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az_guard · Jul 28, 2006, 04:00 PM

I have a 2yr old, 2 story home. I returned from Iraq about 6 months ago and noticed that at times the water will pulsate as it comes out of any fixture. I don't remember this problem existing before I deployed but it certainly exists now. It does not occur all the time and at times it is more pronounced then others. Lastly at times I can hear the pulsating in the pipes even if none of the water fixtures are currently turned on. I'm at my wits end and would appreciate any good ideas.

speedball1 · Jul 29, 2006, 05:33 AM

Are you on a pump or city water? If on a pump what type? How old and what does the gauge read? Regards, tom

az_guard · Jul 30, 2006, 09:02 AM

I am on city water. I believe the only meter I would have would be the one in the ground in the my front yard. If there is something I should look at with that let me know and I'll attempt to figure it out.

speedball1 · Jul 30, 2006, 09:11 AM

OK,

I assume there's nothing you haven't disclosed like a sprinkler system tied into the house. Is there a check valve or a backflow preventer installed? And if there is do you have a expansion tank installed on the cold water supply as it enters the house? Let me know, tom

az_guard · Jul 30, 2006, 02:00 PM

I do have an inground sprinkler system but I have heard/felt the vibration at times when the sprinkler system isn't on. As for a backflow preventer installed. I'm not sure; I had the sprinkler system professionally installed, so if that is part of a standard installation I would imagine that there is a backflow preventer installed. Expansion tank? I guess I really have no idea about that. My water heater is in the garage and unfortunately I'm not much smarter about the rest of the plumbing in the house.

speedball1 · Jul 30, 2006, 02:10 PM

A few more questions. Do you have a pressure regulator installed where the water enters your home? If you have a backflow preventer installed then you would see two copper pipes sticking up near the water meter a with a brass valve body between them. Do you have that? A expansion tank is installed on the cold water supply to the heater or on the house main when it enters the house. I need to know exactly hat you have before I can help. Regards, tom

az_guard · Jul 31, 2006, 07:01 AM

I know that the inground sprinkler system, when it was installed, was connected at the same location where the main to the house is, but I'm unsure about a backflow preventer or pressure regulator. I don't remember anything other then two levers to shut water flow off so I will have to check on that when I get home from work and then respond. As for the expansion tank: I know that there isn't any sort of tank connected to the cold water supply of the heater and unless there is a tank buried underground where the main enters the house there isn't a tank there either.
I will get back with you on the backflow preventer. Thanks in advance; I appreciate your help.

az_guard · Jul 31, 2006, 10:24 PM

Ok I've looked at the front of the house where the main water line is. I think I see what you described in your reply... and that is "copper pipes sticking up near the water meter a with a brass valve body between them". There is a brass valve with 150psi stamped on it. I thought this was for the inground sprinkler system but maybe I'm wrong. Other than that I didn't see anything else.