Ask Me Help Desk - Clicking Pipes

Clicking Pipes

I have a plumbing question for you. I am just down the road from you in Estero, FL south of Fort Myers.

We have a high efficiency LG washing machine. When the load of laundry starts it intermittently (in short bursts for a seconds) draws water. Without trying to overstate it, when this happens there is a clicking noise behind the wall above the water heater (in the garage) and this process seems to cause a rather noticeable noise/shaking sound in the house. This happens with either a cold or warm cycle.

Is there something wrong or is this typical with these washers?

Thanks,

John Shaffer

His sounds like water hammer to me. Let me nexplain. Back in the 60's we were required to to put shock absorbers,(air chambers) on all bath lavatorys and kitchen sinks. Over time water and condensate built up in them and they must be recharged. First turn off the house at the main house shut off valve. Then open hot and cold faucets at the farthest bathroom to prevent air lock.(This is important.) You will find under each fixture little brass or chrome valves. These are called angle stops. With a small pail held under the angle stop to catch the run off look under the handle of the stop and you will see a nut with the stem running through it. This is called the bonnet packing nut. Put your wrench on it and back it off counterclockwise. Now open the stop and remove the stem and washer assembly, The stop will begain to drain. When it has quit draining reassemble the stop and move on to the next one. Do this on each one of your angle stops. There will be six of them. When you are done, close off the faucets you have opened, turn on the water to the house, and give yourself a pat on the back.
You have just recharged your air chambers and saved yourself a hefty service call bill. Hope this helps TOM

My house was built in 2005. Does your solution still apply to newly built homes?

Tom's advice is as good as always. You may find it easier to install hammer preventers that are threaded right onto your shut off valves, your rubber supply hoses then connect to the preventer with no sweating or other plumbing work needed.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jshaffer85

My house was built in 2005. Does your solution still apply to newly built homes?

Air chambers/ shock absorbers, have been a plumbing code mandate ever since the 60's. If your house didn't have them you would be hearing water hammer long before this. Bals suggestion about installing air chambers on the washer shut off valves is bang on. Good luck, Tom

I just pulled out my washer from the wall and there are two copper Water Hammer Preventers on both the hot and cold water hookups. They are not part of the valves to which the hoses are attached. They sit behind the water valves.

Are they not working? I'm confused.

Sounds like they're loaded up with condensate and need to be recharged. You have directions on recharging air chambers in a earlier post. Good luck, Tom

I installed two hammer preventers right to the washer itself (ahead of the hoses) and that took care of the problem. These new high efficiency machines really should include these when you buy one.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jshaffer85

I installed two hammer preventers right to the washer itself (ahead of the hoses) and that took care of the problem. These new high efficiency machines really should include these when you buy one.

Why did you install two new air chambers when you already had two installed? All you had to do is drain the old ones and you'd be good to go, But glad to hear you're fixed up. Regards, Tom