I have a plumbing problem and I have read about water hammer. From what I have read, it seems to happen when you turn the water OFF, but I have the hammering problem when I turn the shower ON.

I recently moved into a basement apartment in a home that is about 10 years old. The last 2 nights when I took a shower, about a minute or less after I had turned the shower on, the pipe that holds the shower head starts vibrating violently... shaking like someone is physically holding it and shaking. The pipe usually moves rather freely and the flange that is supposed to hide the hole never stays on. Last night the banging actually loosened the connection on my shower head and sprayed water all over the wall, toilet, sink and everything in between. (thank goodness I used that water proof paint!).

I installed a hand-held shower head a few weeks ago and have not had a problem with it.

The owner of the house is a single mom who is not handy with home repair. I am pretty handy, but I am no Josephine the Plumber.

Is this problem still water hammer if it occurs when the water is turned on? It has only happened in the shower.

Sounds like a worn washer vibrating against the seat of the shower valve.

And/or someone did a bum job securing the shower pipe. This might require ripping out a part of the wall behind the shower and add a decent fastener like the ones shown on page 1 here: http://www.lakesidesupply.com/pdfs/H...0Fasteners.pdf

CT-128R Base
Fig 138R Extension split pipe clamp

All thread and 2 nuts.

They will be available at a plumbing supply house.

One set near the shower head on the opposite wall of the shower would likely fix it. Two spaced 2-3 feet apart definitely would.

The shower pipe should not move.

You have to locate the studs. Cut out a piece of drywall the length of a stud, cutting it in the center of the stud, probably 8" x 16". Fasten the pipe. Do a drywall repair.