You’re just going about your day, maybe washing dishes or flushing the toilet, when BANG! A huge noise like someone fired a cannon inside your pipes makes you jump out of your skin. If you’re lucky, it was just a one-time thing. But more likely, you’ve got a case of the dreaded water hammer on your hands.
This obnoxious plumbing problem causes shocking percussive noises from the violent slamming of water against pipes and valves. It’s like having a tiny demolition crew jackhammering inside your walls at random. Not exactly a soothing ambiance for home sweet home.
While water hammers may sound more like a plumbing torture device than an actual issue, they’re unfortunately pretty common. The good news is they’re usually more annoying than dangerous. The bad news? If left unchecked, those constant hydraulic shockwaves can eventually lead to some serious pipe damage. Time to grab your wrench and get that water hammer under control!
Understanding Water Hammers
Let’s take a step back and cover exactly what these water hammer gremlins are all about. Despite sounding like some sort of medieval siege weapon, it’s actually a pretty straightforward plumbing concept. Though certainly no less maddening when you’ve got one raging through your pipes.
At its core, a water hammer happens whenever there is a sudden stop or change in the flow of water inside your plumbing system. When water is trucking merrily along through pipes and hits an abrupt closed valve or bend, it has nowhere to go. This brings the liquid to a screeching halt, creating a shockwave that sends a tremendous burst of pressure and vibration rippling back through the pipes.
It’s kind of like slamming on the brakes in your car after flooring it on the highway. All that forceful momentum has to go somewhere, resulting in a jarring shudder through the whole vehicle. Except in this case, it’s all happening inside your home’s waterworks.
The louder the unexpected banging noise, the more intense the shockwave pressure happening behind the scenes. Strong enough water hammers can even cause pipes to rattle right off their hangers or develop pinhole leaks from the strain over time. Not something you want rocking your plumbing system on the regular.
While the occasional water hammer may be no big deal, frequent occurrences are usually a sign of bigger plumbing issues at play. Common culprits include overly high water pressure, faulty valves or appliances, or good old-fashioned air pockets in the pipes. Any of those can set the stage for those dreaded hydraulic shockwaves to keep on hammering.
Identifying Water Hammer Issues
So how can you tell if those spooky pipe noises are just a one-off fluke or the telltale signs of a chronic water hammer situation? Well, aside from the obvious bangs and clanks straight out of a construction site, there are a few other giveaway signs you’ve got a plumbing problem on your hands.
For starters, any time you hear those distinct hammering sounds when shutting off a faucet, flushing a toilet, or using a water-based appliance, it’s a pretty good indication you’ve got a water hammer brewing. The bigger the noise, the bigger the issue. If it sounds like the pipes are about to burst straight through the drywall, you know it’s bad.
Another red flag? If you start noticing any excessive shaking, rattling, or vibrating from the pipes themselves whenever you cut off the water flow. Those are the hydraulic shockwaves doing their destructive little dance right before your eyes (and ears). Pipes clanking against their hangers like they’re at a death metal concert is never a good sign.
While you’re investigating, keep an eye out for any warm spots, moisture, or signs of leakage around pipe connections or valves. Enough repeated water hammer trauma can start cracking even the toughest plumbing components over time. Those drips are basically your pipes crying out for a water hammer intervention.
If the banging persists no matter which fixture you use or which direction the water is flowing, chances are you’re dealing with an underlying pressure or aeration issue affecting the whole plumbing system. Time to break out the gauges and start sleuthing for the root cause.
At the end of the day, any combination of loud clanging, excessive shaking, leaks, or persistent issues across multiple fixtures is a dead giveaway that water hammer is running rampant in your pipes. The more obnoxious and widespread the signs, the sooner you’ll want to get that plumbing problem diagnosed and repaired before it really cuts loose.
Fixing Water Hammer Problems
Alright, so you’ve got some obnoxious water hammering going on and it’s driving you up the wall. Time to take action and get that plumbing system back under control before those shockwaves leave you with a burst pipe disaster on your hands. Luckily, there are a few different ways to wrestle those hydraulic gremlins into submission.
The Easy DIY Solutions
If you’re even moderately handy and the issue doesn’t seem too severe, you may be able to solve the water hammer problem yourself with some basic fixes:
Install Some Arrestors – These simple shock-absorbing devices are basically the plumbing version of a car’s suspension system. Installed at key locations, they help cushion those intense pressure waves before they can really get rocking.
Adjust the Pressure – Sometimes water hammers are caused by overly high pressure in the pipes. Installing a pressure-reducing valve or just dialing it down at the main supply line can relieve that built-up force.
Secure Loose Pipes – If you’ve got pipes rattling against studs or their hangers, that added movement just amplifies those shockwaves. Use extra strapping or insulation to snug up any loose sections.
For small, isolated water hammer issues, one of those easy solutions could be all it takes to restore the peace and quiet. If the noise persists across multiple fixtures though, it likely needs more heavy-duty intervention.
The Professional Plumbing Solutions
When DIY quick-fixes aren’t enough to stop the incessant pipe clanging, it’s probably time to call in a licensed plumbing pro. They’ve got the big guns to really get that water hammer under control:
Replace Faulty Valves – Whether in appliances or the main supply lines, old corroded valves that don’t close properly are a leading cause of hydraulic shockwaves. Replacing them with new valves designed to close softly can stop the hammering at the source.
Upgrade the Plumbing – For really stubborn whole-home water hammer, sometimes re-piping with modern materials and properly-sized pipes is the only solution. It allows redesigning the system to minimize those abrupt directional changes where pressure spikes occur.
Install Air Chambers – These are basically just capped vertical pipe sections that use compressed air to help absorb any shockwaves before they can reverberate. Like an anchor cushioning a ship’s movement.
The pros can also recommend long-term solutions like installing a whole-home water hammer arrester or bulky expansion tanks designed to handle intense pressure spikes more effectively.
Preventative Maintenance
Of course, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure when it comes to avoiding water hammer headaches in the first place. Proper installation and maintenance of your plumbing system components is key:
- Use water hammer arrestors right from the start during new construction
- Avoid sudden valve closures that create those hydraulic shocks
- Replace old appliances or valves that may not be closing smoothly
- Have a plumber routinely inspect for air pockets or other pressure issues
An investment in prevention now can save you from those jarring pipe clangs driving you up the wall down the road. Because once water hammer gets its foothold, it’s one relentless plumbing pest.
When to Call a Professional Plumber
Sometimes DIY just ain’t gonna cut it with these water hammer problems. You can try every trick in the book, but if those maddening pipe clangs keep on hammering, it’s time to throw in the towery and phone a friend – a plumbing professional friend, that is.
If you’ve already gone through the whole arrestor installation, pressure adjustment, and pipe securing routine without success, continuing to tackle that issue alone is like trying to paddle out in rough surf without a board. The persistent noise is a clear sign there are deeper problems in your plumbing system that need the expertise of a professional.
Older homes with antiquated, corroded pipes from the stone age are practically designed to create shockwave chaos no matter what DYI fixes you try. Tracking down the source of excessive air pockets, faulty valves, and other underlying issues is usually an exercise in futility for amateur sleuths. Why keep banging your head against the wall when you can call in the big gun plumbers to make quick work of it?
Same goes for any major repiping or plumbing upgrades needed to finally get that water hammer under control long-term. While you might be able to slap on a band-aid fix, only skilled pros have the knowhow to properly redesign and retrofit your plumbing system the right way to prevent those shockwaves.
There’s also the safety factor to consider with complex pipe configurations, high pressures, and having to lug around heavy appliances and equipment. One false move and you could be on a first-name basis with your local water damage restoration crew before you know it. Definitely not a mess you want to risk creating when the professionals can handle it quickly and safely.
These days, most plumbers actually have specialized water hammer prevention and repair services too. So if those obnoxious pipe clangs are becoming a real thorn in your side, don’t be a hero – call in the experts before you get in over your head and wind up with an even bigger plumbing catastrophe on your hands. They’ve got the tools, training, and straight up voodoo magic to get your system back to operating smoothly and silently again.
Stop Banging Your Head Against the Wall
When DIY water hammer fixes just aren’t cutting it, don’t keep suffering through those maddening pipe clangs. Save yourself the headache and call in the professionals at Bassett Services to get that plumbing system back in shipshape condition once and for all. Our expert plumbers have the skills to diagnose and repair even the most stubborn water hammer gremlins, restoring peace and quiet to your home. Dial (317) 360-0054 today!
