Water hammer

[ch1ch2]

It sounds like you have very high water pressure. Are you on a municipal water system? Do you know what your actual water pressure is? We once lived where we were on town water, and the pressure was quite high, resulting in banging pipes. The water hammer arresters help, but I ended up adding an adjustable pressure reducing valve near where the water line came into the building. I was then able to turn the pressure down to an acceptable level.

As I recall 60psi is the preferred pressure for most homes. More if you have outdoor irrigation. Never above 90psi.

 

[BoylermanCT]

I was told 60 is the maximum. I have well water and the pressure switch is a 30/50 switch. They also sell 20/40 and 40/60 versions.

 

[ning]

I got terrible water hammer also when I replaced the washing machine. I think that modern ones have much more rapid acting valves which contributes to the suddenness of the water stop, and they also turn the water on and off repeatedly.

My situation was mostly remedied by a similar arrester device placed at the washer's valves. I think mine have springs in them? Anyways, my problem isn't all gone, but it's minor enough not to care too much any more.

 

[ArlyA]

This is the solution. Water hammer arrestors are fix for many modern appliances.

I got terrible water hammer also when I replaced the washing machine. I think that modern ones have much more rapid acting valves which contributes to the suddenness of the water stop, and they also turn the water on and off repeatedly.

My situation was mostly remedied by a similar arrester device placed at the washer's valves. I think mine have springs in them? Anyways, my problem isn't all gone, but it's minor enough not to care too much any more.

 

[CMV]

Mine isn't that little sound at the machine when the valves close. I get that but think it's pretty normal. This is a constant ca-chunk ca-chunk ca-chunk sound at the upstairs showers pipes while washing machine is running downstairs.

I just ran to home depot and looked for larger arrestors since I know Lowes only has the kind I bought. HD had the same thing but different brand so I bought 4. Figured I try just adding more. One leaked like crazy no matter what so I have 3 on the cold side, 2 on the hot side.

That really quieted it down and now I get a little rattle in the upstairs pipes at shower but only when the valves close and not nearly as loud. Tolerable just about.

But now there is a buzzing sound as it's washing........ This might turn into a tractor thread as my frustration level keeps rising.....the NX could smash this stupid washing machine up pretty well I think

On city water with real high water pressure. No idea what it is or how to measure it, but we have great water pressure here compared to my last 2 houses.

I'm off Monday so will try draining everything as described above to see if that helps.

 

[Xfaxman]

Way off topic - sorry - but figured you guys would know this & get me going in right direction....-----------------

In addition to that I tried partially closing the faucet valves to the washing machine going as far as to just let them trickle and take 20+ min just to fill. Also tried partially closing the main water valve basically reducing water pressure to whole house a little bit.

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Partially closing any valve doesn't reduce pressure, it only reduces flow. As you found out with the slow filling washing machine.

 

[mapper]

When our house was built the plumber did not put in risers, when I questioned it, he told me the pressure tank made them unnecessary. He was wrong, we had a bad water hammer. The pump house and pressure tank are located about 600 feet from the house. My solution, which has worked very well, was to install a small (15 gallon) pressure tank under stairs in the garage.
Our line from the well to the house is about half 1.25 inch PVC and half 1 inch black poly, the PVC section replaced the original 1 inch 90# black poly that the original owners had installed, it had cracked, probably from the water hammer after we built our present home. Long story short, a water hammer can cause damage to your system that is not confined to your house where you hear it.

 

[RoyKing]

WATER HAMMER DEVICE CHEAP

Buy three pack of the gas filled racket balls, no the ones with holes. Put them in the freezer

Now buy some pvc pipe same size as racket balls, cap one end stuff the three frozen rocket balls in arrange so the incoming water heads at the balls T off outlet for washer. The balls will never water log.

 

[PILOON]

On the lighter side, water hammer serves to test your solder joints for poor soldering technique.
The bad 'cold joint' will blow open, LOL.

 

[Egon]

Close the washing Machine water inlets. If that stops the water hammer you got a place for arrestors.

If it does’nt check if your water tank is logged or if the well pump is constantly cycling.

The home built arrestors may result in stagnant water and do not meet code.