Clicking noise in pipes Help and information on all topics relating to your central heating, air conditioning and ventilation issues.

[Jackie Jones]

My central heating system which is about 9 years old is suddenly clicking constantly. It does not seem to be air in the system as the pipes have been bled. The clicking is coming from inside the living room wall and is quite loud and very very irritating. No other areas of the house have this problem.
Please can anyone advise on how it can be stopped.

[marrtin]

Is the clicking intermittent? Is it worse when the heating first comes on? If so, the problem may be with the pipes expanding and contracting as they heat and cool. This causes movement in the pipes behind walls and under floors. The only way to cure this is to pinpoint the noise and expose the pipe, and place fabric between the pipe and joist (or whatever) to prevent the friction causing a noise.

[Jackie Jones]

It is pretty much all the time. Takes a little while to start up when the system first comes on and then just keeps on ticking away.
The wall in which the noise is is the outside wall of the living room so opening that up would be a bit of a job.
Many thanks for your advice.

[marrtin]

Well that pretty much excludes expansion anyway as that only occurs as the pipes heat and cool.

If you turn the heating off, does the sound stop instantly? What happens if the boiler temp is turned off? Does it still happen?

Listen close to the pump is that where the noise is from and being transmitted elsewhere by the pipes?

[Jackie Jones]

When the system is turned off the clicking stops straight awya.
Not turned the boiler temp off to find that out will try that and let you know
The noise is definitely in the one place in the wall. It is not carrying from elsewhere.
The pump is in the kitchen and the only noise from that is the normal sound of pumping.
Thanks for your help
Jackie

[peter the plumber]

What kind of walls do you have?

Are they dry lined?

Is the noise coming from the bottom, middle or the top of the wall?

[roger196]

Have you tried changing the pump setting?
I am puzzled why this problem has arisen after nine years. What has changed to produce this problem?
Have any alterations been made to the system recently.
The length of time suggests that furring up of the pipes might be a possible cause, though noises are usually around the boiler area. When was the last time your system was flushed through and is there effective inhibitor in the system.

Another possible solution, for a sealed system, is to ask your plumber to fit a shock arrester to prevent water hammer. These are listed in the BES catalogue. A diy version of this is to deliberately leave some air in the radiator nearest to the noise problem. This air may act as an air cushion.
Finally noise often travels considerable distances inside walls making tracking of the source a challenge.