Quiet the plumbing -- a little

Question: Our house has back-to-back bathrooms, one of which adjoins our bedroom. When guests use this bathroom, the sound of running water and the toilet flushing is so loud it wakes us up. How can we deaden this noise?

Answer: The good news is that there is something that can be done to cut down on the noise. The bad news is that anything you do short of remodeling may provide only modest relief.

The most cost-effective way to deal with noisy plumbing pipes is to insulate them. Water pipes that are accessible should be wrapped with the appropriate-size neoprene rigid insulation. Accessible soil pipes should be wrapped with a minimum of 1-inch-thick fiberglass insulation.

In either case, the insulation should be secured with duct tape. Wall cavities that contain plumbing pipes that are not accessible should be filled with blown-in insulation.

These measures may improve the condition only slightly, but that may be just enough to get you through the night.

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Steamed over the lack of hot water

Question: I live in a 1,200-square-foot home with a 40-gallon water heater. The showers take only about a minute to get warm, but the sinks are always ice cold. Is there anything we can do to get hot water without getting an on-demand system?

Answer: Although getting an on-demand recirculation system is more reasonably priced than ever, there are some things you might want to check out first. Your problem could possibly be a broken or cracked dip tube (a plastic pipe located inside your water heater).

When the tube is damaged, the cold water entering at the top of your water heater can dilute the supply of hot water. Turn off the water supply to the water heater. Remove the incoming cold-water-line connection at the top of the heater to expose the dip tube. Remove it and check it for damage.

If the dip tube isn’t damaged, try flushing your water heater to get rid of any sediment. Sediment buildup can prevent your burners from heating efficiently.

Manufacturers recommend flushing the water heater periodically, but there’s a danger of being scalded. Unless you are familiar with the procedure and take proper precautions, you may want to call a professional.

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For more home improvement tips, visit www.onthehouse.com.