How to fix noise in central heating pipes
When it comes to the boiler and central heating system in your home, you should be looking out for any signs of damage. This could come from any area, so it’s important to inspect the radiators, boiler display, internal components, and pipes around the house. In the case of the latter, central heating pipes can develop noises due to a number of reasons. This post details how you can fix noises coming from central heating pipes.
What can cause noise in central heating pipes?
If you notice knocking in central heating pipes, it is likely an indicator that something isn’t right. Other sounds might include clanking, tapping, rattling, gurgling, creaking, whooshing, or banging in central heating pipes. Depending on the noise you hear, it might relate to a specific issue. The potential problems could be:
In areas of the country with hard water, the mineral content can lead to limescale build-up. Although this can also happen in areas with soft water. This chalk-like substance is made from the deposits left behind from dried water and can often be seen in kettles and other home apparatus that rely on hot water. When limescale deposits build up, it can cause loss of heating performance and, if left completely untreated, could even block your system and cause bigger issues.
Sludge is then formed from small pieces of rust that break off and collect in the system as it operates. It’s possible to fix this by flushing the system with special cleaning agents, whilst longer-term solutions include a magnetic boiler filter, which can catch sludge and keep it from entering the boiler itself. Small components such as seals and washers may need to be replaced if there has been severe build-up.
Although this isn’t always an issue, it’s important to understand that pipes often expand as they heat up when the central heating system is in use. This can cause small amounts of creaking, vibrating or knocking sounds from the system. This is especially noticeable if you’re turning on the heating system when the pipes have been left to cool down over a long period of time. Read our ‘Tips for turning on a boiler that has been switched off for a long time’ for more insights.
If the vibrations, knocking or creaking persist long term during operation of your central heating system, it’s possible that your pipes may be moving around and touching floorboards or nearby walls. This is often due to a break in the pipe clip or a degradation in the surrounding areas. Making repairs and putting a piece of cloth, foam, or fabric can help remove the vibration. A gas-safe registered engineer will be able to assess the situation and resolve the issue.
Air in the central heating system or boiler unit can cause a number of performance-related problems, most notably cold spots across radiators. This can result in an overall loss of heating performance in radiators, as well as gurgling or sputtering taps. This same phenomenon can cause the noises you hear in your pipes, as water passes through pockets of air trapped in the system. Fortunately, this can be fixed relatively easily through the process of flushing your central heating system.
Water hammering occurs when there is a sudden surge of water within pipework. Specifically, it’s the reversal of water flow within the pipe that causes banging or knocking noises. You’re most likely to notice this occurring when taps are turned on or off, as this results in hot water travelling down the pipes. Anything in your home that can draw a water source, such as a shower or a toilet, can be the cause of water hammering.
While this is a relatively common phenomenon, extreme cases of water hammering can cause lasting damage to your central heating system. Therefore, it’s recommended that the pipes should be checked by a professional boiler engineer as soon as you notice any noises coming from the pipes consistently when you use taps, showers or toilets in your home.
Parts for central heating pipes
Noises from your central heating pipes could be costing you money. This is because many of the issues described above lead to a loss of heating efficiency and wasted energy. Browse the National Boiler Spares range to find the part you need to resolve your problem. Our delivery is quick to make sure you never lose access to hot water and central heating in your home. Get in touch if you have any questions.