The solution to water hammer usually depends on the age of your home. Water hammer is related to the speed of sound in the fluid, and elbows reduce the influences of pressure waves.

But sometimes, when you shut off the valve or water suddenly, or when there’s a sudden pressure increase, water comes to a sharp halt, causing the familiar water hammer sound. With looped piping, lower velocity flows from both sides of a loop can serve a branch.

You can use three criteria to tell the difference between air in the pipes and water hammer.
A: The banging racket you’re hearing is called “water hammer,” a form of hydraulic shock that occurs when the shut-off valve on a high-pressure water line suddenly closes. Image source. Arranging the larger piping in loops that supply shorter smaller run-out pipe branches.

How to fix water hammer. Homes built before the 1960s usually have air chambers. Not only is the noise annoying, but it can lead to damage to joints, so ‘water hammer’ should be cured rather than tolerated. Water hammer definition is - a concussion or sound of concussion of moving water against the sides of a containing pipe or vessel (such as a steam pipe).

‘Water hammer’ will be made worse by having worn valves and pipework inadequately supported. A visual showing how water hammer can create knocking pipes. Water hammer is a noisy, annoying condition that can happen in sprinkler system and indoor water pipes. Causes and cures of 'water hammer' In some cases, water hammer can be violent enough to shake the pipes loose of their joints and cause leaks.