How do you fix a water hammer?

Question

Well...atleast thats what I think it is. I looked up what the sound was called coming from my toilet. Everyonce in a while after a flush the toilet makes a LOUD rumbling noise. ( this only happens the the restroom on the 2nd floor) How can i fix it. My water heater is in the garage, and I don't know if it has anything to do with that. PLEASE TELL ME HOW TO FIX THIS IF YOU ACTUALLY KNOW HOW. THANKS

Answer 1

Water hammer is a function of flow rate and pressure and made worse with improperly supported pipes. It happens when a high flow rate is shut off too quickly.

Try closing the toilet supply line (from the wall to the bottom of the tank) a quarter turn at a time -- followed by a flush -- to see if the change in flow rate shutdown changes the dynamics enough to prevent the hammering. If that doesn't work install a water hammer arrestor. See link below.

Answer 2

That doesn't sound like "water hammer" but, try this. Look at the pipe coming from the pump or the supply line. make sure they're free and, don't touch anything while pumping or running. If they're O.K. then go to Home Depot or Lowes, Manards or Ace Hardware: tell them your problem. They have a device to put on your pipe in between the source and the object, in this instance the heater. In the old days I'd take a one half inch copper pipe about ten inches long and solder a cap on one end then give it several turns and put it in the line. It would take the brunt of the pressure.

Answer 3

Water hammer is not a rumbling noise. It is a sharp bang that actually shakes the pipes. It sounds like the sewer is sucking air because the vent pipe to the roof may be obstructed. Bird nests have a tendency to do that.

Answer 4

If it truly is a water hammer, there is a device you can buy and install in your supply line to stop it. It will absorb the "hammer" or shock of turning off water too fast. Which a toilet valve may sometimes do. You can pick one up at any pluming dept. at you nearest home store.