Loud pipes!

[Bongo]

Everytime I turn off a cold water tap (or when the toilet cistern has filled) there is a loud banging noise from the pipes under the floorboards. Is this likely to be air in the system? Its driving me mad!! Any suggestions welcome!

 

[ChrisR]

No not air. Water hammer. Can be a pain to sort out - try a search for suggestions.

 

[bathjobby]

Turning off any cold tap, or just those taken off the rising main ? If the latter, turn the rising main pressure down using the stopcock.

 

[Bongo]

It doesn't seem to do it with all the taps......only the ones in the upstairs bathroom........not sure which taps in the house are fed from the rising main!! I tried turning down the pressure, doesn't seem to have helped. Any more ideas?? Thanks

 

[bathjobby]

As ChrisR said then, it sounds like water hammer. Has this always happened, or started recently ? If recently, one cause of this (there could be many) is often when the cold water storage tank ballcock valve starts to wear and get weak. Get someone to make the noise happen and put your hand on the ballcock valve, watch for the ballcock bouncing slightly when they close the tap and if you can feel the valve banging. If so, replace the valve.

 

[Bongo]

Just to be really awkward we don't have a storage tank! It's a Victorian house and the water comes straight from the rising main I've now discovered! Thanks for persevering...anything else worth trying? (other than a set of ear plugs!)

 

[ChrisR]

Well the traditional answer is that the pipes aren't secured properly with clips avery 2 metres for 15mm (ish). I've never found a case where it helped, though yours may be that if it's only upstairs pipes.

 

[Nige F]

pressure reducing valves and shock arrestors. From PTS...cheap @ the moment If all else fails.

 

[Bongo]

Thanks everyone....