Have you ever opened your water and heard the annoying noise of a pipe? This is called a water hammer. In addition to being annoying, water hammers can damage water pipes and cause water leaksThe water hammer refers to a loud knocking, banging, or hammering noise in the water pipes that occurs due to sudden closing of valves or when water flow is suddenly turned off.

The cause of the water hammer

The main cause of water hammer is excessive pressure in the pipes of the house. When the water is interrupted, it suddenly interrupts a large amount of water flowing to the end of the pipe. The next increase in pressure will make a noise that will cause someone to hit the pipes. These effects are influenced by the length of the pipe through which the water flows because a longer pipe means that more water is stopped by the valve. Long runs in pipes without bends also increase the likelihood of water hammer. Water hammers can also be created or raised by high water pressure in the household.Water hammer can cause serious damage to pipes by removing gaskets, brake linings, and even pressure gauges and system-related measurements.

How can we fix water hammering problem?

How can a homeowner solve this problem? There is a solution to this problem: installing a shock absorber, also known as an air chamber. A shock absorber provides a cushion to absorb the force of moving water in these water pipes.

Water hammer, no matter how harmless, is usually a sign of a bigger problem, mainly if a sudden problem occurs. The only person whom you trust is a reputable and licensed plumber. DIY plumbing repairs are not encouraged, especially when the issue is behind the wall. Plumbers have special tools to help identify problems even in places such as walls and other hard-to-reach areas. Once you know exactly what’s going on, your plumber can give you cheap tips on how to fix it.

To reduce the water hammer and its effects, plumbing lines must have water arrestors (also called air chambers). Air chambers are mainly used to create a “puff of air” that absorbs water pressure when the tap is turned off. A master can be installed at the bottom of the mainline of the house. If the pipes are much larger than the main surface, installing additional air chambers in isolated areas may be necessary.

For more information, contact Vinny’s Jersey Plumbing, located in Wayne, New Jersey.  We also service other cities in New Jersey, such as Franklin Lakes, West Orange and Ridgewood.