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Water Hammer: a Short Guide to What It is and How It Gets Fixed

A banging sound starts from behind the wall in the middle of the night. It briefly stops, then starts right back up again. This continues until the sun rises, leaving homeowners wondering: "What was that?"

Chances are, it's water hammer when a homeowner hears banging, clanging, or pounding noises behind the wall. One should not ignore this phenomenon. Water hammer does not get better on its own. It needs immediate attention. Otherwise, a homeowner could face long-term damage to the plumbing system and even burst pipes.

What Exactly Is Water Hammer?

Imagine a pipe. Water flows through one end, and a valve stops the water's flow at the other. When someone turns on the faucet, the valve opens, allowing water to stream through the faucet. When they turn the water off, the valve closes, preventing water from passing through the pipe.

Water hammer is when the flow of water hammers against the closed valve. This can cause loud sounds that bump in the night (or day). Some causes of water hammer include:

• Loosely-fitted pipes
• New plumbing appliances and fixtures, such as faucets and sinks
• Worn valves
• Clogged air chambers
• Water rippling from the water tank

Sometimes, valves do their jobs too well. When a valve suddenly cuts off water flow, the water may not stop in time, creating an unpleasant banging noise.

Is Water Hammer Dangerous?

Noisy water pipes aren't dangerous. However, the shockwaves created by the flow of water can wreak havoc on a plumbing system. If left unaddressed, this could cause:

• Eroded pipes. Water pushing against a closed valve can erode the inside of a pipe. This can cause it to weaken, increasing the likelihood of leaks.
• Burst pipes. Burst pipes are every homeowner's nightmare. Burst pipes can lead to water damage, mold growth, and flooding––all of which can cause extensive destruction. Pipes can burst with little to no warning, too.
• Broken valves. A valve can only take so much water pressure before it breaks. This can lead to many concerns, such as water damage.

Indoor plumbing systems are remarkable pieces of technology. On average, the home's plumbing system can last decades without problems. However, water hammer can significantly lower its lifespan, leading to stress, inconvenience, and property damage.

How Can a Professional Plumbing Fix Water Hammer?

First, a qualified professional will determine the reason for water hammer. The issue could lie with a faulty valve. It could also lie with malfunctioning kitchen appliances. Once they understand the source of the problem, they can address it.

To fix water hammer, a plumber may turn off the water main and drain the plumbing system of water. They might do this if an air bubble in the plumbing system is causing the issue. They might also install a water hammer arrester. Water hammer arresters absorb the shockwaves that the inconsistent water flow causes. They may also install an air chamber that reduces the pressure build-up water hammer causes.

About Chris Wilson Plumbing & Heating Repairs Inc

Homeowners don't have to watch YouTube videos about fixing water hammer. Instead, they can call on Chris Wilson Plumbing & Heating Repairs Inc. These professionals offer same-day service to those living in Riverside County and the surrounding area. They also have almost 25 years of experience helping homeowners with their plumbing needs. Interested parties can call today for plumbing service.

Get Heating Systems Ready With Early Maintenance

If the temperature is any indication, there's still plenty of summertime to go. It may seem too early to start thinking about fall, but in reality, it can be helpful to get an early start on some fall chores. One of the recommendations that heating maintenance specialists make is to schedule yearly fall heating maintenance early.

Few things are as frustrating and chilling as losing the heater during the fall and winter. To prevent problems from occurring with the heater during the cold season, homeowners should take time to schedule heater maintenance early before the rush starts. This article is a quick guide to fall heater maintenance, including the benefits and a quick walk-through of the process from local heater maintenance experts.

Benefits of Heating Maintenance

Routine maintenance is part of owning any machine or appliance. People are quick to change the oil in their cars as part of a maintenance program, but homeowners often forget to give their heater and air conditioner some attention. Experts recommend HVAC maintenance twice per year, once in the spring to focus on the AC and once in the fall to focus on the heater. This allows each system to be prepared for the upcoming season so homeowners can recognize benefits like:

• Lower heating bills
• Greater reliability
• Lower repair bills
• Longer equipment lifespan

What Is Included In Heater Maintenance?

Heater maintenance is part of a comprehensive maintenance program for the entire HVAC system. Every three months, owners should ensure that air filters are changed for their heater and air conditioner. This keeps air flowing freely through the system and reduces the amount of dirt and grime that can cause damage inside the heater. Changing the filters can be done by homeowners and is the most important step in maintenance.

Professional heater maintenance is the second most important step. This service is done by a maintenance professional and aims to protect heating equipment. Some of the things a professional will do during heater maintenance are:

• Ensure clean filters are in service
• Check the blower motor and electrical components
• Look for gas leaks
• Clean the burner
• Ensure proper operation
• Check the thermostat

It's Never Too Early To Start

With high temperatures still hanging around for another month, it may seem too early to worry about heater maintenance. However, this is a perfect time. Early fall maintenance ensures that the service can get done on time. Once temperatures drop and everyone turns on their furnace, everyone else will be prompted to call for maintenance or emergency service. Scheduling fall maintenance early ensures that maintenance gets done before the company is busy responding to other customers' repairs or maintenance calls.

Another benefit of scheduling maintenance early is it gives time for a company to do repairs if they find something wrong. Heater repairs can take days between calls and waiting on parts. With early maintenance, professionals can find problems early and repair them before the heater is necessary, so homeowners don't have to deal with an outage.

About Chris Wilson Plumbing & Heating Repairs Inc

Chris Wilson Plumbing & Heating Repairs Inc is a comprehensive plumbing and HVAC repair and maintenance resource. Their respectful technicians are available 24/7 for emergencies and during normal business hours for heater maintenance. Get ahead of the rush and call today for fast heating service in Monterey, CA.

Are There Different Kinds of Air Duct Systems?

Every central air conditioning or heating system has one thing in common - air ducts. And while the ductwork in any HVAC system serves the same basic function - connecting the AC or furnace to all of the rooms in the building - not all air ducts are alike. Air ducts come in various shapes, sizes, and materials to suit different needs and applications.

But if the wrong ducts are installed, it can impact everything from energy efficiency to indoor air quality. In addition to the material and type of ducts used, the overall design of the air duct system plays a vital role in system performance. So this article will lay out everything homeowners need to know about the different types of air ducts, the pros and cons, and why it's so important to install the correct type.

Why Different Air Duct Designs Are Necessary

Naturally, since residential homes and commercial buildings vary so widely in size and design, there's no one-size-fits-all air duct layout. In some cases, the air ducts branch out like a spiderweb from an AC or heater in the center of the building. In other cases, one large duct runs from one end of the house to the other, with smaller ducts branching off it to each room. These are two of the most common duct designs, but myriad variations exist.

Several factors influence the design and construction of an air duct system. The house layout will dictate the design of the duct network, but another crucial aspect to consider is the BTUs of the HVAC unit. The BTU (British thermal unit) rating essentially denotes the system's heating or cooling capacity. A unit that's too powerful or too weak for the home's ductwork and square footage will result in poor performance and airflow issues.

HVAC professionals consider all of this when installing new ductwork or a new air conditioner or furnace. Just as important, however, is the type and material of the air ducts themselves.

Common Air Duct Types

Different air duct materials have their advantages and disadvantages. The most common and familiar type are sheet metal air ducts. These are made from either aluminum or galvanized steel. They are durable and relatively easy to install, and their smooth surfaces make them resistant to mold and bacteria growth.

Fiberglass-lined air ducts have fiberglass coating on the interior or exterior of the duct, which helps insulate the ducts, prevents condensation, and muffles the sound of the unit. This type of duct is more common in commercial buildings. Two key drawbacks of fiberglass-lined ducts are that fiberglass particles can break away and enter the air and that the porous surface is more likely to harbor mold and bacteria - both of which can bring down indoor air quality.

Fiberboard air ducts are similar to fiberglass-lined ducts, but they are sealed to ensure no fiberglass particles can break away. However, they are also more likely to harbor mold growth, and their rough interior surfaces can produce friction that may hinder airflow.

Flexible air ducts are typically made of a steel wire coil wrapped in durable yet malleable plastic. This type of duct is ideal for tight or awkward spaces where the above types of ducts are difficult to install. However, their accordion-like structure and flexibility can result in poor airflow, collapses, or kinks.

Which Type of Air Duct Is Best?

The best type of air duct will mainly depend on the specific building and one's priorities. Fiberboard and fiberglass ductwork is typically more prevalent in commercial buildings, where sound muffling is more important due to the huge, noisy commercial HVAC systems.

Most residential properties use sheet metal ductwork, with a few sections of flexible ductwork in narrow spaces and tight corners. Sheet metal ducts are also generally recommended for their air quality advantages (low mold risk, no nasty fiberglass particles). Due to their smooth surfaces, these also require less frequent (and easier) air duct cleaning. However, since so many complex factors go into selecting ductwork, it's always best to consult with a trusted HVAC expert to determine the best type of air ducts for the home's specific needs.

About Chris Wilson Plumbing & Heating Repairs Inc

As a family-owned and operated local business, Chris Wilson Plumbing & Heating Repairs Inc has provided award-winning service to Monterey since 1999. They offer competitive pricing, rewarding membership plans, and 24/7 emergency service. Chris Wilson personally guarantees satisfaction on every job, so homeowners know they're in good hands when they call for AC service in Monterey, CA!