There are very many types of plumbing problems in any plumbing system. Most of these plumbing problems are described using special or unique terms and references. Terms like clogging, tree root infiltration, frozen pipes etc refer to various types of plumbing problems. There is another unique term that is used to describe one of the most common plumbing problems. This term is water hammer. Water hammer is that plumbing phenomenon that occurs when you suddenly shut off a faucet or your washing machine or dishwasher. You hear a loud "thunk" sound coming from deep in your plumbing system. It sounds like a huge hammer is hitting something deep in the plumbing system. That is why it's referred to as water hammer. Many people wonder where this sound comes from and what causes it to occur. Today you are going to learn everything you need to k now about water hammer.
Water hammer can occur both in residential and commercial plumbing systems. In other words, this plumbing problem affects both residential plumbing and commercial plumbing in DC. Water hammer is caused by water pressure. The water flowing inside your water supply system comes with a lot of pressure. This is what forces it to move through your water supply pipes and in the connecting pipes. When you open a tap, the valve opens and the water rushes through at high pressure. If you close that tap suddenly, the valve closes too and the water slams very hard against it. This is what causes water hammer. It’s a hydraulic shock caused by the high pressure water. That is why you always hear that loud "thunk" sound every time you shut off a tap, shower, or any plumbing appliance suddenly.
Although you might not be aware of this, water hammer is very destructive. But because it occurs deep in the pipes, you might not notice any damages until it's too late. The hydraulic shock described above is very destructive. This sudden impact can damage your pipes, dislodge connections, and damage your water-connected appliances. If your water supply pipes are not properly and firmly secured to the walls, the sudden impact can bang them against the walls. If these pipes are repeatedly banged against the walls, they will eventually crack and get broken causing flooding and other plumbing problems in the house, requiring emergency plumbing services. The loud sound caused by water hammer is also very annoying. Expensive plumbing appliances like washing machines and dishwashers can get damaged by water hammer. That is why you should implement the solutions discussed below to solve your water hammer problems once and for all.
There is one very effective solution to the water hammer problem. This is what we call an air chamber and most plumbing systems have many of these in place. An air chamber is a short vertical pipe that is stalled just behind the valve. The pipe is higher than the valve and hence it fills with air instead of water. The air in the air chamber absorbs the hydraulic shock when water flow is stopped suddenly. Another effective solution to the water hammer problem is water hammer arrestors. You can buy these from your local hardware store and have them installed by a professional plumber. And last but not least, you should monitor the water pressure in your home and if it's too high, install a pressure regulator.