If your shower produces loud humming noises, let me tell you you’re alone there. It’s kinda common among households.
A few reasons behind this issue could be excessive water pressure, aged shower components such as the head or pipe, pipe clogs, or other potential factors. Ignoring this issue could lead to a worsened situation where specific components in your bathroom could become damaged.
Typically, the source of the roaring sound in the shower can be attributed to a blockage or clog within the plumbing system. This could be caused by faulty valves, clogs within the showerhead or piping, missing or defective washers, a flawed cartridge, or other factors. Try soaking the showerhead in white vinegar overnight to clear a clog.
Explore the content further to know possible causes and solutions to shower making loud roaring noises.
Why Your Shower Is Making Loud Humming Noise And How To Fix It?
We all crave a serene bathing experience. The only good sounds in the washroom are the gentle water flow and the rustling noise of a soapy lather.
Taking a shower with a loud humming sound can be pretty irritating. But you need not endure this nuisance any longer. With a little sleuthing and a few tweaks, you can restore your shower to its peaceful state.
So, what is causing your shower to produce those unpleasant noises, and how can you eliminate them? Let’s dive in and find out.
1. The showerhead is clogged with limescale.
The buildup of limescale in your showerhead can harm your showering experience. It not only limits the available space within the showerhead, but it can also increase water pressure.
As the water rushes through the constricted space, it can produce a bothersome hissing or humming noise that disrupts your peace and relaxation.
Solution: Unclog the showerhead
If limescale buildup is causing the humming noise in your showerhead, fret not, there are ways to remedy this situation.
Soak the showerhead in white vinegar overnight to dissolve the calcium buildup and other debris. Rinse it thoroughly the next day to ensure a clean and fresh showerhead.
For persistent limescale or hair buildup, try using a pipe cleaner to remove the obstruction.
However, if the showerhead is damaged internally or the mineral deposits are too substantial, it might be time to replace it with a new one for a more effective solution.
2. Loose shower head filter
Another potential cause of a humming noise in your shower is a loose shower head filter. If the filter is not securely fastened, it may not create a tight seal when you turn off the waterline, leading to leaks and annoying roaring noise.
Solution: Tighten the showerhead filter
You must remove the showerhead from the stem to fix a loose shower filter. This will give you access to the filter, allowing you to tighten or replace it if necessary.
If the entire showerhead is loose and cannot be fixed, it’s best to replace it entirely, regardless of whether it’s a fixed or handheld showerhead.
Doing so can ensure a secure fit and prevent unwanted vibrations or humming noises.
3. Faulty or missing washer or O ring
Have you been hearing whistling noises every time you turn on your shower? This could be due to a missing, worn-out, or poorly positioned washer or O ring.
These small components play an essential role in creating a tight seal within the shower fixtures, and if they are damaged or positioned incorrectly, they can cause a whistling or humming noise.
Be sure to check the showerhead as well as other fixtures within the shower for the presence of noisy washers.
Solution: Refit or replace a missing washer or O ring
To address a faulty washer or O ring, you’ll need to remove the shower handle to gain access to the inner workings of the shower fixture.
From there, you can inspect the washer or O ring for damage and either reposition it or replace it entirely if necessary.
4. Faulty shower valves
You may notice loud noises from your shower if you’ve recently installed new valves in your plumbing system.
This is often due to clogs from the new valves, which take longer to build up enough pressure before flowing out again.
Solution: Replace the shower valve
If your shower valve is damaged and causing disruptive noises during use, replacing it with a new one is best.
This will ensure your shower operates smoothly and quietly without any annoying disturbances.
If you’ve recently installed new valves, you may need to adjust them to prevent clogs and other issues leading to loud noises.
This can be done using pliers or other tools, depending on the specific needs of your system.
Be sure to select the correct replacement valve for your shower, considering its size, type, and other specifications.
5. Too much water pressure
The water pressure may be too high if you hear a whistling or roaring sound from your showerhead.
This can cause water to rush out of the nozzles too quickly, creating an unpleasant noise.
To determine which shower fixture is causing the problem, turn off each valve one by one until you identify the source of the sound.
In some cases, excessive water pressure can also cause a phenomenon known as “water hammer,” which results in loud banging or thumping noises in the pipes or showerhead.
If your home’s water pressure exceeds 80 psi, this is likely the cause of the problem.
Solution: Regulate the water pressure
To address this, slightly tighten the mains valve to reduce the water pressure entering your home.
It’s crucial to ensure that the water pressure in your house does not exceed 80 psi to avoid such sounds in the fixtures.
6. A faulty shower cartridge
The shower cartridge could be the cause of the shower making loud roaring noise and could be either positioned incorrectly or damaged.
Solution: Replace the shower cartridge
To fix a possible problem with the shower cartridge that might be faulty or not correctly positioned, you need to remove the shower handle to access and replace it.
Ensure you get the appropriate cartridge for your shower type to avoid further complications.
7. A faulty diverter
If you hear high-pitched noises when you turn on the shower, it might be due to a faulty diverter valve restricting the natural water flow.
Solution: Replace the diverter
To fix the high-pitched noises caused by a faulty diverter valve, turn off the water supply to the shower and unscrew the nut in the middle of the diverter valve.
After removing the old diverter valve, replace it with a new one. It’s important to note that there are different types of diverters, each with a unique removal process. However, all involve unscrewing a nut before removal.
8. Showerhead flow restrictor
The showerhead’s flow regulator can sometimes cause loud noises when the shower is turned on, but this doesn’t necessarily mean the showerhead is faulty. This is just a characteristic of certain types of flow restrictors.
Solution: Remove or replace the flow restrictor
To reduce noise from the shower caused by the flow regulator, remove the showerhead from the shower arm and remove the flow restrictor located in the neck of the showerhead.
Reattach the showerhead to the shower stem and test it to see if the noise has been reduced.
9. Toilet Ballcock
A malfunctioning toilet ballcock might cause a humming or whistling noise from your shower.
The ballcock is a device responsible for refilling the tank with water after you flush it. If the ballcock is not functioning correctly, it may produce noises that can be heard throughout your plumbing system.
To check the ballcock, look for two pieces connected to the toilet’s flapper valve and a connection lid on top.
Sometimes, the plunger may become stuck, or the seal may leak air, causing noises in the pipes.
Add food coloring to the tank to detect leaks and check if the color seeps into the bowl within 30 minutes. If it does, you might have a leaking shutoff valve.
If you turn off the water supply to your toilet and the noise stops, then it is likely that the ballcock is the source of the problem.
Solution: Replace the toilet ballcock
To fix the humming or whistling noise from your toilet, you must replace the ballcock, which is responsible for filling the tank after each flush.
Start by turning off the water supply to the toilet, then flush the toilet to empty the tank.
Remove the ballcock retaining nut to detach the ballcock from the toilet. Install a new ballcock and fasten the retaining nut securely.
Turn on the water supply at the shutoff valve to test the new ballcock and make sure the toilet is functioning correctly without any noise.
10. Pipe Leakages
A humming or buzzing sound coming from the pipes is often a sign of a leak. The water escaping through the opening in the pipe creates high pressure, which causes the sound.
If the leaking pipe is not visible, it could be hidden and might cause damage to the surrounding area or building.
Solution: Seal leaks in the pipes
Locate the pipe’s leaking section and seal it with self-fusing silicon tape to fix this issue.
However, if the leak is extensive, it may be necessary to replace the entire section of the pipe.
Before sealing any leaks, turning off the water supply is essential to prevent further damage or flooding.
11. Electrical wires or equipment
Mains hum is a low-frequency sound from electrical devices or wires, including transformers and refrigerators.
It is also possible to hear a mains hum when using an electric water heater for your shower.
Unfortunately, it is challenging to eliminate mains hum, particularly when it comes to electronic devices such as refrigerators.
Solution
Unfortunately, there is no easy solution to eliminating mains hum from electronic devices like refrigerators.
However, there are some measures you can take to reduce the noise. For instance, you could try moving the appliance away from areas where you spend a lot of time.
Additionally, you could install noise-dampening materials like acoustic panels or curtains to absorb the sound.
Lastly, ensuring that your home’s electrical wiring and grounding are up to standard can help reduce mains hum.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my shower sound like a motor?
Your shower may sound like a motor due to a malfunctioning shower pump or diverter valve problem.
Should I worry about loud shower pipes?
Yes, you should be concerned about loud shower pipes, as they could indicate a plumbing issue that needs to be addressed. Ignoring the problem could lead to further damage and more expensive repairs.
Why are my shower pipes making a loud humming noise?
Your shower pipes may be making a loud humming noise for various reasons, such as high water pressure, faulty shower valves, a faulty diverter valve, a faulty flow regulator in the showerhead, or even a leak in the pipes.
Bottom Line
Are you bothered by the loud vibrating noise coming from your shower? You may be relieved that this issue has several possible causes, including a faulty cartridge, valve, worn-out washer, clogged showerhead, or high water pressure.
But before calling in a professional to diagnose and fix the issue, consider investigating the problem yourself.
Take the time to identify the source of the noise and assess whether it’s something you can resolve on your own.
For instance, if a worn-out washer or faulty valve is the root cause, replacing these parts should solve the issue.
In the case of a clogged showerhead, a thorough cleaning may be all that’s needed to eliminate the noise.
Remember, fixing your noisy shower doesn’t have to be a daunting task. With a little effort and troubleshooting, you can restore a peaceful and relaxing shower experience in no time.
