05-14-2006, 03:35 PM
Water hammer (as in rgG's link)
I've seen two kinds of hammer arrestors.
The ones you buy that have litle 'air bags' in them, should be replaceable if they've gone defective.
If you have them, they should be in a convenient place to replace them.Often in the back wall of a closet or wherever your pipes make the verticle run to upstairs.
Most often put near the device that would cause hammer in the first place, like a washing machine.
Home made ones , a 6 to 12 inch 3/4 pipe on a 1/2" system, that should be full of air to absorb the shock, but can become water logged.
If you have home made ones, draining the water from the lines will remove the water from the absorbers, you'll be back in business when you turn the water back on.
That would be the first thing I would try, as it's simplest. Drain water and turn back on.
Your pipes could also be loose from broken/loosened hangers.
If they'rs just routed through holes in wood rather than strap hangers, a bit of insulating foam will help.
Closing the valve to the toilet fill some (lower flow) might help, but they might just groan instead.
Toilet innards valve might be causing it if it's "bouncing" closed.
Higher street/well pressure may be exaserbating a problem you've always had.
I've seen two kinds of hammer arrestors.
The ones you buy that have litle 'air bags' in them, should be replaceable if they've gone defective.
If you have them, they should be in a convenient place to replace them.Often in the back wall of a closet or wherever your pipes make the verticle run to upstairs.
Most often put near the device that would cause hammer in the first place, like a washing machine.
Home made ones , a 6 to 12 inch 3/4 pipe on a 1/2" system, that should be full of air to absorb the shock, but can become water logged.
If you have home made ones, draining the water from the lines will remove the water from the absorbers, you'll be back in business when you turn the water back on.
That would be the first thing I would try, as it's simplest. Drain water and turn back on.
Your pipes could also be loose from broken/loosened hangers.
If they'rs just routed through holes in wood rather than strap hangers, a bit of insulating foam will help.
Closing the valve to the toilet fill some (lower flow) might help, but they might just groan instead.
Toilet innards valve might be causing it if it's "bouncing" closed.
Higher street/well pressure may be exaserbating a problem you've always had.