I've been hearing a loud banging noise in my pipes whenever I run either my dishwasher or my washing machine. It seems to happen as soon as they start taking in water, which makes me think it might be related to water pressure. I thought water hammer usually occurs when the valves shut off, but mine's happening on the fill-up. Can anyone help me understand what's going on and how to fix it?
3 Answers
It sounds like you might be dealing with water hammer, which happens when water at high pressure is suddenly stopped or released. However, if it's occurring during filling, it could also be a case of air in your pipes. I'd suggest starting with a pressure test to diagnose it further.
We had the same issue! Our plumber added a water hammer arrestor for both the dishwasher and washing machine, and it worked like a charm. Super simple fix and now it's blissfully quiet when they fill up.
From my experience, if you're hearing banging noises primarily during high-water-use appliances like washing machines, it might be the pressure-reducing valve (PRV) acting up. I had to replace mine when I faced similar issues, and it fixed the banging completely.