Hey everyone! I need some advice on replacing my water hammer arrestors. My hot water heater has these big blue ones on both the inlet and outlet, but I've only seen the newer kind that looks like CO2 cartridges for BB guns. Is there any significant difference between the two types? I'm having trouble finding the blue ones locally, and I really want to get this done quickly.
I'm planning to replace both arrestors and a section of the pipes since there's a lot of corrosion, and the arrestor on the cold side just blew up and caused a major leak. I've managed to control the leak a bit, but I need this fixed ASAP!
Also, the area under my house is pretty damp. It's built on a hill and there's a drain to an old well, but I'm looking for tips to manage the moisture aside from using a dehumidifier. Thanks for your help!
2 Answers
Yeah, those blue ones have an air-filled bladder and a Schrader valve, so it's definitely worth switching to the CO2 cartridge style for better performance. For the pipes, I'd recommend replacing the corroded sections entirely with new copper or even PEX, which is easier to work with if you're worried about soldering.
If you’re concerned about whether those are special for water heaters, you should be good to go with the new ones, just make sure they’re rated for your setup!
It sounds like those blue arrestors are pretty outdated. The newer cartridge-style ones work really well and could be your best bet for an easy replacement.
Also, have you considered crawlspace encapsulation? That can help manage moisture down there, especially if you add a sump pump to direct water away from your house.