Have you ever noticed a loud banging or thumping sound coming from your pipes after you turn off a faucet or valve? If so, you may have experienced a phenomenon called water hammer. It’s like a tiny earthquake happening inside your plumbing system! But don’t be fooled by its harmless-sounding name because water hammer can actually cause serious damage to your pipes over time.
In this blog post, we’ll dive into what exactly water hammer is, how it happens, and, most importantly, how it can mess up your pipes. So grab a cup of coffee, sit back, and let’s get into it!
What Is Water Hammer?
A water hammer is a banging or hammering noise heard in a water pipe following an abrupt flow change with resulting pressure surges. It can also be known as hydraulic shock.
It’s a good idea to jump on this and have it looked at before it causes more damage to your pipes.
After attending a property for noise coming from the pipes & walls. It didn’t take long to find the cause! Pipes being supported by nails or even not at all! This not only creates an uncomfortable noise in the walls but it causes damage to your water supply line and the house’s internal structure.
After re-clipping the whole plumbing system, adding water hammer washers to tap-ware, sealing all penetrations, replacing the faulty duo valves and installing a water hammer arrestor in line, the water hammer has stopped. Get it right the first time, and give us a call.
What Causes it to Happen?
While water hammer is the most common term for water pipes that make a banging noise, the technical term is ‘hydraulic shock’. It generally occurs when the water stops or changes direction abruptly. This creates a shock wave that makes pipes either bang together or knock against the inside of a wall. Excess pressure in the water lines could also be a reason your pipes are experiencing annoying water hammers.
Turning on and off the tap in the kitchen or bathroom can also cause it to happen. It may also occur when your dishwasher or washing machine changes a cycle. If pipes are loose within the walls and can move when changes in water pressure occur, you’ll likely suffer a hydraulic problem.
How Bad Can Water Hammer Get?
Severe hydraulic shock cases are loud and irritating, and pipes can also crack or burst, leading to flooding in your home’s plumbing systems. This is a more extreme result, but one that does sometimes occur.
If your home is suffering from water hammer problems, you should have the problem looked at and resolved by a plumbing professional to give you peace and quiet once again. A local plumber can help you fix water hammer and determine if there is excessive water pressure or water flow. You can also look at other options for your piping system, such as air chambers or a water pressure regulator. So if you want to learn more, make sure you speak with our friendly team!
Original article by Refined Plumbing Sunshine Coast
