Why does the gas pipe in the apartment vibrate and buzz: causes of noise and solutions to the problem
Have you ever had to figure out the reasons why a gas pipe vibrates and buzzes in an apartment in the kitchen? Agree, ignoring this symptom is quite dangerous, since any malfunctions of gas equipment often cause an emergency. The consequences can be disastrous for all residents of a multi-storey building.
The main danger of such a sign as vibration of a gas pipe lies in its unremarkability. You can simply not notice a weak buzz for a long time, or get used to the unobtrusive sound, considering it a normal manifestation.
In order to avoid catastrophic consequences, it is important to learn to pay attention to suspicious noise or vibration inside the gas pipeline. We will help you understand the causes of unpleasant noise, and teach you to determine when it is worth contacting the gas service immediately.
The content of the article:
Causes of strange noise in the pipe
Quite often, residents of apartment buildings complain of atypical sounds coming from a gas pipe in the kitchen.
Regardless of the frequency of use of the gas stove, the sound can amplify to a monotonous buzz, or gradually decrease to a noticeable vibration.
Often, such manifestations are caused by a strong gas pressure inside the pipeline, but often the causes of noise and vibration of the gas pipe can be as follows:
- during gas supply, there are strong pressure drops inside the pipe, which is accompanied by a characteristic buzz;
- one of the neighbors installed a device (hood or refrigerator) in contact with the gas pipe, which, in turn, conducts vibration from the device throughout the pipeline;
- the gas pipe is not well fixed, due to which each inclusion of gas can be accompanied by annoying noise or vibration;
- a characteristic whistling sound accompanied by a bright smell of gas may indicate a gas leak, which requires an urgent call to the emergency service;
- too much air is supplied with the gas, which may cause a slight buzz in the gas pipe;
- contamination of the nozzle nozzle prevents the normal combustion of gas, which is accompanied by a loud buzz.
If the gas pipe in the apartment is humming temporarily, and is not accompanied by any other signs, then the reason is the fluctuation of gas pressure. Gas is transported by trunk pipeline it is due to pressure differences, therefore, as the distance of gas supply increases, there is a need to increase pressure.
The procedure is carried out in order to compensate for losses arising in the process of transporting large volumes of gas. With increasing pressure, the volume decreases and the density of natural gas increases, which, reaching the consumer, causes a noticeable buzz and vibration inside the pipeline.
How to determine the cause of noise?
If you notice that even insignificant noise systematically appears in the gas pipe area, then before calling the emergency service, we recommend that you independently understand the causes of its occurrence.
Unusual sounds in the gas pipeline can indicate a serious malfunction, requiring urgent intervention by specialists.
In this case, you will need to conduct a thorough, simplest diagnosis of a gas pipeline:
- Check the piping for gas leaks. Moisten with soapy water the places of flanged and threaded connections, in the area of which bubbles should form during gas leakage. If the gas comes out in a strong stream, then in any case, a distinct hum will be heard, reminiscent of the sound of a descending ball, and a vivid smell of gas will also be felt.
- Pay attention to the density of fasteners. Touch the gas pipe and try to stir it up. If the pipe loosens from side to side, and vibration or noise disappears immediately after it is manually fixed to the wall, then the problem is with the “walking” mount.
- Observe the frequency of noise. If vibration accompanied by a weak buzz occurs on a regular basis, while there is an equal gap between each “sound”, then most likely the matter is in your neighbors. Perhaps they installed an extractor hood or a refrigerator close to the gas pipe, which is why each inclusion of the device is accompanied by a noticeable vibration throughout the pipeline.
- Take a closer look at the burner flame. During combustion, the gas has a pure blue color, while the presence of an orange flame indicates the intentional mixing of gas with air. If you heard in your kitchen a noticeable hum or vibration in the area of a gas pipe, then first you need to set fire to a burner and look at the flame. The reason for the noise may lie precisely in the large volume of air supplied with the gas.
- Check if nozzles are dirty. The burner is a nozzle responsible for supplying gas. If it is contaminated, there may be problems with the flow of gas, because of which you can hear the gas pipe in your apartment buzzing. If you notice that the flame intensity has noticeably decreased, then most likely the cause of the noise is precisely the pollution of the nozzle nozzles.
The very first thing you need to do as soon as you notice an atypical sound inside the gas pipe is to check the equipment for gas leaks.
A slight leak can be accompanied by a faint smell of gas, often invisible to many people, so a malfunction can only be detected with a soap solution. In case of leak detection, it is urgent to shut off gas tap, and call the emergency service.
How to fix the problem
Any malfunctions of gas equipment require urgent intervention by gas service specialists, but in some cases you can solve the problem on your own. The atypical buzzing sounds in the gas pipe area do not always indicate a gas leak or pressure drops during gas transportation.
If the annoying buzz inside the gas pipe appears systematically, with the same interruptions, then most likely the vibration is carried out through the pipeline from the apartment of your neighbors. The installation of refrigeration or ventilation equipment close to the gas pipe leads to a noticeable vibration throughout the pipeline of the house, especially in neighboring apartments.
After you find out why a gas pipe is buzzing in your apartment, you will need to contact your neighbors with a request to fix this problem.
Gas range burner cleaning
Unpleasant noise can also occur due to contamination of nozzles during operation. In addition to buzz, the pressure of the gas entering all four nozzles drops. If the burner is ignited with difficulty, and the flame intensity is low, then you should try to clean the nozzle nozzles yourself, based on detailed instructions. With the right procedure, the gas pressure will return to normal, and with it the buzz will disappear.
The nozzles require cleaning only if there are problems with the gas supply, the flame intensity has decreased, or atypical noise has appeared during the operation of the stove.
To clean them, you will need to perform the following steps:
- Remove the burner cover from the stove and, if necessary, clean it on both sides.
- Find a small hole in the center of the burner - this is the nozzle through which gas enters the burner.
- Take a straightened paper clip or ordinary wire, insert it into the hole and scroll several times. Repeat this step twice to make sure there are no problems with the channel.
- Assemble the hotplate and check the quality of the gas supply. Never attempt to blow gas directly through the nozzle.
If, when you try to clean the nozzle, the thin wire does not pass through the nozzle channel, encountering some kind of obstacle, you will urgently need to contact the gas service.
Upon arrival, the master will assess the degree of contamination of the nozzle, and if necessary replace the part. In this case, do not try to clean the nozzle yourself with water or vinegar, since no liquid should get into the nozzle.
Call a gas service specialist
The presence of vibration or buzzing in the area of the gas pipe for no apparent reason may be a sign of serious equipment problems. If such “symptoms” are in no way connected with neighboring equipment, nozzle contamination, or increased pressure when gas is supplied, then it is best to contact the profile wizard immediately.
If the unpleasant noise in the gas pipe is accompanied by a sharp smell of gas in the apartment, then you should call the emergency service as soon as possible. Such a situation can turn into a serious problem not only for you, but also for residents of the whole house.
Atypical sounds in the gas pipe area can appear both due to the operation of household appliances of neighbors, and as a result of a malfunction of gas equipment.
Regardless of the cause, vibration and buzzing inside the pipeline cannot be ignored, since such a breakdown can have disastrous consequences in the near future.
Conclusions and useful video on the topic
You can learn how to properly clean the nozzles of the gas stove burner from the following video:
Why is it better to choose universal fasteners for a gas pipe in the kitchen:
The article revealed the most common causes of vibration in the gas pipeline in the kitchen, which will help to independently determine the root causes of annoying noise. In any case, if the buzz is constant, and is in no way connected with the operation of the burners, you should immediately contact the gas service specialists. The wizard will conduct a scheduled diagnosis of gas equipment, and determine the cause of noise in the gas pipe.
Have you ever encountered such a problem as the humming and vibration of a gas pipe? Please share your experience with our readers, tell us about the cause of the unpleasant phenomenon and how you managed to solve the problem. Leave your comments, ask questions in the block under the article.