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Author:
kayachka (VA)
We have a 24-year old townhome. A few months ago we started hearing a loud banging sound in the wall after using the toilet.
The toilet is located on the 3rd floor. The noise occurs after flushing the toilet, as the water is flowing down and through the pipes on the 2nd floor. The noise sounds like it is coming from the 2nd floor wall that we share with our neighbor. The noise occurs about 90% of the time, although sometimes it is a series of 2-3 noises rather than one loud bang.
After doing a lot of research and talking with plumbers, we concluded that we were experiencing water hammer. We shut off the main water supply and drained all the pipes. This reduced the sound subtantially, but it soon came back. Then we installed a shock absorber at the toilet. Again, this stopped/reduced the noise subtantially, but it soon came back. This past weekend we had a plumber come over and replace the water pressure reducing valve, as the water at the main was registering 90+ psi. Now the pressure is ~55 psi but we still hear the same noise.
I should add that we have copper pipes, the toilet is fairly new (2 years old) and we do not have an expansion tank on the water heater.
Can anybody please help?? I'm most concerned that the pipes may burst.
Any suggestions are welcome.
Thank you.
Edited 1 times.
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Author:
Paul48 (CT)
What you are describing is not water hammer. Water hammer is caused by the closing of a valve against the velocity of the water.
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Author:
kayachka (VA)
So what could this be then?
Edited 1 times.
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Author:
Paul48 (CT)
To me,it sounds like you are describing unsecured piping, hitting against a framing member.If it is as you said...when the water is traveling down the pipes, and not when a valve closes.You may have to open up a cavity of the wetwall to investigate. Maybe a snake-type camera could be used. If it is drywall, it is easy to cut a clean opening and then patch.
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Author:
hj (AZ)
Water hammer is a "one time" thing, not a series of 'knocks'. You are guessing at the problem and changing things which are probably not broken. It could be something as simple as a failing toilet fill valve.
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Author:
kayachka (VA)
Thanks for the replies. We've since replaced the fill valve and still the same problem.
We had two plumbers come to the house and described the problem and had them listen to the noises....both thought it was water hammer and recommended the fixes we described above.
Since opening up the wall is not an option for us at this time, how "dangerous" is it to leave the toilet as is assuming the problem is an unsecured pipe or fitting? Are we at risk of having a pipe burst or leak?
And is the pipe that carries water/sewage from the toilet usually PVC?
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