Water hammer can cause serious damage to pipelines, pipe joins gaskets, and all other components of the system like flow meters and pressure gauges. On contact, these pressure spikes can easily exceed five to ten times the working pressure of the system, placing a tremendous amount of stress on the system.
Enough force from water hammer can even cause pipes to burst. If you hear rattling sounds along with the water hammer, it likely means you have pipes coming loose.
Left untreated, water hammer can cause significant damage by destroying pipework, the home's plumbing system, and appliances connected to the pipes. This damage has a ripple effect that can result in water damaging the home, mold issues, and structural integrity issues like rot.
Water hammer in plumbing can lead to serious damage if not corrected. If you're not comfortable attempting the steps above, our trained plumbing technicians can help. We provide piping and re-piping services in homes across the Houston area.
One method for eliminating water hammers is to create new air chambers that will serve as cushions for shockwaves. To do this, shut off your home's main water valve, then open the highest faucet in your home. Next, turn on the lowest faucet in your home and keep it on until all water has drained.
The extreme pressure caused by water hammer can blow out gaskets and cause pipes to suddenly rupture, causing serious injury to anyone nearby.
The chambers can fail, though, because water under pressure gradually absorbs the air. If you never had hammering and then it suddenly starts, most likely your plumbing system's air chambers have become waterlogged.
Left untreated, water hammer can lead to actual damage to pipework, appliances and components of any system. Over time this damage can accumulate and result in the premature failure of parts of the plumbing system and all the watery hassle that can cause.
Although arresters are typically tested to 10,000 cycles, Sioux Chief arresters have been in- dependently lab tested to withstand 500,000 cycles without failure. All Sioux Chief arresters are guaranteed to control water hammer for the life- time of the plumbing system.
A faulty toilet fill valve that doesn't close completely or a quick-closing fill valve are both possible causes of water hammer that occurs after you flush a toilet.
Water hammer will be made worse by having worn valves and pipework inadequately supported. There are five probable areas to look at for the cause of water hammer and a number of possible cures – the appropriate cure will depend upon the actual cause and the installation.
Appliances such as the washing machine, dishwasher or ice maker can be another cause of water hammer around your home. This is because they can cause pressure fluctuations that lead to said water hammers. If the hammer only occurs when one of these appliances is running or is turned off, then you have your culprit.
If you hear a banging or a bumping noise coming from your pipes after you flush the toilet, you likely have a water hammer issue on your hands. This shockwave effect occurs after a sudden change in water pressure, causing the pressurized water to bang against the valve opening.
If you're hearing banging noises at random, even while no water is running, it's likely that there's some sediment buildup at the bottom of your water heater. If this is the case, what you're hearing is the resulting reverberations of steam bubbles coming out of that built-up sediment.
Repeated water hammer may also cause significant damage to pumps, existing valves, and instruments, lead to the catastrophic failure of gasketed joints and expansion joints, and affect the integrity of pipe walls and welded joints. Water hammer can damage fittings, joints, and connections, resulting in leaks.
Exactly where to place the hammer arrestor will depend on the actual piping arrangement. The best places are either close to the pump, isolation or check valve that is originating the hammer, or at more distant points where the pipe changes direction, for example at the top of a pump riser.
Results of water hammer
Causing heat exchanger equipment failures. Breaking pipe welds and even rupturing piping systems. Causing the failure of pipe supports and guides. Bending internal system mechanisms.
A common cause of water hammer is high water pressure. If your pressure is running near 100 psi, then it's likely the cause of your issue. Normal pressure should be approximately 30 to 55 psi. To solve this problem, consider installing a water pressure regulator.
If the gauge shows the pressure is low enough and you still have problems, you may have to contact the plumber or builder. Installing an expansion tank in the plumbing is a necessity today and having one probably would have stopped your water hammer in your existing house.
First make sure the shutoff valve is open all the way. Turn the handle counterclockwise to fully open the valve. Flush the toilet and see if that stops the noise. If the noise persists, close the valve by turning it clockwise.
Installing Pressure Regulating Devices
High water pressure is a frequent reason for water hammering. Your problem is probably caused by your pressure, which is close to 100 psi. 30 to 55 psi is considered normal pressure. Consider hiring a plumber to install a water pressure regulating device to address this issue.
Water hammer can happen in any plumbing system including PEX systems. However, the flexibility that PEX systems have can drastically reduce the volume of pressure surges that would happen in metallic plumbing materials.
Water hammer can occur in both copper and PEX pipes, and can become so forceful that pipes can become loose at the joints, and burst. Burst pipes, particularly in wall cavities, can cause immense damage to your house and electrical system.
If an arrester doesn't eliminate the water hammer, reduce peak flow by partially closing the water-supply valves. The washer will fill more slowly but it will still fill to the right water level. If that doesn't work, consider a larger arrester or pressure reducing valves.