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Please help save my sanity!
Bought a house in December, 1970's semi. Bathroom was refitted in 2010 (according to the manufacture label on the bath). We're in the middle of replacing the bath (and shower over) and sink. At the moment the new bath is in place and the existing waste pipe for the sink is still in place (sink removed), sticks up to the height of the sink.
This occured before we replaced anything and is still occuring now - when the bath is emptied or water run down the sink waste there is a dripping noise. Sometimes a few drips, sometimes a lot.
But, there is zero evidence of water leaking anywhere. I can see the full run from the bath waste as it drops under the floorboards and then under the floor, parallel to the joists to an equal tee where the sink waster joins and then carries on down to join the soil stack (below the point where the toilet waste joins). I have lifted floorboards and can see the full run from bath waste to stack. I have had my head in there and can hear the dripping as the bath empties but there are absolutely no evidence of a leak. No visible dripping, no staining or damp patches on the boards below the pipes, no dampness on the pipes, no evidence of water on the kitchen ceiling below (can also hear it in the kitchen as though it's landing on the ceiling).
So, anyone any ideas what it could be? I'm at a loss. The only think I can think is that it's not water dripping, but some sort or creaking or clicking. But again, I have no idea what it could be? I'm struggling to pinpoint the exact location of the noise as it echos around a bit in the floor cavity.
I've thought about replacing all the waste pipes but it seems pointless when they don't appear to be leaking.
It could be the plastic pipework clicking as it expands and contracts as hot and cold water passes through. Particularly where the pipe passes through a clip.
does the drainage take any funny angles as it head down? sometimes if there is a 90 degree bend you can get it, this may also be related to a build up of scale or hair in the drain which will create a little pool that drips for a while.
Thanks for the suggestions. At the moment I have just run the new waste from the bath in to the existing waste pipe as it takes a 90 degree drop to get under the floorboards.
The noise doen't seem to be from that area and I can hear the water rushing as it travels around the corners. The noise stops as soon as the flow of water stops, so I don't think there's any prolonged dripping from pools collecting anywhere.
Squirrell - now that you mention it, when I was pouring jug after jug of cold water down the plug yesterday it wasn't making any sound but when I emptied the warm bath water last night it started straight away. However, I put the plug back in and left it overnight so I could get the floorboards up this morning to see if I could see anything as it drained and it did make the noise with the room temperature bath water. I'll have to try it out with different temperatures of water to see if there's a pattern.
Also thinking I might just replace all the waste to the stack for the sake of the £20 max it's going to cost for peace of mind.
As above, it's probably the pipe expanding slightly when hot water goes through it. Our bathroom is above the kitchen and when the bath is emptied, there is a ticking from the edge of ceiling where the pipe goes out to the outside. We have been living here for 17 years and I'm used it now!
OK, google backs up the expansion theory. Sounds like it's rubbing against a joist or plasterboard somewhere. Might have to get some silicone spray down there and see if it helps. Or a load of brackets to hold it away from the joists.
Reassuring though that the kitchen ceiling isn't going to cave in! Thanks all.
I know that sometimes if you use the sink in our bathroom not long after a shower the shower head sometimes drips. But like the others say above its quite possibly the hot pipe expanding and contracting.