rattling

[MasterPlumbersKeymaster]

In only one room in our house – a bathroom on the second floor – and only when the shower is turned on (not the sin) to a certain position, the pipes start rattling and hammering (?) and it sounds like the house is about to be run over by a frieght train. If you turn the handle a little further, it stops. What causes this and how can it be fixed? Thank you.

[Harold KestenholzParticipant]

Water, as it is a liquid, does not squeeze like a gas; it is a non-compressible. Because of that, water acts like a solid in transmitting sound. When waves are started in one place, the pressures of those waves are felt everywhere. To start a vibrating pipe, all that is necessary is to have an unsupported piece of the right harmonic length. When the tap is opened to that certain spot, the water passing over the valve body is similar to air passing over an organ pipe reed, the vibration is carried throughout the pipe.

So find where the pipe is unsupported and fix it down with pipe straps.

[SylvanLMPParticipant]

Geo, what you have is a loose washer in your showerbody.

Have someone check BOTH the hot and cold washers and seats.

After the bibb washer has been replaced use high temperature “Key grease” to lubercate the stems prior to putting them back into service .

This will keep undo wear on the spline when opening and closing this valve.

What it sounds like is water is causing the washer to rattle
(velocity) setting up a hydraulic shock wave, good Luck

[Author]

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