As a Tampa Bay plumbing contractor company, we have been serving the area for over thirty years. During that time we have encountered all kind of plumbing problems. Frequently, customers call to tell us they have noises coming from their pipes after the water is turned off. These noises are barely noticed at first but they gradually get louder until they can’t be ignored any longer. When customers call us to complain about this problem, we immediately think of “water hammer” because that is the main cause of noisy plumbing.

Why Does Water Hammer Occur?

Water hammer is caused when too much pressure builds up in the pipes in your home. When you shut the water off, the rush of water through the pipes is abruptly cut off. The following surge of pressure is what causes noises that actually sound as if someone is hammering on the lines. The length of the pipe plays a part in water hammer since the longer the pipe is the more water there is to get stopped when you turn off the faucet. So when you have long runs of pipe, especially if they don’t have bends in them, there is a greater chance of water hammer and an increased likelihood you will hear pipe noises.

The length of the pipe is not the only thing that contributes to water hammer. It can also be enhanced or caused by excessively high water pressure.

When the water pressure running through your pipes is too high it can cause all kinds of problems. It can actually damage the pipes, break seals, rip gaskets, and even go so far as to ruin meters and gauges that are connected to the system.

What Else Can Cause Noisy Pipes?

Although water hammer is what usually pops into mind when customers want help with noisy pipes, there are other things that could be the cause. One culprit is pipes that are not secure. If the pipes move around a little when water rushes through them then they can clang against each other or knock against a wall or stud that is nearby.

Can a Plumber Help?

A plumber can take care of water hammer so you can get peace from noisy pipes. This is done by putting water hammer arrestors or air chambers into the plumbing lines. These work by creating a puff of air that absorbs some of the pressure of the line when the faucet is turned off. You may need a master installed in the main water line to your house. If you have long runs of straight pipe, or if your fixtures are a lot higher than the master, then you might also need additional air chambers installed elsewhere in your plumbing lines. This is a job easily done by a plumbing contractor and it will get rid of those annoying knocks and clangs for good.

Before calling a plumber, try shutting off the water to your house and then opening a faucet until water drips out. This will allow air to get pushed into the air arrestor to recharge them and could solve the noisy pipe problem.

Author Bio: Professional Tampa Plumber for over twenty years.

Category: Home Management
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