Shower faucet help needed - humming/vibration

Post by **matthew1** » 08 Jun 2021, 15:11

Both the water flow cold->hot balance and the noise popped up yesterday. It's very loud, louder than the video suggests.

I didn't do anything to it. It's been working fine for years. Any ideas? Do I need a new valve mixer thing? I don't know the name of it.

I took it apart today in a DIY effort to recon what's happening, but everything looks fine and looks like it should work. Upon reassembly and reinstall, same problem.

No water is leaking into the basement.

https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.matthewsvolvosite.com/sh ... _noise.m4v

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Post by **Sveedy** » 08 Jun 2021, 16:20

When you go to get one, it's called the shower diverter. If you can figure out which brand and model you have, then you might be able to get a re-build kit from a plumbing supply house or online.

Do you have hard water ?

Post by **matthew1** » 08 Jun 2021, 16:35

Only when it's frozen

I don't know the ph of the water here. I've never heard of anyone talking about it, so I don't know.

I'll google the info on its label. Thanks Sveedy!

Post by **volvolugnut** » 08 Jun 2021, 17:13

A hum or rumble is often water hammer.
Google says: Water hammer is a phenomenon that can occur in any piping system where valves are used to control the flow of liquids or steam. Water hammer is the result of a pressure surge, or high-pressure shockwave that propagates through a piping system when a fluid in motion is forced to change direction or stop abruptly.
Google water hammer for ideas how to stop it. When it is a toilet refilling, I can usually stop it by adjust in the fill water shutoff flow rate a little bit.
volvolugnut

Post by **Sveedy** » 08 Jun 2021, 17:32

I'm thinking that some rubber parts are loosing their tension and beginning to act like a reed and vibrate / hum with just the right amount pressure.
Teach it a tune ?

Post by **MoVolvos** » 08 Jun 2021, 17:34

Sveedy wrote: ↑08 Jun 2021, 17:32 I'm thinking that some rubber parts are loosing their tension and beginning to act like a reed and vibrate / hum with just the right amount pressure.
Teach it a tune ?

I was just going to say the rubber has hardened and is causing some kind of resonant frequency as the water passes by a certain flow rate.

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Post by **MoVolvos** » 08 Jun 2021, 17:46

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Found this interesting. Could be the cold and hot not smoothly equalizing when coming out.

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Post by **matthew1** » 08 Jun 2021, 21:29

New valve ordered. Should be here Thursday.

I tried tightening down the cartridge screws even more, but it didn’t help.

Post by **abscate** » 09 Jun 2021, 02:30

You could plumb in a piece if pipe to trap an air space that would solve both water hammer and vibration problems

Post by **Sveedy** » 09 Jun 2021, 06:41

Don't know how old your house is, but homes with PEX plastic type water lines usually don't have water hammer problems. With copper piping the water line that goes to a valve should have a 12" or so piece of pipe extended up past the valve and capped so the valve is not at the end of the water line. This creates a place for the pressure to equalize and cushion without causing the pipes to move.

I think your new valve will solve the problem.