What Does Water Hammer Mean?

It's not uncommon to hear the plumbing in your home's metal pipes slam loudly whenever an appliance draws water or a faucet is turned off. Unfortunately, this noise, frequently referred to as "water hammer," isn't simply bothersome; it could actually damage your plumbing system. The result of water halting or abruptly changing direction is known as water hammer or hydraulic shock in technical jargon. As a result, a shock wave passes through your pipes, causing them to shift, vibrate, and bang into one another.

In the first century B.C., water hammers in pipes were already a well-known occurrence when Roman architect Marcus Vitruvius Pollio noticed them in the public water system. Thankfully, since then, we've developed coping mechanisms. You can discover everything there is to know about hammering pipes from how to stop them in your home to the various problems they might cause by reading the information below.

What exactly is a water hammer?

A pressure surge known as a "water hammer" happens when a fluid is forced to abruptly stop or shift direction. This sudden change in speed creates shockwaves, which crash and shake pipes and water. The term "water hammer" refers to the sound of water "hammering" through pipes and valves. 

It's important to note that relatively simple factors, such as high water pressure, can occasionally cause water hammer to happen. To determine if the problem is with your water pressure, check your water pressure gauge and make any required adjustments. A skilled plumber from CBJ Plumbing Union City NJ can check and adjust the water pressure in your house if you're unsure of it.

Is water hammer dangerous?

Water hammer damage can cause pipe joints and valves to deteriorate over time. Older pipes may split apart from their connections, develop cracks, or start to leak. If your surge is caused by high water pressure, there may also be a risk to your health. High water pressure might physically hurt people who don't prepare for a hot or powerful shower.​

Repair Options for Water Hammer

Water hammer can be fixed using a variety of techniques that also prevent water pipes from slamming shut every time you turn on the faucet. We'll list the choices that are the most well-liked and prosperous.

• Cleaning up exposed pipelines. Your pipes could quiver and bang if they are not fastened, even with a small amount of water pounding. Securing any dangling pipes is the easiest and least expensive way to fix the problem. Install more straps or hangers, tighten any slack straps or hangers, cover exposed pipe portions in pipe insulation to act as shock absorbers, or tighten any slack straps or hangers. By doing this, you can secure your pipes to studs or joists. With this approach, severe issues won't be resolved, but mild issues will be safeguarded in a number of ways.
• Establish an air chamber. A water hammer is the result of a sudden interruption in the flow of water in a pipe. When water slams into recently closed pipe valves, a shockwave is created that returns through the pipe. If you install a new path for the water to rebound, when the valve closes the water won't slam into the valve wall. An air chamber is a tiny vertical pipe segment situated adjacent to possibly problematic valves. When your valves are closed, a path for water and additional force to travel is created. A proficient plumber can install pipe air chambers quickly and efficiently.
• Place mechanical water shock abortion in place. Mechanical shock arrestors are the best solution for handling severe hydraulic shock problems when building an air chamber is not an option. You position them close to the damaged plumbing joints. They consist of a spring and an air bladder and are a device. Mechanical water shock arrestors carry out the precise task suggested by their name. Water shockwaves are stopped and neutralized when they collide with closed valve walls because they are absorbed and stopped before they can propagate through your pipes. ​

Reduce Household Water Hammer Noise

Ignoring minor plumbing issues only leads to major problems down the road. If you're not sure how to stop your water pipes from pounding, call CBJ Plumbing Union City NJ. Treating the water hammer sounds and any potential damage it may be causing will benefit both you and the plumbing in your home. We'll send one of our experts to assess the situation and find a swift and efficient solution.