How to Stop Water Hammer in Your Irrigation System (11 Steps)

By following this guide, you can quickly and effectively stop annoying water hammer in your plumbing system.

As a jack-of-all-trades, I have fixed this problem countless times. Water hammer is an annoying problem that can lead to serious problems if left unattended. One of the main causes of water hammer is the penetration of air into pipes and hoses. Therefore, the problem can be solved or alleviated by tracking down and closing the holes.

Here's how to stop water hammer in a sprinkler:

• Turn off all appliances that use water
• Place a towel or clean rag under the water valve.
• Turn on the water valve and attach a pressure gauge to control the pressure, which should not exceed 60 psi.
• Reconnect the sprinkler and let the water flow for a while.
• Check for leaks and loose connections along pipes and hoses.
• Tighten loose connections with a wrench and cover leaks with plumbing tape.
• Disconnect the sprinkler and connect a water hammer arrester to the supply valve.

What do you need

• Plumbing Tape
• Hydraulic shock absorber
• Water pressure gauge
• Clean towel or rag
• Adjustable wrench
• Pipe cutter

First steps

Fortunately, water hammer is a stable situation, albeit an unpredictable one. This can happen after installing new plumbing fixtures such as water valves and pipes.

The steps in the next section will help you diagnose and fix water hammer problems. However, check with a professional if you don't have enough experience with plumbing or you could exacerbate the problem.

Step 1: Turn off appliances that use water

Turn off faucets, water filters, dishwashers, and other devices connected to the water supply or piping before starting repairs.

Do not flush the toilet until you are done with the sprinkler system.

Step 2: Place a towel over the sprinkler valve.

Take a clean towel and place it under the water tap. Go ahead and disconnect the sprinkler from the valve and adjust the towel to catch the water flowing out of the valve.

Step 3: turn on the valve again

Connect a pressure gauge to the valve before turning the valve back on. Then turn it on.

Observe the pressure gauge. If the reading is over 60 psi, seek help from a plumber who specializes in pressure issues.

Don't try to manipulate the system, if you don't have enough experience, you might do more harm than good. And you may end up spending a lot of money to fix the whole system.

Now you can turn on the valve by recording the pressure reading. Then disconnect the pressure gauge.

Step 4: Reconnect the sprinkler

At this point, connect the sprinkler to the water supply and turn on all the valves.

Step 6: Turn on the water for a few minutes

To remove all of the knocking air, let the water pass through all valves to remove any air left in the system.

Check if the issue is resolved. If the problem persists, try another solution. Close all taps in the house.

Step 7: Check for leaks in hoses and pipes

Inspect all pipes and hoses from the sprinkler to the water supply. Check for leaks or loose connections on pipes.

To make the process easier, use a rag to wipe off any water droplets from the outside of pipes and hoses to avoid confusion when checking for leaks and loose connections.

Step 8 Use an adjustable wrench to tighten loose points along the pipe or hose.

Double check the connections before moving on to the next step. Just to make sure everything is tightly connected.

Step 9: Block Leaks With Plumbing Tape

Close water valves before repair. Leaks and loose connections are common causes of water hammer. So, you can eliminate leaks with plumbing tape as follows.

However, you may need to replace damaged areas on the pipe. Follow this:

• Turn off the faucet or water supply and look for sections equipped with valves.
• Cut off the damaged section of pipe with a pipe cutter.
• Take or cut a piece of copper pipe the same diameter as the damaged pipe. Cut off enough length for a proper fit.
• Clean the pipe with steel wool and apply soldering flux to the outside of the pipe.
• Insert the valve fitting into the pipe. Heat the fitting and pipe at the joint.

Step 10: Disconnect the sprinkler from the plumbing again.

After disconnecting the sprinkler from the water supply tap, take a towel and catch the excess water.

Step 11. Connect the water hammer absorber to the water supply valve.

Take the water hammer and attach it to the water supply valve. Then reconnect the sprinkler and restore water flow to the system.

Look for any signs of water hammer. If the problem persists, your entire system may have a serious error. Seek professional help.

F.A.Q.

What is the main cause of water hammer?

Water hammer usually occurs due to a high or main water supply. The action occurs when a tap is suddenly closed or a quick-acting solenoid valve that suddenly blocks the flow of water from the pipes. The event is usually accompanied by shock waves that send vibrations through pipes, fittings and valves. (1)

What stops water hammer?

Several tools can help you curb water hammer. You can install a mechanical device or shock absorber to control water hammer. It is technically known as a water hammer arrestor. Alternatively, you can reduce the span of your pipes by installing bends and/or compensating loops. Elbows weaken or reduce the effect of pressure valves. You can hire a professional to perform this service, or check out some DIY articles for detailed procedures and guidelines.

Take a look at some of our articles below.

• How to use an air hammer
• How to fix a bent rim with a hammer
• How to connect a two-wire solenoid valve

Recommendations

(1) water flow - https://archive.epa.gov/water/test/web/html/flow.html

(2) shock waves - https://www.britannica.com/science/shock-wave

Video links

What is Water Hammer?

How to Use a Pipe Wrench

Why Water Hammer Arrestors Are SO Important | GOT2LEARN