Yeah, loose supports can definitely cause a racket. Had something similar happen in my basement—pipes started knocking randomly, drove me nuts for weeks. Turned out it wasn't just loose clamps but also some air pockets trapped inside. Ended up bleeding the lines and tightening everything down, and it's been quiet ever since. Might wanna check if there's air in your system too...sometimes it's a combo of things causing the noise.
Good tip on bleeding the lines—definitely worth checking. A couple other things I've run into that caused pipe noise:
- Water pressure set too high (had to dial mine back a bit at the regulator).
- Expansion tank issues—if your system has one, make sure it's properly pressurized.
- Sediment buildup in the water heater can sometimes cause weird noises too.
Usually it's a combo of stuff, like you said...just gotta go down the list and rule things out one by one.
Good points about the expansion tank—I overlooked that one at first when I had pipe noise issues. Turned out mine had lost pressure over time, and getting it back up to spec quieted things down a lot. Also, totally agree on the sediment buildup. Had a water heater once that sounded like popcorn popping every time it kicked on...draining and flushing it out made a huge difference.
One other thing I've noticed is pipe brackets or hangers loosening up over the years. Sometimes pipes just vibrate against studs or joists, especially when water pressure fluctuates. Tightening or adding some extra padding around those spots can help quiet things down too.
Anyway, you're right—usually it's not just one thing causing the racket. Just gotta patiently chase down each possibility until you find the culprit. Good luck!
Had a tenant complaining about knocking noises once—turned out to be brackets too. Pipes were vibrating against an old joist. Couple foam pads and tightening things up quieted it right down...always something simple, isn't it?
Had a similar issue once, but foam pads weren't enough in my case. Ended up installing plastic pipe hangers to isolate the pipes completely from the wood—worked perfectly. Sometimes a slightly more robust fix is needed depending on the setup.
