SCA wrote:
I recently had a new water heater installed around late Dec 2004 and
now occasionally I hear these really loud vibrations in the
shower/tub area. I don't know if it water hammer or what.

When I open the hot water supply in the tub (letting the water run),
the noise subsides to barely audible (compared to jackhammer/jetnoise
when closed). The sound also momentarily stops when I open a
different faucet in the bathroom area. When I close the bathtub
supply valve (hot water again) the noise stops completely. The
shower/tub plumbing seems to have some sort of problem that I tried
to fix. There is a handle that turns one way to supply the shower
head and the other way to supply the tub. The valve must be broken
because it doesn't work entirely (when fully turned for the shower,
water still comes out the tub faucet). The hot and cold water
handles are separate. I tried to replace the tub/shower valve but
couldn't get it out (I don't know it's supposed to come out).

The plumber can figure out how to get it out. I suspect you will find
the problem right in that area and someone who knows what to look for and
how to look at it, is going to have to take a look and then take corrective
action. I don't think it is going to be something that can easily done from
here.

The
hot water valve was replaced a couple of weeks before the new water
heater (no noise problems). I tried to get the tub/shower valve out
again in early Feb, so I don't know if I knocked some crud loose in
the system or what.

Anybody got any ideas on how to fix this? For all you wags, yes,
somebody already suggested "call a plumber".

Thanks

--
Joseph Meehan

26 + 6 = 1 It's Irish Math