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Pipes knocking around 120bpm (lemmy.world)

submitted 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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I have a very odd issue that I can't solve, perhaps someone here could help. The pipe attached to my main shutoff valve is emitting a soft knocking sound at around 120 beats per minute. The sound persists as long as there is any amount of pressure, and I can feel it in the pipe nearby as well as in the valve handle itself. The weird part is that if I turn on any hot water tap, the noise vanishes. I'm a new homeowner so I don't have much experience, so any help would be appreciated. What I've checked so far:

Drained the system completely and refilled

Turned the water off overnight and checked toilets for leaks

I don't feel the pulse at the water meter line

Turning hot water on anywhere in the house stops the noise.

Thanks in advance!

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[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

I think it could be a turbulence inside the pipes that resonates with the pipes and causes the knocking. You could try to fix the pipe to some wall.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Sounds like “water hammer”. If you google that others can give a way better explanation of why it happens.

I fixed mine by closing the main at the street, and opening the faucet highest and furthest from the main. In my house that was an upstairs faucet at the opposite corner from the main. Released all the pressure and then turned back on the main. Noise left and hasn’t come back for 6~ months. There are knock arresters you can install or have installed that stop the problem before it happens.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Might be caused by sediment in your hot water heater (assuming you are using a tank water heater). If you're not familiar, there are tons of articles out there on how to clean it out.

A secondary concern is that you seem to have hot water moving through the system when you don't expect it. Do you have any water circulators on the house on faucets (so you get instant hot water at faucets?). That could explain it. Otherwise, you might have a leak somewhere.