Inside of your home’s plumbing system, there are many different, moving parts all working in tandem to keep it running smoothly. While everything may be working fine one day, the next day you may hear something banging, notice slow drainage, or find leaks somewhere on your property. Off the cuff, these symptoms may be caused by any number of things but can often be attributed to a process called water hammer. And one of the best solutions to this problem is what is called an air chamber!
If you’re lost thus far, don’t worry, we’ll help you understand exactly what a water hammer is, what an air chamber does, and why you’d want to choose an air chamber in your home!
What is a Water Hammer?
Let’s start with the problem itself – water hammer. This is an occurrence where a surge in water pressure causes flowing water to stop or change directions suddenly. Typically, water hammer is caused by an open valve closing at the wrong time or a pump pushing water in the wrong direction.
When this happens, the powerful water pressure can make a loud noise, cause damage to your pipes or other parts of your plumbing system, or lead to leaks. Fittings, hangers, and brackets can also be damaged during these surges. All things you want to avoid at all costs, lest you run into more headaches and costly repair bills!
What are Air Chambers?
Now that we have an idea of what the problem is, let’s look toward the solution. Air chambers are small, often T-shaped pipes that are built off of your main piping which are empty. These air chambers won’t usually have any water in them under normal circumstances but will provide a valuable service during surges of water pressure. At these times, air chambers allow for the pressure of the surge on your main pipes to be lessened, as it takes in some of the surging water, ultimately slowing it down. Air chambers are usually located near fixtures, such as dishwashers or washing machines.
Why Choose Air Chambers?
If you’ve noticed signs of water hammer or have successfully identified the issue as water hammer, an air chamber is necessary. While there are other options available out there to consider, air chambers are tried and true solutions. They’ve been utilized in homes across the country for decades and have the backing of decades of success.
First of all, they are very efficient and overall cost-effective. Air chambers are only short additions to your current pipe system, so you don’t need expensive materials or major work to install them. Additionally, there are many types and sizes of air chambers that fit all styles of systems and fixtures. This means that you can have a simple, straightforward solution for your water hammer issue.
Trust Joe the Plumber for Your Plumbing Needs!
Have you had any occurrences of water hammer in your home? If you have, it’s time to call our professionals at Joe the Plumber! We’re the leading plumbing experts in the greater Houston area who can handle every facet of your plumbing needs. We are able to install or maintain air chambers in your home but can also assist with bathroom plumbing, drain cleaning, repiping services, tankless water heaters, and much, much more.
You won’t find another team around that will give you the same level of professional service and high-quality solutions that we will. If you’d like to learn more or schedule your service, we welcome you to contact us today. We also offer 24/7 emergency services to help you out in a pinch!
