I recently replaced a Moen cartridge in my second story shower with an after market cartridge, now every time I turn on or off the water my pipes bang. Now they never did this before and I have hammer arresters on my water system. I have tried draining the lines several times to get air back into the system but no luck so far?

Changing the cartridge would have no effect on water hammer.
You say you have drain the lines. Did you open all faucets to let air in while you were draining?

With some faucets that use a cartridge like Moen, you really need to disconnect the supply lines at the stop valve. While the cartridge lets water out it won't let air in.

I've opened all faucets and let them drain out then closed the one in the basement and slowly turned the water back on. I've drained it again and then closed all the faucets and slowli turned the water back on so I'm at a loss. And it happens at all the faucet even the kitchen one that is right above my utility tub in the basement with the arrester on it?

Turn off the water. Open all faucets. At any faucet that uses a cartridge like Moen, disconnect the supply lines at the stop valve. All fast acting valves (Moen and others, including toilets) are suppose to have air chambers plumbed into the piping. These are just vertical pieces of pipe for air to accumulate and cushion the impact of suddenly stopping of the flow of water. As the air in the air chamber is absorbed by the water the air chambers can get filled with water. When that happens they become ineffective. When you turn off the water and drain the pipes, the water in the air chambers can be held in by the vacuum since there is no way for air to get into the air chamber.
Let the system sit open for as long as possible, giving the water in the air chambers a chance to break the vacuum..
Banging on the pipes sometimes helps as the vibration can hasten breaking the vacuum.

Hmmm...

Hi guys! Try Hkstroud's suggestion (it is FREE after all! ), can't hurt anything, but if that fails to resolve the issue then I would replace the hammer arrestors. The arrestors are probably old and a bladder could have ruptured turning the water off/on!

Finally, moen offers free replacement parts for life in most cases, so if all else above fails, I would call them at 1-800 BUY-MOEN and talk with their tech. support department... could be that the after-market cartridge is the whole issue and this will only be resolved with an exact match on the replacement cartridge... maybe?
Let us know what happens, OK?

Mark

Rweiss,
Some Moen valves are equipped with a pressure balance spool in addition to the cartridge, these can contribute to the water hammer. Home made air chambers will only stay charged with air for a few weeks - the air in these will be absorbed by water. Manufactured water hammer arrestors have a more permanent air charge separated from the water via a rubber membrane or balloon...

I turned off the water, opened all faucets and left them all open till no water was coming out of the basement faucet. I tapped on all the exposed arresters and they sounded empty. As much as it makes no sense that replacing the cartridge would effect other faucets that's the only thing that changed. I'll contact Moen and see what they say and let you know.

I replaced the after market cartridge I used on my Moen shower faucet with the Moen one and the problem went away. Some how the Posi-Temp system in that faucet caused the water hammering when I used an Ace brand cartridge and as soon as I put the correct Moen one in the hammering went away?

Hello Rweiss,

I am glad that your issue is resolved just to let you know that all Moen products have life time warranty in future please contact Moen the will send you any part you need for free, Thanks.


John

Thanks for the heads up afaroo! Now is it just for parts or will they replace the whole faucet if the plating is coming off?

I would suggest to call Moen at 800-289-6636 explain your problem they may send you the whole assembly they have done it for me couple time, good luck.

John