A water hammer is a sudden stop of water throughout your water pipes that creates a vibration within your pipework. This typically occurs after a tap or valve is shut off suddenly. These often occur a lot more in older houses with old pipework.

So, if you live in an old house, you may start to notice a loud banging noise occur when you shut the water off. These typically occur on appliances such as dishwashers and washing machines, but still happen when you turn any tap off suddenly. It is normal for old pipes to get worn out and clips to fall off the pipework allowing the pipes to bang and not be able to absorb the sudden stop in water.

Below are some tips and tricks to help with your water hammer issue:

Tip 1. Inspect all visible pipework underneath your house or where you hear the loudest banging. If the pipework is loose, add a few saddles to the pipework to support the pipework and eliminate the vibrations in the pipework.

Tip 2. Open all the taps within your home to try and drain out any possible blocked air within the pipework. Let it run for a few minutes and then turn all the taps off slowly.

Tip 3. Test the pressure within your home on a garden tap with a pressure gauge. If the pressure exceeds 500kpa, you will need to reduce the pressure. High pressure is a common cause of water hammer.

Tip 4. Install water hammer arrestors on your pipework, specifically on the dishwasher taps and washing machine taps. These are designed to absorb the sudden stop of water and eliminate the water hammer.

Tip 5. After you have tried all of the above, call a licensed plumber and they will be able to assist you and eliminate the issue you have.

To find out more contact Scott at FXD Plumbing Sydney Inner West or Call Now on 0428 795 498.