Water hammer is caused by water going through a pipe and hitting a bend and changing direction. When water hits the pipe as it changes direction it causes a shockwave, this is the hammer sound. It's most often caused by quick closing valves on appliances such as dishwashing and clothes washing machines. But it can also be caused by the quick shutting off of water by toilet tanks and faucets in sinks, showers and bathtubs.
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.
Water hammer doesn't only affect water plumbing systems, it can also affect steam ones. But in steam delivery or distribution plumbing it's referred to as 'steam hammer'. In these cases, steam condenses into water in one of the horizontal sections of pipe. Steam picks up this water and sends it into a pipe connection or joint.
An air chamber that's under the level of the valve or faucet may present more work. The home's main water supply lines may need to be drained so that the chamber(s) can fill with air. An air chamber that won't drain properly may be clogged with scale, tuberculation, or minerals and chemicals in the water. Sometimes it's not possible to clean out the chamber(s), and replacement is left as the likely option.
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.
If the home's plumbing system doesn't have air chambers built into it, reducing the water pressure may be a solution, this could be accomplished with the installation of valves that reduce the pressure of the lines coming into the house. But this might not work if it leads to such low pressure that faucets and valves on upper-floors only have a trickle of water coming out of them. If pressure reduction doesn't work, it may be necessary to install air chambers into the current plumbing system. Many of the chamber devices currently on the market have a built-in valve for letting air refill. - 16036
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.
Water hammer doesn't only affect water plumbing systems, it can also affect steam ones. But in steam delivery or distribution plumbing it's referred to as 'steam hammer'. In these cases, steam condenses into water in one of the horizontal sections of pipe. Steam picks up this water and sends it into a pipe connection or joint.
An air chamber that's under the level of the valve or faucet may present more work. The home's main water supply lines may need to be drained so that the chamber(s) can fill with air. An air chamber that won't drain properly may be clogged with scale, tuberculation, or minerals and chemicals in the water. Sometimes it's not possible to clean out the chamber(s), and replacement is left as the likely option.
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.
If the home's plumbing system doesn't have air chambers built into it, reducing the water pressure may be a solution, this could be accomplished with the installation of valves that reduce the pressure of the lines coming into the house. But this might not work if it leads to such low pressure that faucets and valves on upper-floors only have a trickle of water coming out of them. If pressure reduction doesn't work, it may be necessary to install air chambers into the current plumbing system. Many of the chamber devices currently on the market have a built-in valve for letting air refill. - 16036
About the Author:
Brain LeMaire has served as President of CuraFlo since September 2006, before that he has worked in the pipe leak repairs and pipe restoration industry in Vancouver, Canada as General Manager of West Coast Pipe Restoration. He just updated the Page on low water pressure
