Is Your Showering Whistling and Making
Squealing Sounds? Here is Why
Table of Contents
It’s fairly common for showers to start making strange noises as they age. These sounds could be whistling, squealing and screaming whenever you shower. Here are the most common causes of shower whistling and squealing noises and how to solve the issue.
Why is Your Shower Making High-frequency Noises?
Following are the main reasons your shower is making whistling sounds.
1. Your Showerhead Needs to Change:
- Nothing lasts forever, and the same goes for showerheads. The internal components of a showerhead may eventually deteriorate due to limescale development and continuous use. The identical showerhead might not last as long in your home as it would in another region of the country, depending on the mineral makeup of your water supply.
2. Clogged Showerhead Pipes:
If the showerheads work fine, it means that the pipes are blocked. To fix the issue, try snaking a flexible narrow tool to clear the minerals that had been building up in the pipe leading to the showerhead.
3. Faulty Shower Cartilage:
- Though rare, sometimes shower cartridges may be broken or damaged. You may need professional help to fix this issue because the cartridge is inside the faucet.
4. Malfunctioned Diverter Valve:
- If you have a bathtub shower faucet, then you probably have a diverter valve. However, it stops working and deteriorates with time due to rusty metal parts or an old flapper. The part must be replaced if you turn this handle and hear whistling noises.
5. Deteriorate Valves and Washer:
- If your shower supplies hot and cold water, that is used to balance hot and cold water. A squealing sound may be caused by old valves and washers that indicate that the washers and valves need to be replaced. Furthermore, an old washer can be a reason for a whistling sound if too much water has been used. To fix the issue, replace the faucet handle, the escutcheon plate and the washer with a new one.
6. Clogged Shower Cartridge:
Shower cartridge can be found inside the shower faucet that helps control the water flow. However, you should check the issue instantly if it starts making a whistling or squealing noise. Moreover, debris stuck in the cartridge’s holes could also be a reason, leading to low water pressure and a whistling shower.
Is a Squealing Shower Dangerous?
It’s no doubt that squealing sounds are unpleasant and annoying. However, these sounds can be dangerous if the noise results from rust and corrosion. Moreover, these issues do not resolve on their own, they even get worse over time. Consequently, you may face more damage and expensive repairs in the future.
Some Tips to Remember Regarding Shower Whistling
- One way to check if the shower head is making unusual noises is by taking the shower head off and turning the water on; if it is not making noises anymore, it means the shower head is faulty.
- To fix the issue, soak the showerhead in water and vinegar for some time, then thoroughly wash it to brush up any mineral build-up and place it back.
- If that does not help, you may need to change the showerhead.
