Howdy,

I live a condo (4 condos per building). In the last several months, our
building has been exhibiting this odd "hammer/banging" noise coming from the
plumbing. At first, I didn't know what this was, but now I suspect this is
water hammer.

I'm trying to better understand how this could happen suddenly, since this
just started a few months ago (with no noise for several years prior). We
did have one unit do a major bath/kitchen remodel (shortly there after is
when the waterhammer started). Other than that, I'm not sure what could
cause it. Water pressure was found by our home owners association to be OK.
Is this due to loose pipes in the walls (our four units share the plumbing
system)? Would a water arrestor at the main (main for the 4-unit building)
solve this problem? Any theories on causes and potential solutions would be
appreciated.

Thanks.

The pressure reducer for your unit has gone bad. Call a plumber to have it
replaced.


"Juan C. Reyes" wrote in message
...
Howdy,

I live a condo (4 condos per building). In the last several months, our
building has been exhibiting this odd "hammer/banging" noise coming from
the
plumbing. At first, I didn't know what this was, but now I suspect this
is
water hammer.

I'm trying to better understand how this could happen suddenly, since this
just started a few months ago (with no noise for several years prior). We
did have one unit do a major bath/kitchen remodel (shortly there after is
when the waterhammer started). Other than that, I'm not sure what could
cause it. Water pressure was found by our home owners association to be
OK.
Is this due to loose pipes in the walls (our four units share the plumbing
system)? Would a water arrestor at the main (main for the 4-unit
building)
solve this problem? Any theories on causes and potential solutions would
be
appreciated.

Thanks.

Juan C. Reyes wrote:

Howdy,

I live a condo (4 condos per building). In the last several months, our
building has been exhibiting this odd "hammer/banging" noise coming from the
plumbing. At first, I didn't know what this was, but now I suspect this is
water hammer.

I'm trying to better understand how this could happen suddenly, since this
just started a few months ago (with no noise for several years prior). We
did have one unit do a major bath/kitchen remodel (shortly there after is
when the waterhammer started). Other than that, I'm not sure what could
cause it. Water pressure was found by our home owners association to be OK.
Is this due to loose pipes in the walls (our four units share the plumbing
system)? Would a water arrestor at the main (main for the 4-unit building)
solve this problem? Any theories on causes and potential solutions would be
appreciated.

Thanks.



It could indeed be loose piping rattling.
But it usually takes some cause to precipitate
the rattling.

The remodel is certainly suspicious as to timing.

If the sound is one single "BANG!" quick-closing
valves such as dishwasher/washing machine solenoids
may be to blame.

If the sound is more like machine-gun firing,
could be a toilet fill valve closing or a shutoff
valve with a loose washer (or valve only partway open).

I bet you'll need to enlist the co-operation of the
unit owner who had the work done to narrow the source
down.

A hammer arrestor on the water service is too far from
the cause (probably) and likely would have little effect.

Jim

After puzzling over water hammer I simply drained the water heater and
refilled it, end of problem. Seems that reduced headspace at the top of the
WH was causing it. Draining and refilling it put the headspace back in
action.

"Juan C. Reyes" wrote in message
...
Howdy,

I live a condo (4 condos per building). In the last several months, our
building has been exhibiting this odd "hammer/banging" noise coming from
the
plumbing. At first, I didn't know what this was, but now I suspect this
is
water hammer.

I'm trying to better understand how this could happen suddenly, since this
just started a few months ago (with no noise for several years prior). We
did have one unit do a major bath/kitchen remodel (shortly there after is
when the waterhammer started). Other than that, I'm not sure what could
cause it. Water pressure was found by our home owners association to be
OK.
Is this due to loose pipes in the walls (our four units share the plumbing
system)? Would a water arrestor at the main (main for the 4-unit
building)
solve this problem? Any theories on causes and potential solutions would
be
appreciated.

Thanks.

On Mon, 06 Jun 2005 21:44:11 GMT, "Juan C. Reyes"
wrote:

I live a condo (4 condos per building). In the last several months, our
building has been exhibiting this odd "hammer/banging" noise coming from the
plumbing. At first, I didn't know what this was, but now I suspect this is
water hammer.
[snippage]

Does the "hammer/banging" occur when a faucet is shut off or a toilet
finishes filling? Or does it occur when water is running?

--
Luke
__________________________________________________ _________________
"The best time to invest is when there is still blood on the
ground."
-- Delegate at ReBuilding Iraq 2 trade show, Sheraton Hotel,
Arlington, VA, December 3-4, 2003

Good question...it doesn't happen when I run/turnoff any faucet from my
unit. I seems to be coming from another unit; unfortunately, I don't know
which one.


"Luke" wrote in message
...
| On Mon, 06 Jun 2005 21:44:11 GMT, "Juan C. Reyes"
| wrote:
|
| I live a condo (4 condos per building). In the last several months, our
| building has been exhibiting this odd "hammer/banging" noise coming from
the
| plumbing. At first, I didn't know what this was, but now I suspect this
is
| water hammer.
| [snippage]
|
| Does the "hammer/banging" occur when a faucet is shut off or a toilet
| finishes filling? Or does it occur when water is running?
|
| --
| Luke
| __________________________________________________ _________________
| "The best time to invest is when there is still blood on the
| ground."
| -- Delegate at ReBuilding Iraq 2 trade show, Sheraton Hotel,
| Arlington, VA, December 3-4, 2003

On Mon, 06 Jun 2005 23:10:58 GMT, "Juan C. Reyes"
wrote:

Good question...it doesn't happen when I run/turnoff any faucet from my
unit. I seems to be coming from another unit; unfortunately, I don't know
which one.
[snip bottom quotes]

Bummer. Is it just one bang, or is it continuous (or intermittently
continuous) banging? Can you further describe the noise, and give any
other details like time of day?

--
Luke
__________________________________________________ _________________
"This Republican Party of Lincoln has become a party of theocracy."
-- Christopher Shays (R-CT), March, 2005

A short burst (like a machine gun)
Usually happens either around noon or evening
At one point when it happened, I quickly reach under my kitchen sink to feel
which pipe was vibrating (not moving but vibrating). It was the hot water
line.

"Luke" wrote in message
...
| On Mon, 06 Jun 2005 23:10:58 GMT, "Juan C. Reyes"
| wrote:
|
| Good question...it doesn't happen when I run/turnoff any faucet from my
| unit. I seems to be coming from another unit; unfortunately, I don't
know
| which one.
| [snip bottom quotes]
|
| Bummer. Is it just one bang, or is it continuous (or intermittently
| continuous) banging? Can you further describe the noise, and give any
| other details like time of day?
|
| --
| Luke
| __________________________________________________ _________________
| "This Republican Party of Lincoln has become a party of theocracy."
| -- Christopher Shays (R-CT), March, 2005

Water hammer can be can rupture pipes or weaken joints if it continues. A
hammer arrester can be installed at the stops of the unit that's causing the
problem.
Ron
"Juan C. Reyes" wrote in message
...
Howdy,

I live a condo (4 condos per building). In the last several months, our
building has been exhibiting this odd "hammer/banging" noise coming from
the
plumbing. At first, I didn't know what this was, but now I suspect this
is
water hammer.

I'm trying to better understand how this could happen suddenly, since this
just started a few months ago (with no noise for several years prior). We
did have one unit do a major bath/kitchen remodel (shortly there after is
when the waterhammer started). Other than that, I'm not sure what could
cause it. Water pressure was found by our home owners association to be
OK.
Is this due to loose pipes in the walls (our four units share the plumbing
system)? Would a water arrestor at the main (main for the 4-unit
building)
solve this problem? Any theories on causes and potential solutions would
be
appreciated.

Thanks.

On Mon, 06 Jun 2005 23:51:32 GMT, "Juan C. Reyes"
wrote:

A short burst (like a machine gun)
Usually happens either around noon or evening
At one point when it happened, I quickly reach under my kitchen sink to feel
which pipe was vibrating (not moving but vibrating). It was the hot water
line.
[snip]

See Speedy Jim's post, above, where he says:

"If the sound is more like machine-gun firing,
could be a toilet fill valve closing or a shutoff
valve with a loose washer (or valve only partway open)."

If you're right about the hot water, it's not a toilet [or shouldn't
be ;-)], more likely a faucet washer or valve stem, or a dishwasher or
washing machine solenoid or shut-off valve.

You'll need to knock on doors and politely explain the situation to
find the "culprit", and/or enlist the aid of management or your condo
association. It may be the folks in the "guilty" unit haven't gotten
around to reporting the problem yet or don't realize (amazing as it
seems!) they have a problem and will be grateful to you. Or not ;-).

--
Luke
__________________________________________________ _________________
"The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest
exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior
moral justification for selfishness."
-- John Kenneth Galbraith

Just posting back my results:

We recently had the association plumber check out this problem while all 4
homeowners were present. Turns out the waterhammer was being caused by 1
homeowner whose hot water shutoff valve (to the kitchen sink) was only
partially opened....something like 15% open. Anyways, plumber found and
corrected problem within about 10 minutes. No more waterhammer. Homeowner
had no idea she was causing this problem.


"Juan C. Reyes" wrote in message
...
| Howdy,
|
| I live a condo (4 condos per building). In the last several months, our
| building has been exhibiting this odd "hammer/banging" noise coming from
the
| plumbing. At first, I didn't know what this was, but now I suspect this
is
| water hammer.
|
| I'm trying to better understand how this could happen suddenly, since this
| just started a few months ago (with no noise for several years prior). We
| did have one unit do a major bath/kitchen remodel (shortly there after is
| when the waterhammer started). Other than that, I'm not sure what could
| cause it. Water pressure was found by our home owners association to be
OK.
| Is this due to loose pipes in the walls (our four units share the plumbing
| system)? Would a water arrestor at the main (main for the 4-unit
building)
| solve this problem? Any theories on causes and potential solutions would
be
| appreciated.
|
| Thanks.
|
|