Hey guys,

For a while now there has been a banging in the water pipes (Copper) every time we run the water upstairs. I am used to hearing water hammer and that only usually happens when the water is turned off. Well my pipes only make the noise when the water is first turned on. Then it will stop about 3 seconds later.

I Know it is the pipes moving around. Is there anyway to resolve this without having to open up the walls and ceiling to properly secure the pipes?

Hi, pare_john!

Until one of our Plumbing Experts comes along to personally address your question, you might want to click on the links at the bottom of this page where the questions have been similar to yours to see what some of the answers have been.

Thanks!

I Know it is the pipes moving around. Is there anyway to resolve this without having to open up the walls and ceiling to properly secure the pipes?
I wish that I could give you a magical spell that would silence your pipes. Unfortunately I can't. Those pipes should be strapped and shimed. The just isn't any other way. Good luck, n Tom

Hi, Tom!

What's "strapped and shimed", please?

Thanks!

I believe Tom is referring to proper anchoring of pipes. Only way to do this is to get access to pipes and strap(anchor) them properly.

PJ, has this always been a problem, or has it just started in the last few months or so. I'm betting Tom can give you some advice on water hammer arrestors. If this has always been a problem, water hammers most likely won't fix the problem. But if this is a fairly new problem, water hammer arrestors may be the answer. Back to you Tom.

It has been happening for only the past few months. I have been in the house 4 years so it is a new problem. However water hammer arresters will not help in this case asI don't believe the problem I am having is water hammer.

Do you have a water softener?

See the Link and the image below for Copper Strapes and shims, Thanks.

Regards,
John

Pipe-Tytes - Vero Beach, Florida - shims (http://www.pipetytes.com/shims.html)

No softner

It could be loose washer, or other part, in your faucet. Do you have single handle or two handle faucet ?

Single handle

Happens upstairs at all fixtures or just sink? I think milo nailed it. Sounds like a loose washer, possibly in the stop below sink.

Is the "banging " louder at one place other then another? Can you feel vibration or anything close to a faucet when this happens? Does one faucet cause the sound more then others? Back to you, Tom

The bath upstairs causes most of the noise. But the banging sounds like it is coming room the ceiling downstairs

Sound transfers. Do this: Close all angles stops in that particular bathroom. Turn shower ON and see if the problem persists. Come back with results...

The only stop upstairs is on the toilet. Sink does not have one

Regarding the sink: do you have wall mounted faucet ?

Then, close toilet angle stop

No the faucet is is mounted at the sink.

I will wait till my son is in bed before checking with the valves closed. I will let you know

What brand/type/kind of faucet is it ?

Sink mounted.

I checked again and I get the same noise at the sink and the bath (noise at bath is much louder then at sink), but not at the toilet.

And no angle stops under the sink ?

Did you try to close angle stops and run water in the tub/shower with angle stops to toilet and sink closed ?

No angle stops at sink. I closed the one at the toilet but it still made the noise when I ran the bath. The noise does not happen every time. It seems to happen most when running the bath after no water has been running for a few minutes.