Impact Dampers

You might have heard loud banging sounds when you shut off a faucet, especially in old buildings. This happens due to the abrupt stop in the flow of water. As the water comes to a sudden stop, the built-up momentum causes a rise in pressure and causes a hammering effect inside the pipes. This is what you hear as the banging. And in this case, you need a water hammer arrestor.

Similarly, to hitting a pipe with a real hammer can damage the pipe, water hammer can also do substantial damage to the pipes in the long run. The only difference is that in this case the pressure is spread over a much larger area than if you were to hit the pipes with a hammer. However, after a few years, this will damage the pipes beyond repair. Installing a water hammer arrestor in the system is a simple and affordable fix to the problem of water hammer. Read this article to find out more about it. This will help you make the right choices while shopping for the arrestors.

A brief guide to water hammer arrestors

Humans have been using plumbing systems to transport water for thousands of years. But never in history have they been as ubiquitous as in the modern world. Everyone can agree on the fact that faucets and plumbing systems have greatly simplified our lives. But it also has its own problems. Plumbing is often expensive and adds up to ten or fifteen per cent of the cost of a building. As you are spending a huge amount of money setting up the faucets and the necessary piping it is, therefore, essential to add all the necessary safety features to it as well. Water hammer arrestors are one such fixture for protecting the plumbing systems.

The water hammer

When you suddenly stop a valve in your bathroom, the flowing water comes to a sudden stop. Because water is not compressible, the built-up momentum of the water travels back up the pipes. Surprisingly, the buildup of pressure can reach a spike of up to This happens a few times before it settles down. Although it sounds insignificant, over a long period of time, it can cause damage to the pipes and joints. In a few years, the water hammer will cause leaks and can render valves unusable. This is especially significant for large buildings because of the complexity in the piping system.

Cushioning the water

Because of the potential effects of the water hammer, arrestors are essential in high-end plumbing installations. Even though there are differences between various types of hammer arrestors, the basic principle is to add a layer of compressible material in the piping system. Arrestors will add a pocket of air in the system to which water doesn’t enter under normal pressure. When the water pressure builds up inside the system, the air inside the arrestors compressor and absorbs the shock. This saves the piping, valves and joints from damage.

Mechanical hammer arrestor valves

Another method of counteracting the effects of the water hammer is by using a mechanical shock arrestor. Instead of a simple air chamber, mechanical arrestors will have an air bladder that contains a spring. The spring compresses when the pressure inside the system increases. Mechanical arrestor valves have a few advantages over the air chamber arrestors. Firstly, they can deal with a greater amount of pressure. Secondly, mechanical arrestors work even in situations in which an air chamber might be impractical.

Hammer arrestor valves

Probably the most advanced way of dealing with the water hammer is to prevent it from forming in the first place. This is possible using pressure regulator valves. These valves control the pressure of the water inside the pipes. Therefore, even if you shut off a tap, the buildup of pressure does not reach critical levels. A water pressure regulator can keep the pressure within sixty psi quite easily. This is well below the rated pressure level of most plumbing systems. Because of this, water pressure regulator valves are preferred over the alternatives.