We've been getting a periodic "throbbing" in our water pipes,
with a bang every 2-3 seconds.
I've turned the main stopcock in the house down until it is almost closed.
and that has almost eliminated the throbbing,
though it has made the water pressure a little on the low side.

Is this a familiar phenomenon?

I suspect that after years of too low pressure
(we had to install an electric pump
to get the water up to the tank in the attic)
the local authority have gone to the opposite extreme.

--
Timothy Murphy
e-mail (80k only): tim /at/ birdsnest.maths.tcd.ie
tel: +353-86-2336090, +353-1-2842366
s-mail: School of Mathematics, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland

"Timothy Murphy" wrote in message...
We've been getting a periodic "throbbing" in our water pipes,
with a bang every 2-3 seconds.
I've turned the main stopcock in the house down until it is almost closed.
and that has almost eliminated the throbbing,
though it has made the water pressure a little on the low side.

Did you used to write scripts for the Carry-On films?


--
Best Wishes
Simon (aka Dark Angel)
"Dark Angel's Realm of Horror" - http://www.realmofhorror.co.uk
"Realm of Horror Radio" - http://www.live365.com/stations/313834

On Fri, 11 Nov 2005 20:08:24 +0000, Timothy Murphy wrote:

We've been getting a periodic "throbbing" in our water pipes,
with a bang every 2-3 seconds.
I've turned the main stopcock in the house down until it is almost closed.
and that has almost eliminated the throbbing,
though it has made the water pressure a little on the low side.

Is this a familiar phenomenon?

I suspect that after years of too low pressure
(we had to install an electric pump
to get the water up to the tank in the attic)
the local authority have gone to the opposite extreme.

Why not remove (or at least turn off)the pump?


--
Ed Sirett - Property maintainer and registered gas fitter.
The FAQ for uk.diy is at http://www.diyfaq.org.uk
Gas fitting FAQ http://www.makewrite.demon.co.uk/GasFitting.html
Sealed CH FAQ http://www.makewrite.demon.co.uk/SealedCH.html

Water hammers can be caused by a number of different circumstances...

youd have to explain what causes the noise....expect its a ball valve or tap washer..coupled with ill fitted pipework

Ed Sirett wrote:

On Fri, 11 Nov 2005 20:08:24 +0000, Timothy Murphy wrote:

We've been getting a periodic "throbbing" in our water pipes,
with a bang every 2-3 seconds.
I've turned the main stopcock in the house down until it is almost
closed. and that has almost eliminated the throbbing,
though it has made the water pressure a little on the low side.

Is this a familiar phenomenon?

I suspect that after years of too low pressure
(we had to install an electric pump
to get the water up to the tank in the attic)
the local authority have gone to the opposite extreme.

Why not remove (or at least turn off)the pump?

I didn't express myself properly.
The pump has long been removed -
we used to have to use it when the pressure was too low.
Now the pressure is - apparently - too high;
or at least the pressure seems to vary with a period of a few seconds,
as is apparent from the kitchen tap attached directly to the mains.

--
Timothy Murphy
e-mail (80k only): tim /at/ birdsnest.maths.tcd.ie
tel: +353-86-2336090, +353-1-2842366
s-mail: School of Mathematics, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland

Timothy Murphy wrote:
We've been getting a periodic "throbbing" in our water pipes,
with a bang every 2-3 seconds.
I've turned the main stopcock in the house down until it is almost closed.
and that has almost eliminated the throbbing,
though it has made the water pressure a little on the low side.

Is this a familiar phenomenon?

I suspect that after years of too low pressure
(we had to install an electric pump
to get the water up to the tank in the attic)
the local authority have gone to the opposite extreme.


Do a google or search on this newsgroup with 'water hammer'. Plenty of
answers there.