Understanding Noisy Water Pipes

The sound can reverberate throughout your houseagainst the closed valve can actually damage the
and be loud enough to scare your pets. Waterconnections throughout the pipe over time.
hammering typically manifests through a loud initialMost homes today have air chambers built into certain
noise followed by thrumming vibrations. Noisy waterlocations throughout the plumbing to prevent the valves
pipes are a common problem that can usually be fixedfrom closing so quickly. The air chambers are
easily. But, fixing them requires knowing why thesupposed to provide a cushion between the water
problem is happening in the first place. In this article, we'lland the pipes. Unlike water, air compresses easily.
describe what factors in your home's plumbing areWhen water is shooting toward a valve, the air in the
causing your noisy water pipes. Then, we'll tell youair chambers absorbs much of the impact by
what you can do to quiet them down.compressing around the water.
What's Happening Down There?Fixing Your Noisy Water Pipes
Usually, noisy water pipes happen when the water thatThe best (and easiest) way to fix the water
is shooting through a pipe comes to a sudden stop athammering problem is to refill the air chambers. It's not
a valve that is closed. While fluid, water isn't flexibleas hard as it may sound. Though the air chambers are
when it comes to a grinding halt in your pipes. It isn'ttypically located throughout your house and are difficult
able to compress (like an marshmallow, for example).to see, you can do this without getting near them. First,
So, when the water meets a closed valve afterturn your house's water supply off. Then, turn on a
shooting at high speeds down a pipe, it crashes intofew faucets throughout your home in order to drain
the valve and creates the initial loud thud. Plumbers callthe pipes. If possible, try to locate the faucet at the
this event "water hammering."lowest point in your home. Turn it on and let gravity
The valves at the end of your pipes aren't supposeddrain the last of the water from your pipes.
to close quickly. They're designed to close slowly,Draining the water automatically fills the pipes with air.
specifically to prevent water hammering fromIn effect, draining the pipes refills the air chambers.
occurring. But, the gaskets that close the valve canOnce you've drained the water, turn your home's
deteriorate. If they become brittle, they may stopwater supply back on. When you do this, you'll
working altogether. When that happens, the gasketsprobably hear the air being forced from the faucets
are unable to prevent the valve from closing quickly.that were left on after initially draining the pipes.
As a result, the water that goes through the pipeChances are, once you do this, you'll have resolved the
slams unexpectedly into the valve, causing the loudwater hammering problem. Of course, if the issue
thud. Unfortunately, the problem can become worse ifpersists, call a professional who can help. If allowed,
it's not fixed. The repeated impact of the waterwater hammering can severely damage the pipes.