How to Fix a Noisy Faucet

Check the Aerator: If you have hard water, it is highly likely that the aerator (the little screen at the tip of the faucet spigot) is going to get clogged up with mineral deposits at some point. The more minerals accumulate, the more resistance there will be to the flow of water and this can create noise. This problem is really easy to solve—just unscrew the aerator and see if that silences your noisy faucet.

Replace the Washers: If you have old faucets, they may have worn out or incorrectly sized washers inside them. This can potentially create some annoying noises. To check, you will need to take your faucet apart and look at the washers. If you can see damage or you can tell they are not a good fit, replace them with new washers and see if that stops the noise.

Reduce Your Water Pressure: High water pressure can cause strange sounds in your faucet and in your pipes. You will want to be especially concerned about the possibility that “water hammer” is causing noises and stress on your pipes every time you turn the water on and off. Basically, a water hammer is a sort of shock wave effect that occurs when the pressure in the pipe suddenly changes. Over time, a water hammer can weaken pipe connections and cause leaks. So if you have high water pressure, you may want to invest in a pressure regulator for your home, even if the pressure turns out not to be the cause of your noisy faucets.

Replace Your Pipes: If you have an older home, you may have undersized pipes or pipes that have become blocked by mineral scale or corrosion. In either case, the pressure created by the water trying to get through the narrow pipes will cause noises. If the situation is particularly bad, you may need to replace your pipes to silence the noises and ensure an adequate flow of water to all your fixtures.