Why are my pipes banging in the walls when I flush the toilet?
The sound of banging pipes when you flush the toilet can be a pretty frightening thing. You may think that this is a plumbing emergency once you start hearing that knocking in the walls. But for as alarming as it may sound, the knocking sound is not uncommon and usually has an easy cause that can quickly be resolved. But, before we talk about solutions, lets explain what the cause is.
What is Water Hammer?
The technical term is a hydraulic shock. To understand what water hammer is, imagine your pipes are a freeway and the water are cars. Now, imagine the cars are driving along and the front car slams on its breaks. When this happens, each car will run into the one in front of it. As you flush the toilet, a valve opens up to increase water flow and then quickly turns the valve off. The water that was driving along to your toilet is cut off and that pressure causes the banging noise. The banging you hear is the pile up causing the pipes to move and strike against one another or the walls frames.
Although this is a cause for concern, if you just started hearing the banging you have a little time to find the right person to fix the issue. But waiting too long can lead to an eventual break at poorly soldered joints and fittings. This can be a potentially catastrophic issue that can lead to a leak within your walls. To help prevent water hammer, T- shaped air chambers are installed as a shock absorber. Over time air can become displaced within these chambers and lead to a knocking noise.
How can I fix it?
If you just started hearing the banging, air displacement is most likely the culprit. If you are wanting to DIY this fix, follow these simple steps:
- At your water main, shut off the water supply.
- Turn on all of your faucets within your home and let them fully drain.
- Flush every toilet as well.
- Run both your washing machine and dishwasher for at least a couple of minutes to make sure they are drained.
- When you are sure that all water within the home is drained, turn your water back on.
Completely draining your home’s water system should solve your water hammer problem. If you take these steps and the issue still persists, you could be dealing with a greater issue. If this is the case, you will likely need to call a professional plumber to help fix this issue.
We Can Help
If you have a water hammer problem and would like some professional help, reach out to us at Need A Plumber, Inc. We provide plumbing services for residential, commercial, and industrial clients throughout Southern Florida. We provide fast response times, competitive rates, and reliable service. Need A Plumber? Schedule an appointment today; call us at 954-445-6443 or use our contact form.
