Ever Wondered About that Knocking Sound in Your Pipes?
Do you notice a “knocking” when you turn on your pipes or flush your toilet? Also known as ‘water hammer,’ this knocking sound in your home’s plumbing can become very annoying. Luckily for homeowners in Sarasota, Florida, it’s an easy fix.
What Causes Water Hammer?
When you flush a toilet in your home, water runs through the pipes at a high flow rate. As the toilet fills, it closes a valve and causes the water to crash against it. The resulting vibration can sometimes cause the pipe to knock against the wall. How you proceed with resolving this issue depends on when your home was built.
How to Eliminate the Knocking in Your Pipes
Before the 1960s:
Many homes built before the 1960s had air chambers that prevented water hammer by absorbing the shock of the water’s crash and minimizing vibration. Unfortunately, these air chambers were known to deteriorate quickly and weren’t used in newer homes. For these homes try:
- Turning off your home’s water supply
- Draining your home’s piping by opening all the faucets, flushing all the toilets and running all water-consuming appliances
- Turning on your home’s water supply
Between the 1970s and 1990s:
If your home was built between these decades, you likely don’t have any protection against water hammer. You can install water hammer arrestors to fix this problem.
After the 1990s:
Just about every modern home is built with water hammer arrestors, which are small devices that connect to the piping and contain spring-loaded shock absorbers that divert the water’s force when you flush a toilet or turn a faucet off. Unlike the air chambers of the 1960s, water hammer arrestors almost never become waterlogged.
If your home was built after the 1990s and you still hear noises, it’s possible it doesn’t have water hammer arrestors, or there’s a different problem. Straps that connect the plumbing to the wall studs could be loose. If the water pressure is high, you need to install a reducer valve.
Custom Air Inc. has the solutions you need whether you’re dealing with knocking pipes, a busted pipe, or a major leak. Call us today at (866) 819-0992 for effective solutions to your plumbing problems.