Shower and tub buzzing sound

[JohnnoAndy]

Hi folks, my first post... Thanks for having me!

I recently purchased a new house and both my shower and tub on the top floor are making a strange buzzing sound that comes and goes when water is running. It's only on cold to middle, not on hot.

It's an american standard faucet, and I've replaced the cartridge and the pressure balance spool already. No change.

I made a short video to demonstrate the issue. Listen closely, a little hard to hear at first over the running water.

Any other suggestions?

 

[Terry]

Are both stops open all the way?

 

[Sponsor]

 

[JohnnoAndy]

Are both stops open all the way?

I didn't check that, good suggestion. I'll do so tomorrow... Thanks!

 

[Tuttles Revenge]

How close are the tub and the shower in relation to each other? Is it possible that they share the same cold water supply pipe? Is that likely a branch off the main cold that no other fixture shares?

 

[Jeff H Young]

How close are the tub and the shower in relation to each other? Is it possible that they share the same cold water supply pipe? Is that likely a branch off the main cold that no other fixture shares?

I think the situation is a tub/shower . not a bath tub and a separate shower as in 2 valves . Sounds normal to me when hot and cold are coming in its louder fiberglass tubs are noisy

 

[JohnnoAndy]

Hi again... Sorry for the delay in responding, I've been very busy with day job and haven't had a chance to look at this.

I made some progress today. To clarify, there are two fixtures... #1 is a shower/tub with diverter. #2 is a standalone shower. They're both on my top floor and both have the similar issues.

It seems #2 is now fixed. The stop valves weren't open all the way. I did so, sound has stopped. I was hoping #1 was the same issue given, but the stop valves were open art the way. I found the opposite to be true here... I have partially closed both the hot and the cold... And now the sound has gone. Very feint, but if you weren't looking for it you probably would even notice. The pressure is obviously not as strong, but still fine to shower.

Is it ok to intentionally leave the stop valves partially closed like this? Any better/other ideas? It does appear that this one valve is struggling with the water pressure.

I should also add that we have hard water and I believe the prior owners went without a functioning water softener for a good period of time. There's lots of the white/green build up (calcium?) on and around the valve.