The Solution for Water Hammer
One of the most well known plumbing noises is water hammer. It sounds like a hammer hitting pipes because water going through the pipe hits a bend in the pipe causing a shockwave. Water hammer is often caused by quick-closing valves, like those on washing machines and dishwashers, but the sudden shutting-off of water flow to toilets or by faucets can cause it as well. Whatever the culprit, the result is the same -a loud bang or banging sound. This impact can create pressure, and over time these repeated impacts and the pressure they cause can damage pipes and valves, weakening them and pipe joints.
Most homes these days have devices called air chambers, air cushions, or water capacitors. They have chambers within them filled with air, which act as shock absorbers. These devices can become completely or party filled with water because over time the air is absorbed into the water beneath it.
The damage water hammer causes can lead to a pipe breaking or bursting, which can lead to property damage or even injury. A professional evaluation is recommended, both to determine the extent of the problem and to get an estimate of what repairs or replacement will cost.
If water hammer suddenly starts, it’s often because one or more of a home’s air chambers have filled with so much water that they no longer work. It’s possible that they can be repaired instead of replaced. First the waterlogged air chamber(s) must be located. The water supply needs to be turned off prior to reaching the chamber(s), then the faucets and valves ahead of the chamber(s) need to be opened to allow the water in the pipe and chamber to drain. Air will then flow into the chamber restoring it.
If a home doesn’t have air chambers built into its plumbing system, reducing the overall water pressure might be a solution. This can be done by installing pressure-reducing valves in the water supply lines. But this might not work because the water pressure might be too low for second and third floor faucets and toilets to work properly. Another solution is to install air chambers, may current models have built-in valves for letting their air refill.
Other than damage caused by the affected pipe’s breaking, water hammer isn’t usually dangerous. It is important though to have a professional evaluate your problem and to help determine what will be needed to fix it.
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This entry was posted on Tuesday, March 3rd, 2009 at 6:06 am and is filed under Finance. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.