Something strange is going on in your home. It sounds as if someone is knocking quite insistently on the walls in the house. This is strange if you know you are home alone and even stranger if you live on your own!
Before the spooky season influences things too much, we want to explain what is causing this noise. Rest assured, it isn’t a poltergeist—but it probably is a problem with your plumbing in Lexington, SC.
We can provide some explanation of what is creating this knocking noise in your plumbing system and how to fix it. Just keep reading to find out more or contact us now to schedule a visit from a trained plumber.
The Source of the Knocking
You may have noticed that the knocking sound coincides with situations when you are using the different taps in your home, like your bathroom or kitchen faucet. If this is the case, what you are hearing is knocking pipes, also known as water hammer.
The knocking noise is created when the water in your pipes slams into the valve that has just been shut when you turn off that tap. Hopefully, you can breathe easier knowing the sound isn’t ghostly. But don’t relax just yet because it still isn’t good.
The Problems That Lead to Water Hammer
Water hammer or knocking pipes indicate a problem within your plumbing system. As we mentioned, the noise you’re hearing is the slam of water hitting a closed valve at a pretty heavy pressure. This can, unsurpringly, wear out the valve and can even strain your pipes.
Water hammer may have one of two causes, depending on the set-up of your pipes. If you have an older system, you may be encountering this problem because the built-in air pockets in your piping have become filled with water. If you have a newer system, water hammer may indicate issues with the water pressure arrestors that serve as your system’s shock absorbers.
Solving the Problem of Knocking Pipes
So, now we understand the why and the how of this issue, next we have to address the question of how to make it stop. The truth is, how you can solve this issue can depend.
If you have air pockets in your pipes that are filled with water, you can shut off your main water source and open all your faucets at once to drain the excess water from the pipes and refill those air pockets. However, if you aren’t comfortable with doing this, or you aren’t sure whether this solution applies to your pipes, it may be best to call in a pro.
And, of course, if you have newer pipes with water pressure arrestors that need replacing, you’ll need professional repairs.
At the end of the day, it is always faster and easier to reach out to a professional to address the question of how to address your knocking pipes.
The team at Fulmer Heating & Cooling is ready to help with this or any other plumbing problem when you need us. All you need to do is click or call today.