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Water Hammer FAQ

Chances are that you have heard the term ‘water hammer’ being used in relation to all sorts of loud and unusual banging noises associated with piping. However, in a great many cases the term is being bandied about incorrectly. Water hammer does not refer to the actual banging noise, but rather, one very specific problematic piping process which can generate a banging noise.

Where Does Water Hammer Come From?

Occasionally referred to as ‘fluid hammer’, water hammer occurs when water passes through a pipe quickly before being stopped abruptly (eg: when it encounters a blockage or someone closes the valve at the end of the pipe suddenly). The quick flowing water being forced into such a sudden stop is what water hammer is and is responsible for creating the noticeable banging noise. The force generated by the rapidly moving water’s momentum, in turn, causes it to condense somewhat and then bounce back in the opposite direction before stopping entirely.

Does Water Hammer Damage Pipes?

While the most immediately noticeable and annoying symptom of water hammer is the loud banging noise, it is probably the least serious aspect of the phenomenon. Given time, water hammer can cause serious damage to pipes, contributing to erosion and all the problems associated with that and, in some extreme cases, result in burst pipes.

Are Newer Pipes Affected by Water Hammer?

Fortunately, most modern domestic pipes are installed complete with what is known as ‘air cushions’. These are specially designed chambers which contain pockets of air which help ease the damage caused by water hammer. Although very helpful, such ‘air cushions’ are not an entirely perfect solution.  Over time, the air chambers can become waterlogged, reducing their ability to negate the effects of water hammer. This is why water hammer sometimes begins to occur (seemingly) mysteriously in pipes which had previously exhibited no water hammer symptoms.

It is always worth consulting with your plumber in order to find out if your piping is fitted with such water hammer resistant measures.

How Can I Prevent Water Hammer?

In some cases, it will be possible for you to deal with small amounts of water hammer yourself. Taking heed of the following steps can help you limit the damaging effects of water hammer:

1. Switch off the source of water behind the waterlogged section of piping.
2. Find the valve where the water hammer is taking place and open it.
3. Wait for the waterlogged air chamber to completely drain out. This allows air to get back into the chamber and create a new ‘air cushion’.
4. In some cases, the air chamber is located below the water source. If this is the case then the water source should also be drained as well. If you do not drain the water at its source before attempting to drain waterlogged air chambers they will simply continue to refill with water, making the whole process a rather pointless exercise.

In the event where taking the aforementioned steps failed to rectify your water hammer problem, there is a very good chance that your piping’s air chambers have become blocked (as opposed to simply waterlogged) – this can represent a somewhat trickier problem to solve.

By its very nature, piping is prone to accumulating all sorts of undesirables, including grime and residue left over from the various chemicals that pass through pipes as part of the routine. Blockages can occur when large quantities of such unwanted substances accumulate over time, making your pipes less capable of draining correctly. Modern, well-constructed piping generally features air chambers which are bigger than the pipe which leads to them. This can help prevent the air chamber from getting blocked.  In such piping, blockages can be fixed relatively easily. Once the piping’s water supply has been cut off, the air container cap can be removed entirely. Once that is done, all you have to do clean the gunk out of the air chamber (a wire brush is probably the best tool to use) and then reattach it.

The solutions outlined above only work in relation to properly installed modern piping systems with air chambers. Older forms of piping or those which have not been installed by a professional plumber may be lacking in air chambers and, as such, said solutions will not work.

Water hammer tends to occur in areas of high water pressure. By that logic, one way of reducing its effects is to reduce water pressure levels in you piping if possible. One way of reducing water pressure levels is by having a pressure reducing valve installed in between your pipes’ water source and the location where the water hammer is occurring.

Reducing your water pressure may not be an applicable solution in all circumstances. While it can stop water hammer from occurring, having low water pressure can be a problem in itself. When your water pressure levels are too low your taps, shower etc. may not be able to give out a good supply of water when used. This is particularly problematic in relation to those faucets which are located underneath the water source. If you cannot strike a good balance of water pressure that will provide enough water from taps etc. while avoiding water hammer, then having air chambers installed in useful locations is the best answer to this conundrum.

As such works are no simple task, seeking help from a professional plumber is probably the best option available to you. Email DeWAR Plumbers or call us on our phone number, 01 514 3300, to have one of our plumbing professionals call out to you and rectify the problem.

Tips For Selecting a Plumbing Company

Choosing the right plumbing company can be a daunting task if you are not well versed in the ins and outs of the maintenance business. The cheapest plumber you find may not be the best one. However, that is not to say that an expensive plumber is automatically better than a more modestly priced one. Cowboys come in all shapes and sizes, so you need to be sure that you are dealing with a legitimate contractor before allowing a plumber to have access to your property.

Selecting a Plumbing Company

Taking heed of the following advice will allow you to make an informed decision and select a plumbing company with confidence:

Always Ask For A Quotation In Writing

When arranging any form of plumbing service with a plumbing company, it is always a good idea to make sure that you agree on a fixed price beforehand. In practice, this means that you can budget for your plumbing works accordingly. It also gives you a ‘checklist’ that you can look over when your plumber is finished, allowing you to ensure that all of the plumbing services you are paying for have been completed properly.

Make Sure There Is An Insurance Schedule

Sometimes called a “policy schedule”, your insurance schedule is a very important document which outlines precisely what forms of insurance your chosen plumbing company has. In practice, the insurance schedule details exactly the type of redress you would be entitled to in the unfortunate event that something, where to go wrong during the course of your plumbing, works being carried out.

Full public liability insurance comes as standard with all services provided by DeWAR Plumbers. In addition, all DeWAR Plumbers’ services come with a full warranty (please note that warranty length and conditions may vary depending on what the service entails).

Accumulate References

Any professional plumbing company that has been running for any length of time should be able to provide at least five quality references without any hassle. This is the absolute minimum number you should expect to receive when looking for references. It is also worth your while to verify at least two or three of said references in order to ensure that they are legitimate (ie: not made up or exaggerated).

DeWAR Plumbers have a multitude of high profile business references as well as domestic ones. We are more than happy to present them when asked.

Ask About Plumbing Jobs That Are Currently In Progress

A good plumbing company always in demand and, as such, will almost always be working on a job somewhere at any given time. Enquiring about an ongoing plumbing job is a bit like getting a reference in ‘in real time’, allowing you to see how your plumbing company operates. Their current client is also likely to be contactable, which means you can get a customer satisfaction critique straight away.

Gather Images of In Progress & Finished Jobs

A description is one thing, but images offer you an even better perspective of how well your chosen plumbing company operates. Before, after and in progress photos will give you a good visual indicator of what you should reasonably expect from your plumbing company’s services. Most plumbers take before and after photographs (for insurance purposes) these days and will be happy enough to provide you with copies of them.

Get A Conformance Certificate

Often referred to as a “Completion Certificate”, your conformance certificate is a very valuable document. Your plumbing company is legally obliged to issue such a certificate within five days of completing any plumbing works. A conformance certificate explains, in meticulous detail, all of the works your plumber has carried out in your property from start to finish.

Get a Receipt

It is best practice to make sure that you get a full receipt when having any plumbing services undertaken on your property. A receipt will act not only as proof of purchase but also as a way of ensuring simplicity of redress in the event that something goes wrong.

If your business is having plumbing works done then you should make sure that you ask for a VAT receipt. This will allow your business to reclaim the value of your plumbing services’ VAT at the end of the financial year.

All DeWAR Plumbers’ services come with a receipt as standard. VAT receipts must be specifically requested.

Get a Final Guarantee

A final guarantee acts as an additional piece of security on your plumbing services. Like a contract between the plumbing company and the customer, a final guarantee declares that all of the plumbing services undertaken have been completed to the highest standard of quality possible and, as such, any problems that may arise are guaranteed to be rectified by the plumbing company promptly. For the sake of verification, your final guarantee should be signed by the plumber who carried out the plumbing works.

All DeWAR Plumbers’ services come with a complete 12-month guarantee. This comes in addition to your warranty and your statutory rights. Contact us by email or  on 01 514 3300