Basements typically contain floor drains and water heaters, as well as other plumbing components, such as water softeners and sump pumps. Although you may not pay as much attention to these plumbing components as to those you interact with daily, they can still require some maintenance or repairs if they develop problems.
Here are some of the abnormal sounds you could hear from one of these basement plumbing components if they have a problem.
Sump Pump Grinds, Hums, or Runs ConstantlyYour sump pump should only run when it has water to pump out of the basement. If you hear it running all the time, it may simply be the wrong size for your home.
Other abnormal sounds your sump pump may make include a slurping sound (if the pump's settings aren't calibrated quite right) or a grinding or humming sound due to impeller issues. If you hear these or other strange sounds from your sump pump, get in touch with a plumber before you end up with a flooded basement.
Water Heater Makes Popping SoundA popping, bubbling sound may come from your water heater due to sediment buildup in the bottom of the tank. Since practically all water has at least some minerals that can gather in the tank, and since the only way to prevent excess buildup is to regularly flush the tank out, many homeowners find themselves with this issue.
The good news is that if you catch the sediment buildup soon enough, you can fix the problem before any big damage occurs. Keep in mind that by the time you hear a popping sound, the tank has built up quite a bit of sediment, so you'll have to act immediately.
A water heater that has too much sediment buildup can experience problems like a burnt-out heating element or a rusted-through tank. So if you find yours has sediment inside, make sure you schedule regular flushings in the future. Your plumber can advise you on the best schedule for flushing your water heater tank depending on factors like how mineral-rich your water is.
Water Softener Makes a Banging, Hissing, or Whining
Like any other appliance that has water flowing through it, your water softener may make sounds of water rushing or spraying inside, even if it's working properly. A moderate sound from the motor running is also typical. But if you hear water spraying forcefully, or if you hear loud sounds or any noises your softener has never made before, you may have a problem.
Some examples of potentially problematic sounds include:
- A loud spraying sound may be due to a partially clogged valve.
- A buzzing or beeping sound may be due to a low salt alarm.
- A banging sound could come from a sticking valve.
- A hissing noise could indicate an air leak.
- An unusual clicking noise could mean a gear is broken.
These are just a few of the issues and sounds that could be present when a water softener malfunctions. Familiarize yourself with the normal sounds of your softener's operation and regeneration cycle so that you can easily identify when the softener makes an abnormal sound.
Floor Drain Makes a Gurgling SoundLike the other drains in your house, the basement floor drain can make gurgling sounds if it's partially clogged. Unlike the other drains, though, this one is much closer to the sewer line. So if you hear a gurgling sound in the basement floor drain, it could be due to a localized clog in the p-trap, or it could be from a sewer line clog.
These are some of the commonly heard abnormal sounds that could indicate an issue with your basement plumbing. Each of these sounds could be a red flag that means you should call a plumber for diagnosis and repairs. If you suspect the sounds coming from one of these basement plumbing components are abnormal, call
Lewis Plumbing
today.
