But what happens when an annoying noise interrupts the serenity of the shower stall? Is it just an annoying sound, or a sign of something more worrisome still to come? It all depends on what kind of sounds you’re talking about.

Ready to get to the bottom of your noisy mystery – or, at the very least, have a quiet, soothing shower? Here are three common sounds you may hear when you crank on your shower – and what may just be to blame:

1.) A Loud Squeal

When your shower squeals like a pig at the state fair, the problem may be in the pipes. Rapidly flowing water, like the sort that runs to your shower, tends to make a high pitched noise when it switches from a wide space to a tighter area, causing sing-song vibrations.

Within your shower system, there are a few places where such a switch may occur; this video from This Old House does a great job of explaining where some of the likely sources. One common culprit is the mixing valve, which regulates the flow of hot and cold water, and is relatively easy for a professional plumber to replace. If the mixing valve isn’t the problem, the answer may lie in the director spout, which directs the flow of water from the tub spout to the shower head.

And if neither is the source, the answer may well be in your shower head!

2.) A Creaky Shower Head

Shower heads have a nasty tendency to creak and whine like ghouls at Halloween; fortunately, they’re easy to repair and replace for DIY-ers and pros alike.

What’s behind the devilish sound coming from your shower head? The answer may be as simple as sediment and mineral buildup; as these materials clog up in your shower head, they constrict the flow of water, causing that trademark whine or an ominous rattle.

You have numerous options. To start, you may just want to detach and clean out your showerhead using a toothpick or toothbrush. If the noise persists once you’ve cleaned out the head, the issue may be with the fixture itself, and it may be time to replace your shower head. While you’re at it, why not update to a more environmentally-friendly “low flow” model?

3.) A Rattle or Thump in the Wall

The sound is coming from… inside the house?!

If it’s a loud banging, thumping, or rattling emanating from your walls, then the sound is actually coming from inside your pipes. The issue is likely one of two things. One, your pipes may be loose or unsecured, meaning that it’s time to tighten their connections or remount them within your walls.

If the banging is particularly loud and percussive, the issue may be “water hammer,” a byproduct of built up water pressure turbulence. Water hammer can be easily fixed by having a plumber install air chambers or shock absorbers at the problem sites in your plumbing.

Have any more shower questions? Looking for plumbing gurus for your Red Oak bathroom or kitchen? We’d love to keep in touch! Drop us a line today, or follow us on Facebook or Twitter for the latest lessons and updates from our team.