If you’ve ever heard loud thumping or knocking noises in your plumbing lines after turning off a faucet or appliance, there’s a chance you may be dealing with a water hammer. A water hammer occurs in a plumbing system when there’s a sudden change in water flow. For example, shutting off the water appliances will make the water suddenly stop or be redirected quickly, which ends up causing water to bang against the pipe surfaces or the shut-off valves in your water system.
The sudden noise of the water hammer is also a sign of excessive pressure in your pipes, which can lead to leaks or pipe damage over time. Thankfully, installing a water hammer arrestor could help solve this issue. The water arrestor is great at absorbing the shock caused by water flow changes, eliminating the noise and reducing stress on your plumbing system. Check out PlumbingSell’s wide selection of water hammer arrestors for your project.
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What Is Water Hammer?
A water hammer is a phenomenon that can occur in any piping system that uses valves to control water flow. It occurs when the water flow is forced to stop or redirected in a plumbing system, creating a powerful shock wave that causes pipes to vibrate and produce a loud banging noise. This happens because the water is incompressible; this means that once the motion of water is abruptly halted, the energy it carries has nowhere to go. As a result, the pressure surge has no option but to crash against pipe walls and connected appliances. The shockwave caused by the pressure surge is also known as a hydraulic shock and could be noticed in the presence of a banging or knocking sound on the pipes immediately after shut-off.
Water hammer can occur when water is shut off too quickly in plumbing systems without water hammer arrestors, which would normally absorb the water pressure. Common triggers of water hammers are appliances with quick-closing shut-off valves, such as washing machines, dishwashers, toilets and more.
Effects of Water Hammer
While water hammers may look and sound like a harmless phenomenon at first, repeated pressure surges can cause significant damage to your plumbing system over time. The water hammer is normally noticed by the banging noise and the vibrations when the water bounces to a pipe. This could cause various types of harm to the plumbing systems, which could end up causing the failure of the entire system.
Pipe Damage
Repeated pressure created by the force of the water hammer may eventually cause pipe bursts, leading to costly repairs and potential water damage. Traditional materials like copper are especially vulnerable to corrosion due to continuous stress from water hammers. Even with flexible pipes like PEX-A pipes, there are still chances for this to happen.
Leaks
The force of a water hammer can cause pipes to shake violently, leading to loose brackets, misaligned pipes, weakened joints and damaged fittings, joints and connections between pipes, resulting in leaks. These leaks often start slowly and are minor; however, as time goes by, smaller leaks may turn into water damage in the home.
Damage to Plumbing Fixtures & Appliances
Repeated water hammer may also cause noticeable damage to existing faucets, shower valves and shut-off valves. Washing machines, dishwashers and fridges with water dispensers normally have delicate internal valves and hoses; repeated pressure strikes might cause leaks or breakdowns on these appliances over time.
As you can tell, it is essential to take action as soon as possible at the initial signs of water hammer. Installing water hammer arrestors is one of the easiest yet effective solutions to prevent serious damage caused by water hammers. We’ll explain in more detail how the arrestors help control the water hammer.
What Is a Water Hammer Arrestor and How Does It Work?
A water hammer arrestor is a specialized plumbing device designed to eliminate water hammers. They are used to absorb the shock waves created when water flow is suddenly stopped or redirected inside the pipe system. It provides an off-ramp for the water’s momentum, therefore preventing pipes from rattling, vibrating or making loud banging noises.
The water hammer arrestors mainly consist of a sealed chamber containing air or gas, usually operated from the water supply by a flexible diaphragm or piston. When a sudden pressure surge occurs, the air or gas inside the chamber compresses to absorb the energy from the moving water. This will prevent the water from crashing against pipe walls or valves. Water hammer arrestors are widely used to stabilize water pressure and protect plumbing components from damage.
Although there are other methods that can be used to control the water hammer, such as air chambers, water hammer arrestors are still the most recommended devices in most cases. They don’t need too much maintenance to work consistently and can be installed on both hot and cold water lines. The various sizes and types available make water hammer arrestors more adaptable for both residential and commercial plumbing systems.
PlumbingSell offers EFILED hammer arrestors for multiple single fixture installations in various sizes and types. EFIELD hammer arrestors accommodate pipe connections such as PEX-A expansion, PEX crimp, MIP (male iron pipe) and more applications.
Why Are Water Hammer Arrestors Important?
Water hammer arrestors are one of the essential parts of protecting plumbing systems that most people might neglect sometimes. Although the most noticeable characteristic of a water hammer is the annoying sound it creates, the actual risk is the damage it brings to the pipes. Using water hammer arrestors could help protect systems from this kind of damage. When a water hammer occurs, a water hammer can absorb the pressure spikes, reducing stress on pipes and fixtures. Therefore, the cause of intense pressure surges, such as loosening pipe joints, weakened valves and burst pipes, could be minimized.
Without a water hammer arrestor, the repeated impact of a water hammer can shorten the lifespan of both pipes and household appliances such as washing machines, dishwashers and more. This could lead to both expansive replacements of appliances and costly maintenance costs on piping systems.
However, it is important to notice that to ensure the performance of water hammer arrestors, the proper type, sizing, and installation are crucial. The arrestor may not be able to fully absorb the energy if the connected water pipes are not securely fastened, as loose pipes will still lead to potential damage. Proper installation of the piping system is as crucial as getting the right type and size of water hammer arrestors for your project. Check out our EFIELD products to get the most out affordable price.
Conclusion
Water hammer is more than just an annoying plumbing noise; it’s also a warning sign of excessive pressure that can lead to leaks, pipe damage and costly repairs. Installing a water hammer arrestor is one of the most effective ways to prevent this issue. It can absorb pressure surges created by sudden water, shut down or redirect, therefore protecting your plumbing system from long-term damage.
Whether you are dealing with noisy pipes in your home or looking to have a safer appliance like washing machines and dishwashers, a properly sized and installed water hammer arrestor will be helpful to ensure quiet and efficient operation. If you are ready to eliminate the water hammer and extend the lifespan of your plumbing project, check out PlumbingSell’s wide selection of high-quality water hammer arrestors, a perfect option for both residential and commercial applications.
