I've had pretty similar experiences with foam sleeves—they're decent for minor rattles or temperature insulation, but for serious pipe noise, they never really did the trick for me either. I think you're spot-on about securing the pipes properly being the real solution.
As for hangers, I've tried both plastic and metal with rubber inserts. Plastic hangers seemed appealing at first because they're advertised as quieter, but honestly, I wasn't impressed. They felt flimsy, and after a couple of years, I noticed some cracking and brittleness. Maybe it was just the brand I used, but it didn't exactly inspire confidence.
On the other hand, metal hangers with rubber inserts have been solid performers in my experience. I redid some plumbing in my basement about five years ago and used those metal hangers with rubber linings. Haven't had to touch them since, and they're still holding strong without any noticeable noise issues. Plus, they seem to handle temperature fluctuations better without getting brittle or loose.
One thing I did notice though—it's not just the hanger type but also how you space them out. Too far apart and even the best hangers won't stop the pipes from flexing and creaking. Learned that lesson the hard way after having to redo a section I'd rushed through (typical DIY impatience, right?). Once I tightened up the spacing a bit, things quieted down nicely.
Glad you got your issue sorted too—nothing beats finally silencing those random midnight pipe concerts...
Totally relate to that DIY impatience—been there myself more times than I'd like to admit. Good call on spacing the hangers closer together; it's amazing how much difference those few extra supports can make. I went through a similar trial-and-error process with my kitchen pipes, and once I finally got it right, it felt like a huge win. Glad you got yours sorted too...enjoy the peace and quiet!
"Good call on spacing the hangers closer together; it's amazing how much difference those few extra supports can make."
Couldn't agree more with this. Proper hanger spacing is something a lot of people overlook, but it really does cut down on pipe movement and noise significantly. Another tip I've found helpful is adding pipe insulation sleeves—especially in areas where pipes run close to studs or joists. It reduces vibration and provides a bit of extra protection against temperature fluctuations.
A couple years back, I helped someone troubleshoot a similar noise issue, and it turned out their water pressure was way too high, causing a lot of banging and knocking sounds. Installing a simple pressure-reducing valve made a huge improvement. Have you checked your home's water pressure lately? Sometimes addressing that can solve noise issues even further...
This thread is hitting home for me right now. I just bought my first house a few months ago, and the noisy pipes were driving me nuts. At first, I figured it was just an old-house quirk I'd have to live with, but after reading up on this forum and a few YouTube tutorials, I decided to give the hanger spacing thing a try.
I spent a whole Saturday crawling around my basement ceiling with a flashlight and a bag of pipe hangers. My knees were killing me afterward, but honestly, it was totally worth it. The difference was night and day—no more random knocking sounds waking me up at 2 am. It's funny how something so simple can make such a big impact.
I haven't tried pipe insulation sleeves yet, but that sounds like a solid next step. Might help with some of the creaking noises I still hear when running hot water upstairs. Also, interesting point about water pressure—I hadn't even thought about that being an issue. Now that you mention it, my kitchen faucet does seem pretty intense sometimes... maybe I'll pick up one of those pressure gauges next time I'm at the hardware store and check it out.
Anyway, glad I'm not the only one who's dealt with this stuff. Homeownership is definitely teaching me new things every day—mostly through trial and error (and plenty of YouTube).
Congrats on getting that sorted—sounds like a productive weekend. I'm dealing with something similar, but my pipes mostly make noise when I shut off the water quickly (like the washing machine or dishwasher). Wondering if that's related to pressure too, or maybe something else entirely... Has anyone else noticed certain appliances causing more pipe noise than others? Curious if it's appliance-specific or just random.
