Q: My water pipes rattle when I turn on the water pump. I went ahead and replaced the water pump, but the problem still remains. I run the faucets to get all the air out of the lines, but the pipes still rattle. Please help!
Mr. Karcic, Via email
A: That noise is known as pipe hammering, and it happens in houses as well as RVs. It’s caused by rapid starts and stops in the water flow, which results in fast pressure changes. The best solution is to install an accumulator tank in the system near the pump. The accumulator tank acts as something of a shock absorber that can smooth out water line pressure variations. It helps eliminate the hammering, and reduce pump cycling that can help extend pump life.
– Jeff Johnson
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