Ask Me Help Desk - Banging pipes

Banging pipes

Whenever I use a water service (tap/shower/toilet/etc) in my house, the pipes rattle and make banging sounds.

Can someone explain why this is happening and how it can be corrected?

Thanks!

Banging pipes

Quote:

Originally Posted by luvmyhondas

Whenever I use a water service (tap/shower/toilet/etc) in my house, the pipes rattle and make banging sounds.

Can someone explain why this is happening and how it can be corrected?

Thanks!

You have air hammer. This is caused by water hitting a fitting when the flow is abruptly shut off. We installed air chambers, (shock absorbers) to contain air hammer. Let me tell you about air chambers and how to correct your problem. 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

Thanks...

There's a small problem... the furthest bathroom has a shower and a bathtub where the plumbing is behind "tiled" walls...

Is there another way to do this without having to rip open my walls?

Quote:

Originally Posted by luvmyhondas

Thanks...

There's a small problem... the furthest bathroom has a shower and a bathtub where the plumbing is behind "tiled" walls...

Is there another way to do this without having to rip open my walls?

Go back and read my post, (Back in the 60's we were required to to put shock absorbers,(air chambers) on all bath lavatorys and kitchen sinks.)
There are no air chambers on tubs and showers. More questions? I'm as close as a click. Cheers, Tom

Sorry Tom, still learning to read... :p

So it's just the faucet at the furthest bathroom (furthest from where?) and you say there shoud be 6 angle stops at this faucet?

When you say lavatory, are your referring to le toilet? Need to work on my plumbin jargon...

Thanks again!

Speed ball is basically telling you how to drain the lines in your house. Do you have copper supply lines? Galvanized?

Tom

Quote:

Originally Posted by luvmyhondas

Sorry Tom, still learning to read... :p

So it's just the faucet at the furthest bathroom (furthest from where?) and you say there shoud be 6 angle stops at this faucet?

When you say lavatory, are your refering to le toilet? need to work on my plumbin jargon...

Thanks again!

NOPE!! None of the above. Let's get together on terms before we go on.
Toilet= Potty, throne or crapper
Lavatory= bath room sink
Sink= kitchen sink
Angle Stop= those little shut off valves under the lavatory and sink cabinets.
Faucets at the furthest bathroom= Just that! After the water's shut off open the hot and cold faucets in the lavatory in the master bath which is usually at the end at the run.
6 Angle Stops= 2 on each lavatory plus 2 in the kitchen. For a 2 bath home.
Things a little clearer now? Cheers, Tom

I'm beginning to see the light...

I have 2 3 piece bathrooms and 1 powder room, therefore I should have 8 angle stops that require draining, correct? What about my laundry sink in the basement? And how about my outdoor fawcets?

My pipes are copper but I don't have valves (builder too cheap). I have these chrome elbows which are welded on one side and there's a bonet on the other end leading to the fawcet.

So this is how I understand what needs to be done:

1. shut off main valve
2. open hot and cold fawcet in master bathroom (I have a single handle fawcet, do I just put the fawcet in the middle?)
3. open each angle stop and drain (should I start on the 2nd flr and work my way down to the main/basement?)
4. when all the angle stops have been drained, close the fawcet in the master bath
5 turn on main valve
6 crack open a beer

Did I get it right?

Will I need to do this every couple of years or is there a way to prevent this from happening again?

Thanks

http://www.naturalhandyman.com/iip/i...infwatham.shtm

Check the above link out. They explain the idea of having air chambers to eliminate water hammer. If you have these they will be in your walls so you can't see them unless you bust out the drywall. My house was built in 1968 and I have them and don't have water hammering. They also tell you how to drain your house plumbing... what speedball has been telling you to do.

If it doesn't work out you can always install some water hammer arrestors or make some air chambers and install them assuming you have access to some of your supply lines. Sweating copper pipe isn't very hard... if I can do it so can anyone.

http://www.plumbingsupply.com/waterhammerarresters.html

Quote:

Originally Posted by luvmyhondas

I'm beginning to see the light...

I have 2 3 piece bathrooms and 1 powder room, therefore I should have 8 angle stops that require draining, correct? What about my laundry sink in the basement? and how about my outdoor fawcets?

My pipes are copper but I don't have valves (builder too cheap). I have these chrome elbows which are welded on one side and there's a bonet on the other end leading to the fawcet.

So this is how I understand what needs to be done:

1. shut off main valve
2. open hot and cold fawcet in master bathroom (I have a single handle fawcet, do I just put the fawcet in the middle?)
3. open each angle stop and drain (should i start on the 2nd flr and work my way down to the main/basement?)
4. when all the angle stops have been drained, close the fawcet in the master bath
5 turn on main valve
6 crack open a beer

Did I get it right?

Will I need to do this every couple of years or is there a way to prevent this from happening again?

Thanks

You don't have angle stops per se , ( You have 1/2 X 1/4" Chome sweat by compression elbos)
Where do you live? We are required by code to install stops on all fixtures.
Just the lavatorys and kitchen sink have air chambers.
Just open up the furthest fixture by opening the lever in the middle of the faucet.
NEW GAME PLAN** Since you don't have angle stops to take apart. Then shut the water off to the house and turn on the hot and cold to ALL lavatorys and the kitchen sink. Now go down in the basement and drain the system at the laundry tray. If that doesn't get it you may have to install your own as mentioned by Tommytman. Just follow the links he gave you.
regards, Tom