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fatcat · Aug 8, 2005, 08:29 AM

Hi, thanks for reading and double thanks for replying!

When the cold water valve is turned on in my bath tub, a very loud and rapid banging sound can be heard through out the house. It sounds like an MG42 machine gun, or even like a WW2 anti air flak cannon! The sound goes away as soon as the cold water is turned back off.

Another interesting anomly that I've seen lately is that a toilet (in a separate bathroom) takes forever to fill up. IF I turn the valve off at the angle stop and wait for about 30 seconds before turning it back on, it then fills up at a normal rate.

Any ideas?

Thanks!!

kp2171 · Aug 8, 2005, 08:59 AM

My standard line - I'm not a pro so someone else will clarify any error

The banging sounds like water hammer shock waves. These can be especially loud if the pipe is also banging against a wall or stud. BUT my understanding is that these typically occur when you shut the water OFF. One way to solve that is to install an air chamber...

But again... that is usually if there's noise when shutting off the water...

And this is only on the cold line? Not the hot?

Can you have someone turn on the water while you search for the source of the noise? Could be a pipe that just isn't properly secured and is hitting against a wall or stud when water turns on??

fatcat · Aug 8, 2005, 09:40 AM

Hi, thanks for the reply. Yes its only the cold water. From what I understand, it doesn't sound like water hammer because as the water is flowing the noise is present. The bathroom is on the 2nd floor and I believe the pipes to be running through the ceiling, so its difficult to deterimine if some pipe has become unsecure.

Also note that the house was built in 1989. Im not sure if there are any water hammer arrestors installed. The system appears to be all copper though.

kp2171 · Aug 8, 2005, 11:26 AM

Yeah, like I said, I understand water hammer to be when the water is shut off so maybe not that...

When you say running through ceiling do you mean the attic (2nd floor ceiling) or do you mean between the 1st floor and 2nd? I expect the lines to run through your walls, but are they also through the attic? I know my father in law's lines run through attic (in TX)... so if that's the case for you then you probably still need to go into the attic and have someone turn the h20 on to locate the pipe if loose.

So its only when you run h20 to this 2nd floor that the banging occurs? I know they'll drain water to introduce air into lines with water hammer... maybe someone with exp can tell you whether you should do this just to see.

I see you just joined this forum... if you don't get other replies to this question right away keep checking back. There are some great regular contributors who'll have some suggestions.

fatcat · Aug 8, 2005, 11:40 AM

Hi , thanks for the reply. The pipes seem to run through the ceiling on the first floor.. at least that's where the sound seems to be coming from. (roughly beneath the tub). I'll have to go into the crawlspace below the house and see if there is any accessible conduit. (Im not too optimistic on that though)
:eek:

fatcat · Aug 10, 2005, 10:10 PM

Any other thoughts on this matter? Thanks

speedball1 · Aug 12, 2005, 11:31 AM

Originally Posted by fatcat

Hi, thanks for reading and double thanks for replying!

When the cold water valve is turned on in my bath tub, a very loud and rapid banging sound can be heard through out the house. It sounds like an MG42 machine gun, or even like a WW2 anti air flak cannon! The sound goes away as soon as the cold water is turned back off.

Another interesting anomly that I've seen lately is that a toilet (in a seperate bathroom) takes forever to fill up. IF i turn the valve off at the angle stop and wait for about 30 seconds before turning it back on, it then fills up at a normal rate.

Any ideas?

Thanks!!!!!!

As a rule this is called "seat chatter" and is caused by (1) a screw that has loosened up allowing the washer to vibrate against the seat or (2) small pebble or piece of debris gotsucked the cold water supplt and is now vibrating against the seat. This sound is picked up by the pipes and carried thruout the house by a phenomenon know as sympathetic vibration. To repair this, shut off the water, open up the cols waterside and check the washer. Then turn the water back on for a minute to flush out any crud remaining in the supply.
I have a hunch the city was working on the mains and some dirt and pebbles got sucked into your system.
If a smal pebble got sucked into your system and ended up in your toilets supply it would get sucked up and block the waters path. When you sut off the angle stop the pebble drops back down band water flows normally. Shut off the angle stop and remove the three screws securing the top of the ballcock. Place a can over the open ballclck and attempt to flush out whatever's blocking the flow. Good luck, Tom