Water Hammer in Your Pipes? Here's What's Causing It
If you've ever heard a loud bang or thud coming from the wall after you turn off a faucet, you know what water hammer in pipes sounds like. The noise is startling and annoying, but it can also damage your plumbing system. It's caused by water being forced to stop or change direction suddenly as it flows through your pipes. The resulting shockwave rattles your pipes, creating movement that isn't supposed to happen. Let's explore more about what causes water hammer and how to handle it.
What Causes Water Hammer in Jacksonville Homes?
Water hammer occurs in both Jacksonville's older neighborhoods and in the rapidly constructed new homes. Here are the most common causes of knocking pipes Jacksonville homes experience:
- High water pressure: When water pressure exceeds 80 psi, the valves and fixtures in your home must stop a much stronger flow, amplifying the shockwave effect.
- Loose or unsecured pipes: Pipes that aren't properly fastened to joists and studs have nothing to hold them in place when pressure surges hit, causing excessive movement.
- Faulty or missing air chambers: Air chambers are like cushions that absorb pressure spikes. Waterlogged or non-existent air chambers cannot soften the blow.
- Quick-closing valves: Appliances like dishwashers and washing machines have solenoid valves that snap shut almost instantly, which can result in banging pipes.
Jacksonville also has hot, humid conditions that can accelerate corrosion inside pipes, weakening joints and connections, and reducing their ability to absorb pressure fluctuations.
Why You Shouldn't Ignore Water Hammer
When they hear knocking pipes, Jacksonville residents often ignore them as a harmless quirk of an older house. But repeated hammering on the pipes takes a toll. With each pressure surge, plumbing components are stressed. Over time, this can lead to loose fittings, pinhole leaks, and even burst pipes. All of these are more expensive to repair than addressing the water hammer.
Water hammer in pipes can also damage appliances, pushing their danger beyond structural risk alone. Washing machines, dishwashers, and water heaters aren't designed to handle the repeated pressure spikes caused by water hammer. Again, replacing a damaged appliance valve can be more expensive than a straightforward water hammer fix.
Quick Fixes vs. Professional Solutions
For some water hammer problems, a DIY solution solves the issue. The idea is to drain your plumbing system so the air chambers recharge. This is a simple process:
- Shut off the main water supply.
- Open the highest and lowest faucets in the house.
- Let all the water drain out.
This allows air to refill the chambers so they can once again do their job of shielding your pipes from water pressure changes.
For some homeowners, however, this doesn't solve the problem; either the problem repeatedly returns or never fully goes away. In these cases, a professional solution is in order. A licensed plumber can install water hammer arrestors at the specific fixtures causing the issue, adjust your pressure-reducing valve, or secure loose pipes. In some homes, particularly newer ones where component wear isn't a likely culprit, the incoming municipal pressure needs to be regulated down to a safer level. This procedure should only be handled by a professional.
Contact Us at Superior Plumbing for All Your Plumbing Needs
If your home has banging pipes, don't wait for a small problem to become a much more expensive one. Superior Plumbing helps Jacksonville homeowners diagnose and resolve water hammer in pipes every day. Our experienced technicians track down the source, recommend the right solution, and make sure your plumbing runs quietly again.
Contact us today to schedule an inspection.
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