I've been dealing with noisy pipes myself lately and tried foam insulation first, which helped somewhat but didn't fully solve the issue. After reading this thread, I decided to give the recycled rubber strips a shot, and it actually worked way better than I expected. For anyone else thinking of trying this out, here's how I approached it:
First, I cut the recycled rubber strips into manageable lengths—around 4-6 inches each seemed easiest to handle. Then I loosened the pipe hangers just enough to slip the rubber strips between the pipes and beams without forcing them. Like someone else mentioned earlier, don't overtighten the clamps afterward; snug but not too tight is key. After installing them, I ran hot water through the pipes a few times to test things out... no more ticking or popping noises.
Honestly, it's surprising how much difference something so simple can make. Plus, knowing it's eco-friendly is a nice bonus. Thanks for the tip—my house is finally quiet enough that I don't cringe every time someone takes a shower upstairs.
Glad you found success with the rubber strips—I had a similar experience. One extra tip: wrapping some plumber's tape around pipe hangers can also help reduce friction noises, especially if pipes shift slightly when heating up. Worth trying if noise creeps back in later...
- Rubber strips and plumber's tape are decent quick fixes, but I'm still a bit skeptical about long-term effectiveness. Had similar issues last winter—pipes quieted down initially with tape, but noises crept back eventually.
- Wondering if anyone's tried using foam insulation sleeves instead? Seems like they might handle expansion better and provide more cushioning overall.
- Also curious if pipe material makes a difference here. My copper pipes seem way noisier than the plastic ones I replaced in the basement last year...maybe it's just coincidence or something else going on.
- Appreciate the plumber's tape tip though; I'll probably give it another shot next time I'm crawling around under the house.
Foam sleeves might seem like a solid upgrade, but honestly, they won't necessarily solve the root issue if your pipes aren't secured properly. Last year, I wrapped mine in foam thinking it'd absorb the expansion noise better... helped some at first, but didn't completely fix it. Turns out the real culprit was loose pipe hangers allowing too much movement. Once I tightened those up and added a few extra supports, the difference was night and day. Copper definitely expands more noticeably than plastic, so securing them tightly matters even more.
Interesting you mention copper pipes expanding more than plastic... that's something I've noticed too, especially in older houses. I remember working on a job a few months back where the homeowner had tried pretty much everything—foam sleeves, rubber padding, even some DIY soundproofing panels around the pipe chase. Nothing really worked until we found out the pipes were just loosely resting on these old metal hangers that had probably been there since the house was built.
Once we swapped those out for newer hangers with rubber inserts and tightened everything up, the noise dropped dramatically. Made me wonder if foam sleeves alone ever really make a significant difference or if they're more of a band-aid solution. I guess they do help with minor sounds and maybe temperature insulation, but like you said, securing everything properly is key.
Have you noticed if the type of hanger makes a big difference? I've seen plastic hangers advertised as quieter, but I'm always skeptical about durability long-term. Metal ones with rubber inserts have always seemed like a solid compromise to me, but I haven't done any long-term comparisons myself.
Anyway, glad you got your noise issue sorted—it feels great when you finally pinpoint what's causing those annoying creaks and pops.
