Vibration/humming in the pipes

[Unregistered]

Im having a problem around my house, when i flush a toilet or run a tap after a prolonged drain on my water system (aka washing machine or watering the garden i get a humming noise/vibration comming from my pipes once i stop using the water (once the toilet finishes filling, or the tap is turned off). Im in a old subdivision and have no idea what the problem could be and am wondering if it is really my problem or possibly a lack of water supply to my neighborhood ive had this problem since december of 2004 and it only happens now and again it could go a week without doing it then happen for a couple days straight any ideas?

[mdshunk]

Sounds suspicious for a chunk of washer in the main shutoff valve "flapping in the breeze" as the water flows by. Aged water meters can also transfer weird vibrations on the pipework. You could put a trouble call into the water department about the water meter making strange vibrations on the water line (even if you're not sure) and they may solve the issue for you.

[Unregistered]

It could also be in the pressure regulator if you have one.

[Xentheous]

how would i find my pressure regulator?

[mdshunk]

how would i find my pressure regulator?
You may or may not have one. They are normally installed right after the main water shutoff, or right after the meter. If your meter in a meter vault in the yard, it may be in the meter vault.

[mdshunk]

Another possibility just occured to me. Your pipes may be humming because they simply don't know the words. Could that be?

[Mr T]

Thats just you. My pipes are smart enough to look them up.

IF your meter is accessable, take a large screw driver or similar solid object and hold it to your meter casing. Put your ear up against the handle of the screwdriver. It will work like a stethascope (however its spelled). If you get a really loud noise there, it may be your meter, however a noise elsewhere can resonate through your pipes throwing your search for the noise off.
Have someone run water so that your noise appears.

Do you have a softener? Modern softeners have a flow meter in them. Bypass the softener. Also try turning the supply off to the softener and open a outdoor faucet (should not be soft water there)

[Xentheous]

Okay so i used the screw driver and started at water line just before the water meter. The humming started at the meeter and i could only slightly hear it before the meter. so does that mean i need a new water meter? If so are they expensive?

[Mr T]

Time to call your city/county. They will tell you if you are responsible for the meter. Is the meter spinning and at the right rate?

[mdshunk]

The water meter is normally water department property. If they determine also that it is faulty, they'll put a new one in at no cost to you. You only have to pay for a water meter if you do something that damages it yourself.