What Causes Water Hammer in Pipes?
You turn off the faucet and immediately hear a loud banging echo through the walls. If you are wondering whether something in your pipe system is about to break, you can relax. That startling noise is what plumbers call water hammer.
What causes water hammer in pipes? This post can help you figure out whether these sounds in your house are a minor annoyance or a sign of bigger trouble. In this guide, Superior Plumbing & Drain Cleaning Services explains the typical causes of water hammer and what professional plumbing services do to address them.
What Is Water Hammer?
The water hammer phenomenon is not a mystery. It happens when moving water inside a pipe suddenly stops or changes direction.
Under normal conditions, the water will flow smoothly and carry a certain amount of energy tied to its speed. When that flow gets interrupted too quickly, the energy still has to go somewhere, so it turns into a pressure surge. The bang you hear is the water slamming against the pipe walls or valves with force.
Fast-Closing Valves Are the Main Culprit
If you know all about plumbing, you will know what an important role pressure and directional flow play in these systems. The most common explanation for what causes water hammer in pipes is a valve that slams shut. Fast-closing valves are common in household appliances.
For example, washing machines and dishwashers may use solenoid valves that snap shut almost instantly once a cycle finishes. That abrupt stop sends shock waves rushing backward through the pipe at incredible speeds. The waves then bounce between the valve and the nearest solid point in the system until the pressure evens back out, which is why you sometimes hear more than one bang in a row.
Other Factors That Cause a Noisy Plumbing System
Your plumbing system may still be facing other issues if you’re hearing frequent loud noises behind the walls. Loose pipe straps can shift or vibrate against studs or joists when pressure changes. A normally quiet pressure spike will then be an audible knock.
High water pressure throughout the home can also make any sudden stop more forceful. Older homes that lack modern shock-absorbing fittings tend to experience this more often. Listen for banging that happens every time you use one specific appliance to pinpoint where the issue starts.
Water Hammer Arrestors Might Help
Arrestors are small devices installed near problem valves. These devices can cushion any sudden pressure change to prevent water hammer. They contain a sealed air chamber or piston that compresses to absorb the shock instead of letting it slam against the pipe.
Superior Plumbing & Drain Cleaning Services Can Silence Your Pipes
Now you know what causes water hammer in pipes and how to fix it. If you would like an opinion about your home’s plumbing system in San Jose, schedule an inspection from Superior Plumbing & Drain Cleaning Services by calling (408) 709-7370. If you’ve also noticed air bubbles in water pipes, that is worth mentioning during our visit, as these issues are often related.
