Water Hammer Solution Experts in Sydney

Picture this, it’s the middle of the night and you wake up and all you want is a glass of water. But you remember that if you turn that tap on and off, your pipes will start to sound like you’re playing the drums for a rock band.

How do you prevent this from happening so you can turn on your taps at any time you want without waking up the house?

The most common cause is a water hammer. Water hammer occurs when turning off the water at a tap and the water vibrates back down the line, causing pipes to bang and crash against each other or the wall.

In some houses there may be water chambers installed on the pipework that should have air in them. These pipes are designed to absorb the water stopping, meaning the water will hit the air cushion and prevent the loud bang. Overtime these chambers fill up with water and you lose the air chamber. The easiest way to get that back is to simply turn off your main water valve, open all of your taps and once the water stops, turn all taps back off. Then turn your main water supply back on. This will give the air chambers some air cushion and eliminate the banging.

Another cause is loose pipework. These vibrate against the clips or walls when water is turned off. Simply re-secure the pipework to make sure no pipework is loose. This will eliminate the banging sound.

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

Water hammer within your pipes is common, but we wouldn’t say it is dangerous. While it can create fittings on your pipework to become loose and fall off, these are not life-threatening issues. The worst that could possibly occur is a water leak. If you have excessive water hammering, you are at a high risk of finding a leak. Most pipework is located in your walls and under your house, so when a leak appears it will then damage your walls or under your house. Our tip would be as soon as you notice or hear the water hammer, that issue should be addressed straight away as to prevent more problems happening later on down the track. Water hammers can cost you a lot of money in damages.

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

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.

Draining the pipes in your house are done when you need to fix a water hammer problem, shut down seasonal property for the winter and make major plumbing repairs. To drain the pipes, follow these simple steps:

1.      First, shut off the main water valve at the water metre.

2.      Starting at the top floor of your house, open all the sink faucets. Doing so will allow air into the system to help the flow of the water.

3.      Go to the lowest level of your home and open the faucet in the laundry tub or lowest sink. This will let all the water from the above floors drain.

4.      Return to the highest level in the home and open the tub and shower faucets.

5.      Flush all toilets which will empty the tanks.

6.      If you are leaving the property unattended (such as closing for the winter), leave the faucets in an open position.

7.      If done correctly, there should be no water coming out of any faucet, except possibly a small drip.

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