Mr Skill

There’s nothing quite as irritating as water hammering in pipes, especially when you’re trying to sleep and someone gets up to use the loo. Unfortunately water is one of those things that has its own mind. There are however ways that you can control it, and you may not even need to Find a Plumber if you read further.

When you turn off a water tap that’s under pressure (usually the cold one), the water suddenly stops flowing as it comes up against the valve. It pushes back against the water that’s still on its way. The result’s a slight collision between opposing forces.

The energy that’s released transmits to the pipes themselves, which respond by reverberating. Normally, you don’t hear the slight sound that results. However, when the pipes are hanging loose they bang about, and that’s the noise we call a water hammer. There are two ways to sort the problem out. Fix it completely, or manage it.

• Solve the problem at its source – Obtain a Plumbing Quote on Mr-Skill to install a water hammer arrestor. This is in effect a shock-absorber that absorbs the impact and eliminates the root cause. The picture above is of arrestors attached to dish-washer inlet pipes. London Plumbers often install these in older homes, where loose pipes are bricked up behind rendering.

• Eliminate the consequences – Take a look at the picture opposite. It’s typical of what you might find when you look. Can you see how many pipes are hanging loose? What an opportunity for a water hammer. Your most likely culprit though is an unsupported run of pipe across the ceiling. Find it, secure it, solve the problem.

These water hammer solutions come to you with the compliments of Mr-Skill, the website where you find the perfect solution to every home repair. Don’t take a chance and hire an unknown trades person off the street. We personally investigate the ones we recommend.