Title about says it:
Water Hammer After New H2O Heater.
I can’t find a leak with the heater, lines and valves all tight and dry 3 weeks later. Seems most of the noise comes from the water softner line which is out side,no leak there either.
As far as anyone knows this was not evident before.
I’ll that was changed was the heater it’s self, all else as it was.
Any ideas?
Thanks,
Bro Luke
Bro.Luke
Replies
Hmmm. Air in the line somewhere? Or maybe the converse, there WAS air in a line before that absorbed the hammer, but has now been bled out when the WH was installed.
Mike Hennessy
Pittsburgh, PA
Water hammer is single bang followed by a rattle, rattle when a quick acting valve closes. Typically a washer, DW or some toilets.
Are do you have a more continous noise? It can vary from a tripp hammer sound to a machine gun sound, to a whistle to a screach. And the sound varies depending on how much water is flowing.
That indicate something loose in the water path that can move around as the water flows. Typically it a loose washer and only affects one valve.
But it might be a loose washer in the WH shutoff, main water shuttoff or something broken loose and stuck in the pipes.
.
A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.
Bro Luke,
See Bill Hartmann's post re: is it really water hammer. If yes then I think Bill Hennessey is on the right track .....was air in the lines before .....
Are there "anti-hammer" air chambers installed in the water supply system?
If yes, and assuming the pipes were recently drained for the HWH install, then your noise problem is most probably caused by a pipe which was relocated or the hangers removed (and not replaced) after/during the HWH install. IF the whole house pipes were not drained completely for the HWH install - I would drain them now - before starting any major cutting / soldering, etc. (this draining cycle should allow air to refill the chambers). Easiest way to find the offending pipe that is making noise is to watch / feel the suspected pipe while someone else turns the washing machine on and off during a fill cycle on "warm" (flow in both hot and cold).
If no, then you should probably consider installing an air chamber on both the hot and cold side - store bought or home made - they all work. Essentially anywhere in the system is fine - could be done in laundry, at the HWH, etc. wherever you have the easiest access.
Luck,
Jim
Never underestimate the value of a sharp pencil or good light.