Water Hammer between neighbours

[Martyn2]

I live in an old semidetached house and share a mains water supply pipe with my adjoining neighbour. Inexplicably for the past month I have been hearing extreme water hammer every time my neighbour uses her cold water tap/shower/washing machine. I haven't been able to pin down where the hammer occurs but the noise is horrendous. My questions are (a) Can this be harmful or just annoying? (b) Is this a problem I can present to the water company or can I do something about it myself? I should say the water pipe between us is buried so I would assume could not vibrate.

 

[Aire]

The burried main water pipe may not be. But if you share a water main then the fluctuations in pressure when your neighbour user the water, could be causing water hammer with your pipes if they aren't adequately clipped and supported. You could try fitting a shock arrestor above your stop tap if you have the room. I'm not guaranteeing it will work but it's the first thing I'd try.

 

[SJB060685]

As above.

 

[Riley]

Do you have tanks in the loft

 

[Rob Foster]

I always think water hammer would be a good pop group name....my approach would be engage with neighbour and cure the problem...they will not be unaware...but a shock arrestor is the full answer or it might just be a dodgey ball valve next door eg ...Rob Foster
aka centralheatking

 

[rpm]

Seems to crop up on the forums whenever a new washing machine is involved.

 

[rpm]

Seems to crop up on the forums whenever a new washing machine is involved.

Believe it is something to do with the fill valve shuting quickly.

 

[Martyn2]

Do you have tanks in the loft

No it's a combi with no storage tank or plumbing in the loft.

 

[Martyn2]

The burried main water pipe may not be. But if you share a water main then the fluctuations in pressure when your neighbour user the water, could be causing water hammer with your pipes if they aren't adequately clipped and supported. You could try fitting a shock arrestor above your stop tap if you have the room. I'm not guaranteeing it will work but it's the first thing I'd try.

I already have a shock absorber on my combi CW inlet and that's as close to the stop tap as I can get as the inlet pipe comes up through the kitchen floor without even room for a water meter.

 

[Aire]

Hmmm, interesting. Definitely a shock arrestor? Your not confusing it with a magnetic scale reducer? (I have to ask to get the full picture and in no way suggesting you don't know what your talking about). If you do already have the valve fitted then i would suggest you speak with your neighbour and ask if she's had a new wasting machine recently. @rpm is right in saying washing machines can cause this. I've had it a couple of times. If she has them suggest she gets a shock arrestor fitted on the cold fill to the washing machine. If your getting water hammer then chances are, she is too so should want it fixing herself.

 

[Martyn2]

Hmmm, interesting. Definitely a shock arrestor? Your not confusing it with a magnetic scale reducer? (I have to ask to get the full picture and in no way suggesting you don't know what your talking about). If you do already have the valve fitted then i would suggest you speak with your neighbour and ask if she's had a new wasting machine recently. @rpm is right in saying washing machines can cause this. I've had it a couple of times. If she has them suggest she gets a shock arrestor fitted on the cold fill to the washing machine. If your getting water hammer then chances are, she is too so should want it fixing herself.

No definitely a shock absorber. My CH installer told me they were standard fittings now due to the installation of water meters. I have made one change in the past hour and that is to fully open my supply tap. My neighbour has just phoned to say she is using the washing machine and I have heard no bangs, so just maybe thats done it. I shall see.

 

[Harvest Fields]

Worcester boiler?

 

[Rob Foster]

No definitely a shock absorber. My CH installer told me they were standard fittings now due to the installation of water meters. I have made one change in the past hour and that is to fully open my supply tap. My neighbour has just phoned to say she is using the washing machine and I have heard no bangs, so just maybe thats done it. I shall see.

do let us know how you get on
centralheatking

 

[Burger]

Hi Martin,

Sounds like you may have cured the issue, as a stoptap not fully open can cause several issues including water hammer. As can a washing machine solenoid slamming the water closed, a quarter turn tap being closed too quickly, a jumper on a stopcock (stop tap), loose pipes, float valves and more plumbers nightmare sometimes