Hammer Time! (Sorry MC - WATER Hammer)
Water hammer is a specific plumbing noise, not a generic name for pipe clatter. It occurs when you shut off the water suddenly and the fast-moving water rushing through the pipe is brought to a quick halt, creating a sort of shock wave and a hammering noise. Plumbing that’s properly installed has air chambers, or cushions, that compress when the shock wave hits, softening the blow and preventing this hammering. 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 Oklahoma City plumbing system’s air chambers have become waterlogged. You can cure water hammer by turning off the water behind the waterlogged chamber, opening the offending faucet and permitting the faucet to drain thoroughly. Once all the water drains from the chamber, air will fill it again and restore the cushion. If the air chamber is located below the outlet, you may have to drain the main supply lines to allow the chamber to fill with air again.
The air chamber will not drain properly if it’s clogged with scale or residue from chemicals or minerals in the water. The chamber always should be larger than the supply pipe to preclude such clogging. Since the chamber is simply a capped length of pipe, however, all you have to do to clear it is remove the cap and clean out the residue.
What do you do if there are no air chambers built into your plumbing system? You must do something, because water hammer pressures may eventually cause damage: failure of fittings or burst pipes, for example. Because water hammer is most often caused by water pressure that’s too high, the first step is to reduce the water pressure if possible. Sometimes this isn’t feasible because a reduction in pressure may result in only a dribble of water at an upper-floor faucet if one on the first floor is turned on.
Where the idea is a workable one, you can reduce pressure by having your Oklahoma City plumber install a pressure-reducing valve in the supply line that comes into your Oklahoma City home. The same purpose is served by installing a globe valve at the head of the affected pipeline. But this too may result in pressure too low for proper operation when other faucets are open.
If pressure reduction is not feasible or is ineffective, install the necessary air chambers to prevent water hammer. If you have no room to make the installation without tearing into a wall, go to a Oklahoma City plumbing supply dealer and find out about the substitute devices designed for such problem areas. Many of these devices have a valve that makes it easy for air to re-enter the system.
The next time you hear noises or clatter coming from your Oklahoma City home’s plumbing system, try the solutions mentioned in this article. The same goes for leaking, sweating, or frozen pipes. If you can solve the problem right away, you can prevent it from becoming more serious.
Article Source: http://home.howstuffworks.com/home-improvement/plumbing/how-to-fix-pipes5.htm
If you are looking for a professional Oklahoma City plumbing repair contractor, then please call us today at 405-802-7769 or complete our online request form.
Pipes That Go Bump in the Night
Water flowing in pipes can cause all kinds of weird noises. We all know what water running through a pipe sounds like, but what about some of those other plumbing sounds - like creaks or cracking sounds, rattling, whistling and the most annoying or scary of them all, that loud banging noise? Let’s look at what causes those sounds and how you can fix them. You should be able to manage most of these, but if the problem persists you should seek the service of your Oklahoma City plumber. He can easily handle any pipe repair or installation that may be necessary.
Creaks or a cracking sound
These are usually caused by the expansion and contraction of the water pipes themselves. As hot water runs through a pipe, it naturally heats the pipe, causing it to expand slightly. Once the water stops flowing, the pipe cools and the metal contracts, resulting in the creaking or cracking sound. The easiest way to fix this is to put some insulation around the pipe, or if the pipe is running through a tight fitting hole in the wood framing, cut a notch in the framing so the pipe can expand and then contract without that creaking sound.
Rattling
The cause and remedy are similar to the cracking sound. The rattling sound comes from the pressure of water running through a loosely attached pipe, causing it to vibrate slightly. When a loose pipe vibrates against something solid, like framing or the strapping designed to hold it tightly, you hear the rattling sound. Stopping the pipe from vibrating will fix the rattle. Put some cushioning around the pipe or fasten the strapping more securely so the pipe won’t vibrate.
Whistling
This is usually caused by water flowing through a restricted section of the plumbing. The restriction can be sediment in the pipe or a defective washer or valve. If the whistling only occurs when a particular faucet is turned on, that’s likely where the problem is, and replacing the washer or repairing the valve seat should fix it. However, if the whistling sound occurs when any faucet is turned on, the problem is more likely in the main water supply valve itself. Adjusting the water pressure at the main water valve may dislodge the impediment, or the change in water pressure itself could get rid of the whistling sound. If that doesn’t eliminate the problem, you may have to get the water valve replaced. This is most likely a task for your Oklahoma City plumber.
Banging
The loud banging sound when you shut off the water flow is actually called “water hammer,” and is a fairly common complaint in older Oklahoma City homes. The flow of water through the pipes contains energy, and when the flow is abruptly stopped, this energy causes the loud banging sound. Initially a home’s plumbing system was built with short pieces of pipe that filled with air and acted as air cushions to absorb the water’s energy when the flow was stopped abruptly. However, over time the air has leaked out, meaning there is no air cushion left to absorb the water energy.
You can put that air cushion back into your plumbing system by turning off the main water supply and opening all the faucets in your Oklahoma City home to drain the system. Next, turn the water supply back on and work your way up through the house, turning off the faucets as water flows through them. This should trap some air in the air chamber so it will once again provide the cushioning effect. If this doesn’t work, you can buy a “water hammer arrester” that attaches directly to the water supply pipe where the water hammer originates.
If your Oklahoma City plumbing is making any of these sounds, you should be listening because it’s telling you it needs some plumbing maintenance. The sound is caused by something not working properly in your system and if you ignore it, over time, that small sound could lead to larger problems.
Read more: http://www.doityourself.com/stry/waterhammer#ixzz1mHkQ1peF
