How To Stop Water Hammer In 5 Easy Ways

Did you just turn a tap on or off and you’re hearing loud banging, knocking, thudding sounds coming from your plumbing pipes? Maybe it was an appliance, like your washing machine or dishwasher that makes this alarming racket. Just want to know how to stop water hammer right now?

But what is water hammer? It’s what us plumbers call the sudden shockwave in your plumbing system that – yes – can be extremely worrying. But if you don’t deal with it quite quickly, it can cause long-term damage to your pipes and fittings:

What exactly is water hammer?
Why does it happen?
Most importantly, learn how to fix water hammer.

Let’s break this down:

What is water hammer?

Water hammer, also known as hydraulic shock, happens when fast-moving water suddenly hits a closed valve in your pipes. It causes a pressure surge, which results in the loud hammering pipes sound you’re hearing.

Over time, repeated pressure spikes can loosen pipe joints, damage valves, and even lead to burst pipes. It certainly sounds like a proper water hammer fix is absolutely essential for protecting your home’s plumbing – and getting rid of your headache!

What causes water hammer?

There are a few basic reasons why you might be experiencing water hammer in pipes at your place:

Quickly closing taps or valves: When a tap or appliance shuts off too fast, the sudden stop in water flow causes a shockwave.

High water pressure: Excessive pressure in your plumbing system makes water hammer more likely.

Lack of air chambers or water hammer arrestors: These built-in devices absorb pressure surges, but if they’re missing or faulty, water hammer becomes a problem.

Loose pipes: If your pipes aren’t properly secured, they can move and amplify the hammering effect.

How to stop water hammer: The step-by-step fixes

Starting to get your head around the causes? Let’s go through how to fix water hammer – starting with the easiest solutions and working up to more involved fixes:

1. Check & reduce your water pressure

Still wondering how to get rid of water hammer? Well, this is the easiest fix!

But wait – do you know how to adjust your home’s water pressure? Remember, super-high water pressure increases the impact of hydraulic shock, making hammering sounds more intense. But wait a second – is this really easy to do? Let’s explore:

Check your home’s water pressure using a pressure gauge (you can find these at hardware stores).
If it’s above 500 kPa, install a pressure-reducing valve (PRV) to bring it down to a safer level.
If your home already has a PRV, it may need adjusting or replacing.

Lowering the pressure reduces the intensity of the shockwaves that cause water pipe hammering.

2. Secure loose pipes to prevent vibration

The problem might also be caused by loose plumbing pipes. All that rattling and shaking can easily trigger water hammer.

Check under sinks, in basements, and behind walls (if accessible) for loose pipes.
Use pipe brackets, clips, or foam padding to secure pipes to walls and floors.
Ensure hot water pipes have room to expand so they don’t knock against walls when heating up.

Eliminating all this pipe movement helps to absorb the energy that would otherwise produce the hammer tap phenomenon.

3. Drain & refill your plumbing system

Older plumbing systems often have built-in air chambers that help absorb sudden changes in water pressure. But over enough time, the chambers will fill with water – making their function not work in the way you expect it to.

Turn off your home’s main water supply.
Open all taps, showers, and hoses from the highest to the lowest point in your home to drain the system completely.
Once fully drained, turn the water supply back on slowly, allowing air to refill the chambers.

These air chambers act like shock absorbers, preventing water hammer in pipes from causing loud banging noises.

4. Install a water hammer arrestor

Like #1, this is one of the most effective fixes of all. So if nothing else has worked so far, installing a water hammer arrestor should definitely be your next move to get rid of water hammer – forever!

Buy a water hammer arrestor from a plumbing or hardware store.
Install it near problem areas, such as under sinks, behind washing machines, or near dishwashers.
Some arrestors can be screwed directly onto existing pipe fittings, while others may need a plumber to install them.

Your water hammer arrestor will contain a shock-absorbing chamber, absorbing excess pressure while preventing those galling pipe hammer sounds.

5. Replace fast-closing valves

Some appliances, like washing machines and dishwashers, have solenoid valves that close instantly – that can create a water hammer effect if everything isn’t working perfectly.

If your washing machine or dishwasher is the culprit, consider installing slow-closing valves or adding a water hammer arrestor nearby.
For taps that close quickly, swap them for gradual-closing mixer taps to prevent sudden pressure surges.

Slower-closing valves will reduce the shockwave effect, stopping those water pipes banging sounds.

Know when to call a professional plumber

If you’ve tried all these water hammer fixes and you’re still hearing those loud banging sounds, it’s time to call in the experts. Melbourne plumbers, Canberra plumbing experts, and plumbers in Geelong all recommend getting a professional inspection if your water hammer issues persist. They can:

Assess your plumbing system for pressure issues, faulty valves, or missing air chambers.
Install water hammer arrestors in the best locations for long-term results.
Replace old, damaged, or undersised pipes that could be making the problem worse.
Check for hidden leaks or weak pipe joints that might be contributing to water hammer – and much, much more.

Be aware: water hammer can cause serious, expensive, potentially devastating damage to your home and investment over time – leading to leaks, burst pipes, or much more expensive plumbing repairs.

Ready to stop water hammer for good?

Nobody wants to deal with hammering pipes and loud water pipe hammering every time they turn a tap on or off. Do you agree? Well, fortunately, there are plenty of effective ways to stop water pipes banging. But if the problem hasn’t gone away, Fix-It Right Plumbing is right here! Our friendly team will carry out a professional assessment and get that job done quickly, permanently, and affordably.

Reach out to Fix-It Right Plumbing today for expert solutions to stop water hammer in its tracks – before it smashes your plumbing to smithereens! How to stop water pipes banging? Just give us a call or send us a message, right now.