Flat below causing loud water hammer noise in my pipes?

[icicat]

Hello all,

I live in a first floor flat (out of two floors) and share the mains water pipe with the flat below (large iron pipe running up the kitchen wall.)

I usually get water hammer when using all my water appliances (all taps, toilet) though a few weeks back I started getting random water hammer noises throughout the day. I realised this occurred when the flat below turned their taps off. Though it also constant hammer noise when they use their washing machine.
The hammer stops when I shut the water off at the stop lever, so this is affecting my pipes.

This started happening after two recent things. Downstairs had a new washing machine fitted. Also I had and old stop valve removed shortening the kitchen faucet pipe, as well as a stop lever inserted.

I have attached an image of my main pipework in the kitchen. Can anyone shed any light or have any theories as to why this has started happening? Could the people who fitted downstairs new washing machine messed with the water pressure for any reason? Thanks

 

[icicat]

Not one reply? Can no one on here help? Otherwise can anyone recommend another plumbing forum?

 

[CT-18]

That piping is insane. Is this in the states or somewhere else. If you are having hammer issues you can put mechanical arrestors under your kitchen sink when it is finished. They have to be accessible to be replaced. I don't think that someone could just say it is happening because of blank. If you brought someone in they could determine what the problem is.

 

[icicat]

Hi CT-18, thanks for the reply. This is in the UK. Yeah the plumbing looks messy as hell as this apartment was rented before I moved in and everything was done bad. I do think this bad pipe system is the cause for the water hammer from downstairs as well as when I use the water. Do you think an arrestor just past the stop lever would be the best place to stop the hammer from downstairs as well as when I use my water? Also what would you suggest to improve this pipework given the curent state it is in? Thanks.

 

[CT-18]

To me, it looks like a 1/2" cold line feeding multiple fixtures which isn't the end of the world, but prefer 3/4". I have just never seen compression fittings like that. Also that soft cooper with the bends in it instead of hard pipe with fittings.

As far as the shock arrestors, I cant say for sure they will take care of the hammer but they cant hurt. They just need to be accessible if they ever have to be changed.

 

[icicat]

Ok cheers CT-18. What could be the cause of the hammer? When I turn my water off at the lever the hammer stops. Could it be an issue with my pipes? I've also got the sink faucet pipes capped as I am working on the kitchen. Do you think this could have something to do with the hammer? Or maybe the way the pipes are laid out?

 

[CT-18]

I am not a service guy but my experience with a hammer during flow is a washer or something in the path of flow causing turbulence. I have seen hammer on quick closing valves with no air chambers to absorb the shock and pipes not strapped properly.

 

[icicat]

Ok will get the water pressure checked. If it is over 80 psi maybe I need to get a pressure reducing valve. On top of that would it be best to put a hammer arrestor maybe above it?

 

[CT-18]

I would put it above so you can change them if they ever fail.

 

[icicat]

Hey all, I partially fixed this though I'm still having this issue I had a shock arrestor fitted just above the shut off lever valve and this fixed the water hammer at my end so no banging when I shut my taps or toilet refills etc. great! However, I am still getting banging when downstairs use their washing machine. The banging stops when I close the shut off lever at my end. I have attached a video of the banging noise at the main water pipe that feeds into the pipework in my first posted image. The bang is around every 10 -20 seconds when their washing machine is on.

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxHNniyGldM&feature=youtu.be"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxHNniyGldM&feature=youtu.be[/ame]