A
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Usually, when you start to hear these sounds, you need to ask yourself some basic questions, like do I believe in ghosts? and Can anyone else hear it besides me?
But seriously. Usually, when a caring and talented plumber installs the piping, he keeps the pipes away from the wood structure, using spacers, hangers and pipe insulation to absorb the vibration and movement of the piping. Pipes, by their nature, expand, contract and move, since the material they're made of - metal of varying types or even plastic - has a high degree of thermal change - instantly, as hot water surges through. What you are probably hearing is the pipes expanding and moving against the structure or another rigid, immovable material. The reason for the tapping pattern is that the pipes jump or vibrate as the wave of hot water hits the cooling water just in front of it.
Now, who do you call? A plumber, a handyperson, a contractor, or anyone else who can open the walls or ceilings where the piping is making the sound. This person should be someone who will look at the problem while the heat is coming up, and makes sure he locates the area of the problem before proceeding. You don't want someone who "fixes" everything by moving or removing everything in sight just to charge more when the problem may be limited to a small area. Sometimes the only cause is the pipe touching the back side of your wall board, so you can't locate the problem with the board removed, and when you put it back you'll hear the sound all over again. In some cases the problem is as simple as letting water out of the system into a bucket, "bleeding" the heat pipe lines of air, which causes a familiar problem called "water hammer."
In some systems, a plumber may install a round tank, called an expansion tank, to absorb the backlash of pressure created when hot water suddenly begins to flow. Your problem is quite common, and is a contributing factor to the slow onset of insanity. I once watched a plumber making an installation, and asked if the spacing was enough between the pipes and the wood floor joists. He had bracketed the pipes very snugly against the wood. I suggested using pipe insulation as a spacer in the brackets. You never forget being ridiculed, especially when it turns out that the problem you tried to prevent occurs anyway. The plumber laughed and said there wouldn't be a problem. He used the age-old "I've been doing this for years" cliché. Apparently he's also not been returning to fix the problems he's created for years. Another plumber fixed the problem, and will get credit for being the one to call next time. The problem is solvable, and that will allow you to finally get some rest.
Readers are encouraged to send questions to: HERALD Homes379 Central Avenue, P.O. Box 220, Lawrence, N.Y. 11559-0220Attn: Monte Leeper, architect.
