A loud banging or knocking sound that you may hear when the water flow in the pipes stops suddenly is known as water hammer.
Here at Heritage Plumbing Group, we have the experience, expertise and equipment to provide water hammer repair services across Melbourne.
The pressure spikes of water hammer can be caused by taps closing too fast, by appliances like your dishwasher or washing machine, or by even dodgy water pressure in your home. When these quick changes happen, your pipes will bang, rattle, or shake – often it sounds like someone’s thumping on your walls or ceiling from the inside.
Sometimes, due to water hammer, valves wear out or pipes work themselves loose over time. Spotting these warning signs early and effectively rectifying them can prevent bigger headaches down the line.
Finding exactly where your water hammer is coming from takes some careful testing and a solid understanding of how your plumbing deals with pressure and flow. The problem usually kicks off with high mains pressure, pipes that haven’t been secured properly, or knackered valves that don’t close smoothly anymore. Appliances that cut off water flow in a flash can also set off that shockwave effect.
Our plumbers at Heritage Plumbing will start by sussing out your home’s water pressure, checking pipe supports, having a good look at your taps, and examining any valves that might be causing grief.
We will also check out how old your pipework is and what sort of nick it is in, because older systems are way more likely to make noise and vibrate. By nailing down the actual cause instead of just having a guess, we can recommend the best way to fix it – whether that is getting the pressure under control, fixing up dodgy fixtures, or putting in the right protective gear.
Leaving water hammer alone can lead to way more than just annoying noise every now and then. Over time, those constant shockwaves can weaken your pipe joints, causing leaks behind walls, under floors, or up in your ceilings. These sneaky leaks might stay hidden for months, but eventually you will be dealing with mould, buggered plaster, or timber that has gone all swollen.
The ongoing vibration can also shake fittings loose, cut short the longevity of your appliances, and put extra strain on your hot water system, washing machine, and dishwasher. In really rough cases, the pressure spikes can make pipes burst without warning, which means major water damage and urgent repairs you definitely don’t want. Even if the noise doesn’t seem like much, the damage going on inside cannot be ignored.
Addressing water hammer issues early is always cheaper and heaps less hassle than dealing with massive structural or plumbing repairs later on.
Air chambers and water hammer arrestors are built specifically to soak up those sudden pressure changes and stop shockwaves from charging through your pipes. Air chambers use a vertical pipe that’s filled with air – the compressed air pocket cushions the hit when water flow stops in a hurry.
Water hammer arrestors are characterised with the feature of a sealed chamber, which has a piston or diaphragm inside that moves to absorb pressure escalations.
Over time though, these chambers can lose their punch as the air dissolves into the water, which is why heaps of modern homes go with mechanical arrestors these days.
Our decades of experience is complemented by our use of top-quality diagnostic equipment and an unwavering commitment to delivering quality workmanship on every water hammer repair job that we undertake.
Our team has deep insight on Melbourne plumbing systems, which can enable us to pin down the root cause quickly and suggest solutions that actually suit your home’s plumbing needs.
If you hire us, we can make sure your pipes, valves, and appliances will be safeguarded from ongoing water hammer damage.
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Need a reliable plumber near you? Heritage Plumbing Group offers expert solutions across Melbourne with fast response times and top-quality service.
Our licensed team brings decades of local expertise, ensuring efficient, long-lasting results for emergencies, maintenance, and major projects.
