Loud banging from water pipes when hot water is on

mhintn · 08-17-2011, 03:06 PM

My home is 12 years old and I've been there 10 years. This just started. In the bathroom when I turn on the faucet in the bathtub I'm hearing an EXTREMELY load banging noise. It often stops when I turn the faucet to a colder temp or if I turn it off. So I'm assuming it has to do with the hot water pipes. It doesn't do this when the bathroom sink is turned on...just the tub. I'm on a concrete slab so there is no crawlspace or basement underneath. It sounds like it's in the wall behind the shower. I would think that if the builders hadn't secured the pipes properly I would have experienced this before 12 years. What can I do about this? Please tell me there is a way to fix it without tearing open the wall. That is beyond my expertise and with this economy there is no money in the budget to hire someone. Help.

Red Squirrel · 08-17-2011, 03:55 PM

If you have access to the pipes try to secure them further.

Also look at the hardware store for something called a water hammer arrestor. They will reduce this racket which is due to the water suddenly stopping to flow.

mhintn · 08-18-2011, 10:33 AM

As I stated in my post I don't have access to the pipes and it occurs when the water is turned on...not turned off. So, the water hammer arrestor will do no good.

Any other suggestions?

Jackofall1 · 08-18-2011, 10:37 AM

Hello and welcome mhintn, to the best darn DIY'r site on the web.

How is the flow when the valve is turned on, is it constant?

It sounds to me like you have a seal in your fixture that is interupting flow (flopping around in the valve) causing the water hammer you are hearing.

Mark

mhintn · 08-18-2011, 10:50 AM

Hi and thanks for the welcome. I'm glad I found this site.

The water flow is good: constant, strong and no recent change in the flow.

Jackofall1 · 08-18-2011, 10:56 AM

Still sounds to me like you have a faulty shower mixing valve.

I would pull the valve apart and investigate possible causes.

Mark

08-17-2011, 03:06 PM	#1
mhintn Newbie Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 3	Loud banging from water pipes when hot water is on My home is 12 years old and I've been there 10 years. This just started. In the bathroom when I turn on the faucet in the bathtub I'm hearing an EXTREMELY load banging noise. It often stops when I turn the faucet to a colder temp or if I turn it off. So I'm assuming it has to do with the hot water pipes. It doesn't do this when the bathroom sink is turned on...just the tub. I'm on a concrete slab so there is no crawlspace or basement underneath. It sounds like it's in the wall behind the shower. I would think that if the builders hadn't secured the pipes properly I would have experienced this before 12 years. What can I do about this? Please tell me there is a way to fix it without tearing open the wall. That is beyond my expertise and with this economy there is no money in the budget to hire someone. Help.

08-17-2011, 03:55 PM	#2
Red Squirrel Wire Chewer Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 2,975	Loud banging from water pipes when hot water is on If you have access to the pipes try to secure them further. Also look at the hardware store for something called a water hammer arrestor. They will reduce this racket which is due to the water suddenly stopping to flow.

08-18-2011, 10:33 AM	#3
mhintn Newbie Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 3	Loud banging from water pipes when hot water is on As I stated in my post I don't have access to the pipes and it occurs when the water is turned on...not turned off. So, the water hammer arrestor will do no good. Any other suggestions?

08-18-2011, 10:37 AM	#4
Jackofall1 Experienced Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Southern Michigan Posts: 2,801	Loud banging from water pipes when hot water is on Hello and welcome mhintn, to the best darn DIY'r site on the web. How is the flow when the valve is turned on, is it constant? It sounds to me like you have a seal in your fixture that is interupting flow (flopping around in the valve) causing the water hammer you are hearing. Mark __________________ When its all said and done there is usually more said than done To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

08-18-2011, 10:50 AM	#5
mhintn Newbie Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 3	Loud banging from water pipes when hot water is on Hi and thanks for the welcome. I'm glad I found this site. The water flow is good: constant, strong and no recent change in the flow.

Loud banging from water pipes when hot water is on