I’ve got something strange happening in my pipes:
It’s a three story townhouse, with fixtures on each floor (basement sink, kitchen sink on 1st floor, bathroom on 2nd).
We replaced the supply lines to the bathroom with copper while the walls and ceiling were open for a kitchen renovation. Everything seemed fine–until the kitchen pipes were hooked up.
Now, a few minutes after we turn on the faucet in the bathroom sink, a tremendous and constant banging begins. It happens with either the hot and cold water–and it affects the flow of water to the faucet (once, while testing if turning on the kitchen faucet would make a difference, the water to both was cut off for a split second).
Other than that split second of no water, turning other faucets on and off doesn’t make a difference–if, however, we have been using the water downstairs, the upstairs banging is delayed somewhat (we’ll get a few minutes of peace before the banging begins).
None of the other fixtures causes banging.
Any help would be appreciated–we’re planning on replacing the bathroom sink, so changes at the level are no big deal. I’m hoping we don’t have to open a wall at the kitchen level, though….
Replies
I would try a air (bladder) tank on the cold water line. Even Home Depot sells them.
So just on the second floor lav?
Not on the toilet or the shower?
Hot & cold both?
Lav faucet have dual handles or single handle?
“When the San Francisco Democrats treat foreign affairs as an afterthought... they [behave] less like a dove or a hawk than like an ostrich—convinced it would shut out the world by hiding its head in the sand... When the Soviet Union walked out of arms control negotiations, and refused even to discuss the issues, the San Francisco Democrats didn’t blame Soviet intransigence. They blamed the United States. But then, they always blame America first. When Marxist dictators shoot their way to power in Central America, the San Francisco Democrats don’t blame the guerrillas and their Soviet allies, they blame United States policies of 100 years ago. But then, they always blame America first. The American people know better.” —former UN ambassador Jeane Kirkpatrick
It's just the second floor lav--not the toilet or shower.
Dual faucets on that sink. And yes, either hot or cold water. The banging usually starts sooner on the hot water, but that may be related to the delay in banging, if we use the downstairs water (apparently, we use cold water more in all the sinks).
What's an air bladder tank?
Air bladder tanks are many things---- expansion tanks, hammer arrestors, well pressure tanks etc.....
He was probably refering to a hammer arrestor in his post.
I don't think that is your problem though.
Disconnect your lav from the angle stop 7 run the hose to a drain, bucket or somethin, & run a bunch of water controling it with the angle stop.
See if the hammering is still present.
I am suspecting that you might have a faulty faucet, where the washers might be loose & chattering when water flow is going by.“When the San Francisco Democrats treat foreign affairs as an afterthought... they [behave] less like a dove or a hawk than like an ostrich—convinced it would shut out the world by hiding its head in the sand... When the Soviet Union walked out of arms control negotiations, and refused even to discuss the issues, the San Francisco Democrats didn’t blame Soviet intransigence. They blamed the United States. But then, they always blame America first. When Marxist dictators shoot their way to power in Central America, the San Francisco Democrats don’t blame the guerrillas and their Soviet allies, they blame United States policies of 100 years ago. But then, they always blame America first. The American people know better.” —former UN ambassador Jeane Kirkpatrick
If not something loose in the faucet then something in the line, main shut off or pressure regulator.But with the symptoms - casued by either hot or cold, but only on the bathroom faucet - it is most likely faucet.But since that was not changed I suspect that trash got into it and as far as the common channel.I would remove the strainer/airator and flush it out..
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Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.
I tried taking off the aerator/strainer--now, very clearly, the banging starts up (and the flow is blocked by something) when either faucet handle is turned more than 90 degrees.
I'm hoping this means a new faucet--and not a pressure regulator, which sounds more serious.
Here ya can try this without actually taking apart the plumbing.
Shut off the angle stop under the sink, then open the faucet, then open the angle stop.
You should be able to tell if the chatter is coming from the faucet or the pipes.
Copper is a great transmitter of sound, a loose washer flapping in the flow will reverberate through the pipe & if the copper is loose against a stud somewhere that can get real noisy.“When the San Francisco Democrats treat foreign affairs as an afterthought... they [behave] less like a dove or a hawk than like an ostrich—convinced it would shut out the world by hiding its head in the sand... When the Soviet Union walked out of arms control negotiations, and refused even to discuss the issues, the San Francisco Democrats didn’t blame Soviet intransigence. They blamed the United States. But then, they always blame America first. When Marxist dictators shoot their way to power in Central America, the San Francisco Democrats don’t blame the guerrillas and their Soviet allies, they blame United States policies of 100 years ago. But then, they always blame America first. The American people know better.” —former UN ambassador Jeane Kirkpatrick
This is really helpful, everyone.
I tried shutting off the water at the angle stop, opening the faucet and opening the angle stop, as you suggested.
I think the symptoms point to the faucet--the chattering was entirely dependent on the position of the faucet, rather than the pressure coming through the angle stop (I turned the faucet to the 90 degree magic mark, then eased the water on and off).
It's the same on either side, which I think means the problem happens at or after the place where the hot and cold water mix.
I can't dismantle/replace a faucet today, so if you have any reassurance or additional concerns, please let me have 'em.
Again, thanks to all--it's so great to be walked through this.
And happy holidays!
Before I start dismantling pipes (I did not actually do the repiping, so I'm venturing into new territory to try to fix it)...the angle stop is the valve where the pipe comes out of the wall and heads for the sink, right?
I'll give this a try, but I'm not sure why all the banging would start when the kitchen was hooked up--we were without first floor water for months, and never heard a peep from the 2nd floor sink.
I'm intrigued with Dan H's first thought about the spray diverter--I don't know enough to know why that would make a difference, but the timing seems right, and these plumbers we had did have to do every job twice (which is why we're not going back to them with the banging, and our kitchen drain has a slow leak).
Yes, the "angle stop" is the valve where supply line connects to the fixed piping.Most, but not all are actually angles. Somethig they are straight through, but angle stops are more common.And some places they don't always install stop valves.But that is where to check it.But also check the airelator..
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Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.
http://www.solutionsbyharper.com/page3.asp?ID=120
The spray diverter in the kitchen faucet is mucked up. And you could have compounded things by not securing the new copper well enough.
[Oops -- misread. Probably something loose in the bathroom faucet, or else a bad pressure regulator on the main.]
Edited 12/19/2006 11:55 am by DanH
Sometimes if too much solder is put on a sweat joint, it will form beeds in side the pipe, water movement will carry these toward the faucet. They can make weird things happen, If you get it narrowed down to one faucet you may have too take it apart.
Ah...now I see. Thanks for the description. I do think I've got dismantling in my future.
M