What could be the source of the water hammer?
Question:It seems that plumbing in my house has a problem with water hammer. First, I thought it only occurs when toilet tanks are filling back with water, but I realized that it happens whenever water is used anywhere in home. It just that water hammer is not as bad when I use faucets. So I've been trying to figure out where or source of this water hammer. By listening to where the sound is coming from, and by touching the water pipe with my finger tips, I learned that sound is loudest where the main water pipe comes in through the concrete wall. I guess I can install a water hammer arrestor. But I am trying to understand why water hammer is occuring. Here is my guess. Please let me know what you think. There is a branch near this point where pipe leads out to the faucet outside the house. While water tries to flow further into the house, perhaps vacumm is being created in this branch pipe and causing water hammer. Is this possible? What do you think? Thanks!
Answers:
Sounds like you have air in your lines somewhere. Possible leak that is letting the air in even after you have ran the water for five minutes.
Water hammer is usually caused by air in the lines. This can sometimes happen when a faucet washer is bad and allows air to be sucked in when other faucets are used. Funny, but the air-leaking washer does not leak water out. I find that the washing machine supplys and outside faucets are the biggest culprits since they are not used as much.
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