Messages and Online Forum Q&A

WATER HAMMER???

From: Sirfin7@aol.com
Category: Plumbing
Remote Name: 209.3.38.8
Date: 05 Jul 2001
Time: 07:22 AM

Comments

I seem to be having what appears to be a water hammer problem in my home which has gradually been getting worse. I have done some research on the topic and I am puzzled since my problem does not occur when any valve is turned off, which is what all the articles I have read indicate as the cause of water hammer, but rather when something is turned ON. Specifically, when my shower is on and another valve is opened ANYWHERE in the house, particularly if one of the two toilets in the house are flushed, the supply lines to the shower start banging away. If the shower is turned off then reopened slowly, the condition is alleviated. Turning on the kitchen or bathroom sinks can also start the hammer. All supply lines are 1/2" copper. I have installed two water hammer arrestors to no effect. A colleague has suggested that there may be a problem in the shower diverter/mixer seals which may be starting some kind of flow irregularity when line pressure fluctuates due to flow into another fixture. HELP!!!!!!!! Any suggestions on how to eliminate this problem would be greatly appreciated as I am worried that something is going to break (of course when daddy isn't around to turn off main supply).

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