sounds like air in pipes

[libbyapril]

this be hard to explain but desperate for advice when we run the hot or cold taps the pipes strart to bang(sounds bit like a hammer drill) if you turn the tap on a bit more it stops it also happens when we flush the toilet but if you run tap at same time it stops hope this dosnt sound to confusing but driving me mad now

 

[GrahamM]

Sound like "water hammer", goggle it!

 

[PlumbBobBob]

agreed sounds like hammer pipes probably need extra clipping somewhere.

 

[oldplumber]

try a pressure reducing valve on your mains inlet, may help if you have particularly high mains pressure, can happen if water co decides to replace/clean the old victorian supplies as they did in my part of the world a few years back, pressure went from zilch to 15 bar standing pressure overnight, water hammer and flooding wcs everywhere.

 

[Danny_28455]

You dont get water hammer on incoming mains.

It's your down service, via the storage tank in the loft......you are what we call bouncing, in other words , loss of equilibrium, due to fluctuating changes to the valve via the incoming water mains.

Change your ball valve on your storage tank, or if it is a regular occurence, fit an equilibrium ball valve

 

[buffy27]

no water hammer on in coming mains ????? why not ???

 

[Bernie2]

Water hammer is common on incoming mains. Probable causes if its just started are worn tap and ball valve washers or as has been said loose pipes.

Its also possible that if new water mains have been installed by the water supplier and local pressures increased that you are getting water hammer because of excess pressures.

To help you decide, water hammer is basically fast moving water that is suddenly stopped and the forward energy in the water is turned back on itself travelling back down the pipe it came up. It can do this at supersonic speeds that is why you get such funny and unusual noises.

If you "Google" water hammer you will find all kinds on the INTERNET about it. There are also plenty of things you can do about it as well.

But as I said if there has been no alterations recently and it was okay before, then the obvious thing it may be are the likes of worn tap or ball valve washers.