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 Mobile ViewPLUMBING SYSTEM INSPECT DIAGNOSE REPAIR AGE of PLUMBING MATERIALS & FIXTURES AIR DISCHARGE at FAUCETS, FIXTURES AIR INLET VALVE, WATER TANK AIR VOLUME CONTROLS, WATER TANK ANTI-SCALD VALVES APPLIANCE EFFICIENCY RATINGS BATH & KITCHEN DESIGN GUIDE BATHROOM MOLD BATHROOM VENTILATION BACKUP PREVENTION, SEWER LINE BIOLOGICAL POLLUTANTS Bisphenol-A, BPA BLEVE EXPLOSIONS BLOCKED DRAIN REPAIR METHODS BOILERS, HEATING BUILDING SAFETY HAZARDS GUIDE CARBON MONOXIDE - CO CHECK VALVES CHEMICAL CONTAMINANTS in WATER CHIMNEY INSPECTION DIAGNOSIS REPAIR CHLORAMINE / CHLORINE Tests CHLORINE IN DRINKING WATER CHLORINE in WATER, HOW TO TEST FOR CHLORINE IN SEPTIC WASTEWATER CISTERNS CLOGGED DRAIN DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR CLOGGED SUPPLY PIPING CONDENSATION or SWEATING PIPES, TANKS CROSS CONNECTIONS, PLUMBING DEBRIS in WATER SUPPLY, Water Heater DRAIN a WATER HEATER TANK DRINKING WATER - EMERGENCY PURIFICATION DRINKING WATER - EMERGENCY SOURCES Water Heater Anode & Dip Tube Check FLOODED HEATING EQUIPMENT REPAIR FLOODED WATER HEATER REPAIR FLOODED SEPTIC SYSTEMS, REPAIR FLUSHOMETER VALVES for TOILETS URINALS GALVANIC SCALE & METAL CORROSION GAS BURNER Flame & Noise Defects GAS FIRED WATER HEATERS GALVANIC SCALE & METAL CORROSION GAS BURNER Flame & Noise Defects GAS FIRED WATER HEATERS GAS PIPING, VALVES, CONTROLS HARD WATER - SOFTENERS HEAT TAPES, Heat, Insulation prevent Freeze-Up HOT WATER HEATERS KITCHEN & BATH DESIGN GUIDE KITCHEN VENTILATION LEAD POISONING HAZARDS GUIDE LEAD WATER PIPING HAZARDS & REMEDIES LEED GREEN BUILDING CERTIFICATION MANUALS & PARTS GUIDES - HVAC MIXING / ANTI-SCALD VALVES MUNICIPAL WATER PRESSURE IMPROVEMENTS MOLD INFORMATION CENTER MVOCs & MOLDY MUSTY ODORS NOISE / SOUND DIAGNOSIS & CURE NOISE CONTROL for HEATING SYSTEMS NOISE CONTROL for PLUMBING NOISE, PLUMBING DRAIN DIAGNOSIS NOISE, PLUMBING DRAIN REPAIR NOISE, PLUMBING CHECKLIST NOISES, WATER HEATER NOISES, WATER PUMP ODORS & SMELLS DIAGNOSIS & CURE OIL FIRED WATER HEATERS OIL & GAS PIPING OUTHOUSES & LATRINES PIPING IN buildings, Clogs Leaks Types AGE OF PIPING AIR DISCHARGE at FAUCETS, FIXTURES BRASS WATER PIPES CAST IRON DRAIN PIPING CAST IRON DRAIN LEAK, ODOR, REPAIR CHECK VALVES CHINESE DRYWALL HAZARDS COMPRESSION FITTINGS COPPER PIPING in buildings CLEANOUTS, PLUMBING DRAIN CLOGGED DRAIN DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR CLOGGED SUPPLY PIPES, DIAGNOSIS CLOGGED SUPPLY PIPES, REPAIR CLOGGED SUPPLY PIPES, HOT WATER CONDENSATION or SWEATING PIPES, TANKS CROSS CONNECTIONS, PLUMBING DEBRIS in WATER SUPPLY, Water Heater DIAELECTRIC PIPE FITTINGS DRAIN & SEWER PIPING DRAIN NOISES FLARE FITTINGS FLOOR DRAIN / TRAP ODORS FREEZE-PROOF PIPES GAS PIPING, VALVES, CONTROLS GALVANIZED STEEL WATER PIPING LEAD PIPES in buildings LEAD IN DRINKING WATER, HOW to REDUCE LEAD POISONING HAZARDS GUIDE LEAD WATER PIPING HAZARDS & REMEDIES LEAK TYPES, Water Supply/Drain Pipe OIL TANK PIPING & PIPING DEFECTS PLASTIC PIPING PLASTIC PIPE LEAK CAUSES PLUMBING DRAIN CLEANOUTS PLUMBING DRAIN VENTS PLUMBING DRAIN NOISE DIAGNOSIS PLUMBING DRAIN NOISE REPAIR PLUMBING VENT DEFINITIONS & TYPES PLUMBING VENT DEFECTS & NOISES REPAIR BURST LEAKY PIPES SEPTIC BACKUP PREVENTION SEPTIC BACKUP REPAIR SEWER BACKUP PREVENTION SEWER GAS ODORS SEWER GAS ODORS in COLD WEATHER SEWER BACKUP PREVENTION SEWER LINE REPLACEMENT SOUND CONTROL for PLUMBING SUPPLY PIPING SULPHUR & SEWER GAS SMELL SOURCES TRAPS on DRAINS VALVES, PLUMBING VENT PIPING Water pipe clog diagnosis Water pipe clog repair guide WELL PIPING LEAK DIAGNOSIS WATER HAMMER NOISE DIAGNOSE & CURE WATER PRESSURE LOSS PLUMBING FIXTURES, KITCHEN, BATH Plumbing Materials & Fixtures, Age, Types PUMPS & WELLS RANGE BOILERS RELIEF VALVES - TP Valves on Boilers RELIEF VALVES - Water Heaters RELIEF VALVES - Water Tanks SEPTIC SYSTEM INSPECT DIAGNOSE REPAIR SEPTIC & CESSPOOL SAFETY SEWAGE BACKUP TEST & CLEANUP SEWAGE & SEPTIC CONTAMINANTS SEWAGE CONTAMINATION in buildings SEWAGE CONTAMINANTS in FRUIT / VEGETABLES SEWAGE EJECTOR / GRINDER PUMPS SEWAGE NITROGEN CONTAMINANTS SEWAGE PATHOGENS in SEPTIC SLUDGE SEWAGE PUMPS SEWAGE PUMP CLOG DAMAGE SEWER BACKUP PREVENTION SEWER GAS ODORS SEWER LINE REPLACEMENT SCALE REMOVAL, WATER HEATERS SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS STEAM HEATING SYSTEMS SUMP PUMPS GUIDE SWEATING (CONDENSATION) on PIPES, TANKS TANK TYPES: WATER, OIL, EXPANSION, ALL TANKLESS COILS TANKLESS WATER HEATERS Temperature Pressure Relief Valves - Water Heaters TIMERS for ELECTRIC WATER HEATERSTOILETS, INSPECT, INSTALL, REPAIR TOILET ALTERNATIVES TOILET FLUSHOMETER VALVES TOILET INSTALLATION PROCEDURE TOILET OVERFLOW EMERGENCY TOILET PLUGS, SEWER BACKUP TOILET REPAIR GUIDE TOILET TISSUE CHOICES TOILET TISSUE TEST TOILET TYPES Toilet Types, Flush Methods TOILETS, DON'T FLUSH LIST TRAPS on PLUMBING FIXTURES VALVES, PLUMBING VENT PIPING WATER CONTAMINANT LEVELS WATER FILTERS WATER HAMMER NOISE DIAGNOSE & CURE WATER HEATERS WATER FILTERS WATER PUMPS, TANKS, TESTS, WELLS, REPAIRS WATER PUMPS & WELLS WATER PUMP CAPACITIES TYPES RATES GPM WATER PUMP CONTROLS & SWITCHES WATER PUMP PROBLEM DIAGNOSTIC TABLE WATER PUMP REPAIR GUIDE WATER PUMP TYPES & LIFE EXPECTANCY WATER PRESSURE & FLOW MEASUREMENT WATER PRESSURE GAUGE ACCURACY WATER PRESSURE LOSS DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR WATER PRESSURE PROBLEM DIAGNOSIS TABLE WATER PRESSURE REDUCER / REGULATOR WATER PRESSURE REGULATOR ADJUSTMENT WATER PRESSURE REPAIR GUIDE - WELLS WATER PURIFIERS WATER QUALITY TESTS, CONTAMINANTS, TREATMENT WATER QUANTITY IMPROVEMENT WATER SHUTOFF VALVE LOCATION, USE WATER SHUTOFF VALVE, WELL PUMP WATER SOFTENERS & CONDITIONERS WATER SOURCE ALTERNATIVES WATER SUPPLY & DRAIN PIPING WATER TANK AIR, HOW TO ADD WATER TANK: USES, TROUBLESHOOTING WATER TANK TYPES: WATER, OIL, EXPANSION, ALL WATER TANK AIR, HOW TO ADD WATER TANK REPAIRS WATER TANK DRAIN VALVE WATER TANK REPLACEMENT WATER TANK SAFETY WATER TANK SIZE & VOLUME WATER TESTS, CONTAMINANTS, TREATMENT WATER ODORS, CAUSE CURE WATER PURIFIERS WATER QUALITY TESTS, CONTAMINANTS, TREATMENT WATER TEST CHOICES & WATER TEST FEES WATER TREATMENT EQUIPMENT CHOICES WELL PUMP PRIMING PROCEDURE WELLS CISTERNS & SPRINGS WINTERIZE A BUILDING More Information |
The articles at this website will answer most questions about plumbing noise associated with water hammer or water surge, including the diagnosis and cure of water hammer noises as well as many other building plumbing system inspection or defect topics. InspectAPedia offers impartial, unbiased advice without conflicts of interest. We will block advertisements which we discover or readers inform us are associated with bad business practices, false-advertising, or junk science. Our contact info is at InspectAPedia.com/Contact.htm.Water hammer noises in plumbing is also called hydrostatic shock. Our page top photo shows a water hammer noise suppression device produced by Oatey and available at building suppliers. This particular water hammer noise suppressor is interesting because it's designed to be added to a hose bib or washing machine hose connection by a homeowner, avoiding having to cut and solder pipes. For steam heat piping noise, see BANGING HEATING PIPE NOISES. Also see NOISE CONTROL for PLUMBING and Sound Control for Plumbing for an extensive list of causes and cures of building plumbing noises. Reproduction of this web page electronically at other websites is prohibited. © Copyright 2012 InspectAPedia.com, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use page top links to major topics or use links at the left of each page to navigate within topics and documents at this website. Green links show where you are in a document series or at this website. Water Hammer Noises in buildings: Diagnosis & CureWe divide water hammer or banging pipe noises in buildings into two categories:
How to Fix Water Hammer Noises in House Plumbing Systems
Water hammer can damage pipe connections and result in leakage. Water hammer works like this: water passing through a pipe has momentum or velocity. When the valve is shut quickly, the momentum of the water carries it into the valve with considerable force. Since water is essentially incompressible, a large pressure is built up against the valve, and there is low pressure upstream in the pipe. The high-pressure water wants to flow to the low-pressure area. This happens so quickly that a small vacuum is created against the valve as the water moves away from it. This can result in cavitation as the water is pulled back against the valve a second time. This continues back and forth in slowly diminishing shock waves. Pressures up to 600 psi (some sources say 1000 psi) can result from water traveling up to 3,000 miles per hour, for very short periods. Water hammer can result in loud noises in supply plumbing pipes. Water hammer only occurs as valves are closed. If a valve is closed slowly, and the noise does not occur, one can be sure that water hammer is the problem. Water hammer is common with quick-closing electrically operated valves on appliances such as washing machines and dishwashers. Air chambers can be installed to control water hammer, as Carson Dunlop's illustration (above) demonstrates. Causes of Water Hammer / Hydrostatic Shock Include
Cures for Water Hammer or Air Hammer - Hydrostatic Shock Noises in buildings
Also see Sound Control for Plumbing for an extensive list of causes and cures of building plumbing noises. Also see NOISES COMING FROM WATER HEATER for the diagnosis and cure of clanking or thumping noises that may be coming from your water heater or heating boiler. - Adapted with permission from The Home Reference Book Heating Pipe Noises: Banging Pipes on Steam or Hot Water Heating SystemsPlease see our complete articles on heating system noise diagnosis and cure at HEATING SYSTEM NOISES and BANGING HEATING PIPE NOISES. Excerpts are below. If it sounds as if someone is down in your baement or cellar banging on the heating pipes with a hammer, and particularly if your buildijng is heated with steam radiators (see STEAM HEATING SYSTEMS), the noise you hear may be due to water hammer in the steam piping system. In both one-pipe and two-pipe steam heat systems steam rises into the building's heating radiators, forcing air out of the radiator's steam vent (see Steam Vents), then making the radiator hot. Inside the hot radiator steam condenses back to water as heat is radiated (by the "radiator") into the room. This steam condensate must drain back into the steam boiler where it is subsequently re-heated to steam to continue the heating cycle. But if the condensate is having trouble returning to the steam boiler your heating pipes may become waterlogged. This happens because when the steam boiler water level drops and is not replenished by returning condensate, the automatic water feeder will just send more water into the boiler. Condensate accumulating in the steam piping (when it should be returning to the boiler) not only water-logs the system, it also means that cooler condensate (water) comes into contact with hotter rising steam in the piping. This contact can cause rapid expansion/contraction in the heating pipes and produces the loud "pipe banging" noise we are discussing. Your heating service technician should be someone familiar with steam heating systems and the proper layout and function of condensate return lines in your home. The tech will look for a problem that is blocking condensate return to the heating boiler, such as a clogged strainer in the system piping, a steam trap clogged with rust, minerals, or sediment, or a similar problem. A separate problem: failure of individual steam radiators to get hot, could also be due to blocked condensate return. If a radiator's steam vent is not working, or if a one-pipe steam system's radiator has settled so that it is no longer properly tipped to send condensate back into the steam pipe (and back to the boiler), that radiator will stop working. But individual radiator troubles do not usually explain banging heating pipes. Watch out: If your heating boiler does not have an automatic water feeder and you've been putting makeup water into the boiler manually, a blocked condensate line and low water in the boiler will eventually lead to total loss of heat when the low water cutoff switch (see LOW WATER CUTOFF CONTROLS) , a key boiler safety device, simply shuts down the boiler. Other causes of heating system noises are discussed at HEATING SYSTEM NOISES. Questions & Answers regarding this articleQuestions & answers about banging pipes and water hammer noise: how to find, fix, or prevent banging water pipes or heating pipes Ask a Question or Search InspectAPediaHTML Comment Box is loading comments...
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