Water Hammer: What It Is and What Causes It

On a normal day, the water pipes in your home are fairly quiet. However, if you hear a sudden banging noise coming from the pipes, it’s likely that you’re facing a common plumbing issue known as water hammer. For the uninitiated, water hammer occurs when the pressure in your pipes is suddenly increased when a faucet or valve is shut off. But what exactly is it that causes this issue?

Here the plumbing and  heating repair  experts of R.A. Biel Plumbing & Heating discuss the common causes of water hammer and what you can do about it.

Water Appliances

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. To rectify this, install a water hammer arrester to regulate the in-line water surge.

Old Pipes

Old water pipes that aren’t sufficiently secured to your home’s structural features are another underlying cause of water hammer, as they can swing and shake whenever there’s a change in pressure. To confirm this, check your crawl space or any visible supply pipes to see if they move significantly in certain areas. You may even want to enlist the help of a friend to turn the water off and cause a water hammer while you observe the pipes. If they do end up being the issue, call a plumbing and  drain and sewer repair  expert like R.A. Biel Plumbing & Heating to rectify this issue.

Water in the Air Chambers

Your pipes have what are called air chambers in them. Water hammer most commonly occurs when these air chambers have too much water in them. While the chambers regulate pressure and prevent water from forming waves in your pipes, too much air can suddenly cause the opposite to occur. 

If you want to fix this issue, simply turn off your main water shut-off valve, then turn on your faucets and open the valves to drain any water suspended by pressure. By doing this you allow the air chambers to clear before you turn the faucets off again.

Do you need a consummate professional to do some plumbing work around your home? If so, turn to R.A. Biel Plumbing & Heating. When it comes to plumbing and  air conditioning repair , we’re your number one service provider, and we won’t let you down! Give us a call at (505) 327-7755 or fill out our  contact form  to request a free estimate.

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