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Impact Dampers

About 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.

Tips on how to buy Water Hammer Arrestors Online

Water hammer arresters are necessary for both residential and commercial plumbing systems. Although selecting the right type of hammer arrestor might seem like an easy task at first, in reality, it can be quite confusing. This is because there are several types of arresters out there. That being said, it will be easier to select one if you know what factors to consider in them. Here are a few things to keep in mind while you are shopping for water hammer arrestors online.

  • Size – One of the essential factors to consider while buying any kind of plumbing installation is the size. More often than not, this will be the thread size of the device. In the case of a water hammer arrestor, it is the thread size that determines whether or not you can install it in your system.
  • Pressure rating – Water pressure in a system is affected by factors like the height of a building, the size of the pipes, and the complexity of the system. So, make sure that the arrestor you are getting has a pressure rating that is right for the system. Arrestors with higher pressure ratings tend to be larger and also more expensive.
  • Material – Hammer arrestors usually consist of a combination of two or three materials. The flexible parts will be mostly rubber, and the metal parts will be steel, aluminium or bronze. Bronze is the most expensive material among these. However, bronze fittings are much more durable than the rest because of its superior resistance to corrosion.
  • Cost – Depending on how complex the system is, you will need a sufficient number of arrestors to avoid pressure build-up in every single part of the plumbing system. Installing a water hammer arrestor in the system, therefore, means your plumbing cost is going to increase by a small amount. Take your budget into consideration while selecting the arrester rating and material.

You will need many other faucet parts besides impact dampers in a home. These include things like faucet handles, spouts, stop valves, p traps, float valves, faucet gaskets, and extensions. You can find any of these easily using our shopping search engine. It will also let you compare the prices and features of different products and pick the best one among them. So, don’t forget to check out all the other amazing products from the bathroom fixtures category.

Question & Answer

How does a water hammer arrestor work?

While the exact working of water hammer arrestors changes depending on the model, all of them make use of the compressibility of the air. In principle, an arrest or simply adds a pocket of air inside the plumbing system. Even though this might sound simple, there are two concerns with this. One, the air pocket should not interfere with the normal working of the system. Two, for the arrestor to be effective, water should not be able to displace the air under normal working conditions. Keep in mind that the working of a hammer arrestor valve is not based on this method.

What size of water hammer arrestor should you use?

The size of the arrestor depends on the type of the fixture and also the peak pressure in the system. Fixtures like showers and urinals do not require that much pressure to work. This means that the size and rating for arrestors for these fixtures generally tend to be small. On the other hand, water closets require a higher pressure rating. Another thing to consider is the size of the thread. The thread size of the fixture should match the thread size of the arrestor. While you can technically use an expansion joint to install the arrestor, it is not the best way to do it.

Where to buy water hammer arrestor online in the UAE?

For a plumbing system to be efficient and reliable, every single element of the system should be of the highest quality. This applies to the arrestors as well. Therefore, the most important task is actually finding the perfect hammer arrestor for the fixtures in the system. After that, you should look for a reputed store to buy it from. Fortunately, there is no shortage of places where you can find hammer arrestors in the UAE. The best to shop for it is, however, Shops.ae. It is incredibly easy to find a perfect arrestor using our retail search engine.