. Enter INSPECTAHRB in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space. InspectAPedia.com editor Daniel Friedman is a contributing author.
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