why do my pipes bang when the hot water is running?

Question

it's a new house and it sounds like someone is banging on the pipes with a hammer!

Answer 1

The sound is called hammering. The solution nicely enough is called WATER HAMMER. You can pick these up at your local hardware or home improvment store. Disconnect the Hot and Cold lines to your clothes washer and install them on the back, reconnect the lines and you will be good to go.

If you want, the hammering comes from air in the lines. The system was not bleed properly. If you want to do this yourself, you have to findout which is the very last, farthest faucet from the water supply at the water heater.

Start by opening it and letting it run for a while, you should hear it spit and sputter as air is forced out.
Next open the next faucet or valve doing the same. Continue on until you have cleared each faucet and valve. IF you miss one, or get it out of order, you could wind up with air still trapped in the lines.

It is still a good idea to add the Water Hammers at the washing machine to help with future hammering.

You might also like to add a few more pieces of strapping to the lines at various locations approaching the faucets and valves.

I hope this helps.

Answer 2

If properly installed, the pipe sizes shold be to code and they should be strapped down as neccessary. This 'hammer effect also can happen with cold water. 3/4 inch is typical for main lines that run to the Hot Water tank. Coming out there can be a reduction in some cases before the lines get to sinks and toilets, etc.

Answer 3

You either have water caught in the system or your pressure is such that when a line closes, you get the hammer.

The first part is simple draining the lines, the second requires an arrestor on the water line........better close to the hammer. They are easy to install......if you have access to the pipes.

http://www.factsfacts.com/MyHomeRepair/PipeNoises.htm

Answer 4

First 2 posters were right. A new home should not do this and it sounds like your home warranty should be used to the fullest. Make the plumbers come out and get the right (same) sized piping in your plumbing.

Answer 5

you're inflicting a large style of harm. get it fastened speedy. you additionally could have water hammer. that is while air gets in the water strains and could corrode the strains and you will finally end up with a hefty plumbing invoice plus small leaks everywhere inflicting much extra harm on your partitions and ceilings. there's a tank you connect with the best of the water heater to repair this concern...i'm no longer able to think of of what that is declared as--sorry. yet element and case---restoration your thermostat and in case you nonetheless pay attention the banging, you need to restoration the priority with the air in the line.

Answer 6

Yep, sounds like water hammer.