Q: When the water reaches the fill level in my washing machine and the agitation cycle starts, I always hear a loud series of bangs in the pipes behind the wall. What’s causing this? Will it harm the ...

Water hammer is a dangerous hydraulic shockwave caused when fast-moving water in pipes is suddenly stopped, often by quickly closing a valve. This sudden momentum change generates a spike in pressure ...

Q: It happened suddenly. The plumbing pipes in the bathroom would "hammer" whenever the toilet was flushed. We read your suggested remedy (drain the system) in your Aug. 30 column, and tried it. It ...

Q: Every time I turn off the water faucet in my laundry room, it sounds like someone is banging on the wall. Is my house possessed by evil spirits? Please help. The noise is frightening my kids. A: ...

Q: I live in a first-floor unit in a 344-unit building that opened in 2006. There is a loud knocking when someone turns off the bathtub/shower, dishwasher or washing machine and when the ice maker ...

Dear James: Whenever I shut the water off quickly, there is a banging sound. I am building a new house and want the plumbing to be quiet. What can I do to stop the banging noise? — Kenny T. Dear Kenny ...