A whistling or screaming faucet can be extremely annoying and put a damper on completing your everyday chores and tasks. Luckily, silencing your noisy faucet is not a difficult plumbing job. You can silence your faucet quickly and get back to your everyday routines.
Be sure to turn off the water valve before attempting any of these solutions.
Water ValveBefore you break out the wrenches or tear apart your faucet, make sure you check that the water valve is turned all the way on. If the water valve is not turned on all the way, it can cause your faucet to whistle.
Washer problemsWashers wear over time and can become loose and flimsy. When the washer isn’t secured tightly to the stem, it can produce a screeching sound. A noisy faucet can also be the result of a washer that isn’t the proper size because it is unable to fit securely to the stem. The washer seat can become partway closed due to soap or other residue; this will confine the flow of the water and result in a whistling sound from your faucet. Cleaning the seat will get rid of the pesky noise.
Worn stemsOver time, the metal threads of the faucet stem become worn and can cause a high pitched squealing sound when you turn the handles of the faucet. This can be fixed by replacing the stem. If the problem still persists, you might need to replace the whole faucet because that means the body threads of the faucet have become completely worn.
Water pressureWhen the water pressure is too high, it can cause your faucet to make noises. The water pressure can be easily adjusted with an adjustable wrench. The pressure of your water can be measured using a pressure gauge which can be purchased at any hardware store or ordered online. Loosening the nut on the regulating valve will slow the rate of your water pressure – getting rid of the squealing or whistling noise.
