Bang Bang Bang Bang?????

[Mr know]

For no apparent reason our house has began to bang at will. It is obviously a plumbing problem and seems to be getting slightly worse.It has been happening for about a month now. The confusing thing is it does not take anyone to be using the water for it to begin Banging. It sounds like someone trying to kick the back door in.
Only possibly connected thing I can think may help a diagnosis is when we had a new bathroom fitted some year years ago, everytime after pulling the flush on the toilet, maybe 20 to 30 seconds later we would get one Bang, we put it down to something normal after a flush.
Now it is random, very agressive and tends to bang about 3 - 5 times each time it goes off.
Any ideas??

 

[anz]

Let me google that for you

 

[Mr know]

If it was that easy it wouldn't be a problem. We have drained the system a couple of times and makes no difference. Like I said this makes no difference if we are running the water or not, it just goes off whenever.
Any other ideas?

 

[Bernie2]

Sounds like some form of water hammer or one of the kids locked in a cupboard somewhere perhaps?

Probably a washer on the water main. Just to many "could be's" to give a proper answer. When it does it next time, put your hand on the incoming main cold water stop tap. If you can feel it banging then the chances are it needs rewashering.

Have you taken any pipe clips off anywhere, could be that?

Could be the ball valve needs rewashering. The fact that you say it happened gradually does seem to indicate a washer wearing down.

I'd rewasher all the cold taps and ball valves in the house if they are off the main. It doesn't cost much for washers. Even check the combi cold main washer on the hot, if you have got a combi that is.

But make sure you replace the washer with the same kind of washer as the one you take out, 1/2" washers come in many sizes and shapes, so I would get the washers before you rewasher.

Incidentally don't leave it, water hammer can cause damage.

Hope this helps

 

[johnmcginty]

Are the pipes located in the wall cavities or are they all on plain view?

 

[Mr know]

They are boxed off. It seems to come from the same area down the corner of the house from the toilet to downstairs. I'm still puzzled by it not taking any activity to cause the bang. Even if the water is not used all day it will bang away every now and then. It wasn't a gradual thing, it started for no apparent reason but has got slightly worse and more often.
Is it normal to do this even when nothing is being used? I'm puzzled.
Thanks for the feedback.

I'd love to call a plumber in but we don't have that kind of money at the moment. Apart from that if I can get a diagnosis I am sure I can wangle a fix up of sorts myself, or at least save someone half a day messing around trying to find out whatsup.