Learn About Water Hammer and How to Prevent It With These 3 Types of Arrestors

Water hammers, also known as hydraulic shocks, are surges of pressure that occur when water in a pipeline system suddenly changes direction. These pressure surges can cause loud bangs, violent vibrations, and significant damage to your water pipes that could result in water damage and flooding. Water hammer arrestors are essential for mitigating these pressure variations and should be considered in any home more than 25 years old.

There are three main types of water hammer arrestors used on residential water pipe systems. The single chamber arrestor is the most common and is often used on 1/2 inch pipe systems. It has a sealed air chamber that absorbs the energy of pressure surges and is moisture-free. Prices for this type of arrestor start as low as $15 and they can be installed on any angle to the main pipe, with the option to solder or thread it in place.

The mini end arrestor has a 90-degree angled fitting coupled with a threaded end and is most often used on small pipe systems (1/2”, 3/4”, and 1” diameter). This type is mostly used for connecting to home appliances like washing machines and dishwashers. Similarly to the single chamber arrestor, these are moisture-proof and require minimal space behind an interior wall. Prices for this variety range from $15 to $40, depending on the size.

The third type is the hose bib water hammer arrestor, which has a 6-inch wide PVC housing with an internal diaphragm inside. These are designed for water intakes for appliances like a washing machine and can handle high water pressures. However, they are not suited for wall installs due to their large diameter. Prices for these bottled range from $100 to $125, with additional installation costs also applicable.

It is important to note that all of these water hammer arrestors should be installed on every 20’ of horizontal water pipes in your home, so factor that in to the budget while considering purchasing them. Additionally, they can all be purchased at any building supply, hardware, or plumbing specialist.

To sum up, water hammer arrestors are essential to any home plumbing system and could save you thousands of dollars worth of potential water damage and flooding. Different types of water hammer arrestors and their accessories can be found at any home improvement store, and although the costs for these can range from $15 to $125 for each fitting, it is worth investing in them to ensure the safety and longevity of your home and plumbing system.