A mysterious knocking in your home may keep you on edge at first—until you find out that it’s occurring in the plumbing system. Many people dismiss loud banging noises around the house as water hammer, which they believe is a common occurrence that results in no obvious damage and is little cause for concern accept for the occasional disturbance it brings. But water hammer is not a generic noise for natural plumbing sounds; it’s the result of a poorly constructed pipe system which needs repair before damage is accrued.
Contact the plumbing experts at Ace Pelizon Plumbing if you’re unsure of whether water hammer is affecting your pipes. We can diagnose the problem and help you to find the solution best suited for your plumbing in Pomona.
What is Water Hammer And Why Is It Dangerous?
Water hammer occurs when water flowing through the pipes is suddenly forced to stop or change direction. Your water supply is kept at a high pressure so that water can easily flow from the pipes. But when flowing water stops suddenly, either because a tap is turned off or a valve on an appliance shuts, this pressure can trap air and create a shock wave, or water hammer.
Most plumbing systems have air chambers and other air locking features in place to prevent water hammer, but these can fail or they may be nonexistent in certain areas of pipe. And the shock wave can damage pipes and fittings, potentially leading to a plumbing leak. This creates a major mess and the potential for mold, mildew, and lengthy renovations.
What Can Be Done About It?
Plumbers have different opinions about what should be done to solve water hammer, but it often depends on the location and structure of your existing pipes. The norm was once to install more air chambers, but these are large and intrusive and won’t fit into most spaces. Sometimes, it’s actually recommended that you add on pipes to provide more of a cushion. But in most cases, a piece called a water hammer arrester is small enough and simple enough to do the job.
At Ace Pelizon Plumbing, we deliver a number of plumbing services in Pomona for noisy pipes, leaky fixtures, and more. Call us today; we’d love to hear from you!
