Install a Shock Arrestor — Diagnose and Locate the Problem

Beginner3 hours

Part of project

How to Install a Water Hammer Arrestor to Stop Banging Pipes · Step 1 of 7

Helpful?

In this video

If simpler methods fail, install a water hammer shock arrestor. This is a small pressure vessel that contains a diaphragm and a cushion of air. When a valve closes quickly, the shockwave is absorbed by the arrestor instead of banging through the pipes. It should be installed with a T-fitting on the pipe run, as close as possible to the valve causing the issue.

Goal: Plumbing Fixture Installation

These devices can be bulky and may need to be installed in a concealed location like a cupboard or under the floor.

Used in this video

Shock Arrestor — Absorbing the pressure shock that causes water hammer.
Pipe Cutter — Cutting the pipe to install the T-fitting for the arrestor.
Adjustable Wrench — Tightening the compression fittings on the shock arrestor.

368.9K views1.7K45 minutes

Home Repair Tutor

671K subscribers

View Channel

FAQs

What essential tools do I need for this project, especially for cutting and preparing pipes?

You'll definitely need an AUTOCUT 1/2 in. Copper Pipe Tubing Cutter to make clean, straight cuts. Don't forget the Husky 1-5/8 in. Inner/Outer Reamer and Deburring Tool to smooth the pipe ends, which is crucial for leak-free push-to-connect fitting installation. An adjustable wrench will also be handy for general tightening tasks.

What are the most important safety precautions to take before starting this plumbing project?

Always start by completely shutting off the main water supply to your home and draining the pipes to relieve any pressure, which prevents unexpected floods. Wear appropriate eye protection and gloves when cutting pipes to protect against sharp edges and debris. Have a bucket and towels ready for any residual water.

How difficult is this project for a beginner, and what's a realistic time and cost expectation?

This project is rated 'beginner' friendly, primarily due to the use of push-to-connect fittings which significantly simplify the installation process. You can realistically expect to complete it within the estimated 3 hours. Material costs will mainly involve the water hammer arrestor and a T-fitting, likely under $50 depending on your local store.

I'm worried about leaks. What are common mistakes beginners make during installation, and how can I prevent them?

A common mistake is not fully deburring the pipe ends or not pushing the push-to-connect fittings all the way in until they seat firmly. Ensure the pipe is clean and smooth, and mark the insertion depth on the pipe to confirm it's fully seated before pushing. After restoring water, carefully check all new connections for any drips immediately.

Transcript

Hide

like this, I'm going to show you now, if all else fails. Now then, second on the list of last resort items is one of these, which is a shock arrestor, okay, to stop thumping pipes, basically it's a pressure vessel, it takes to shock other things, it's good to get this as close to where you think it noise is coming from, but disadvantage obviously is that it's quite big, it's bulky, it's got to be hidden away somewhere, because it looks quite ugly, you can't really add that on show, can you? So that is a good idea, if you can get close to where the noises happen, especially say like Ruth tanks in coverage and things, you can get it away outside, it does seem to work okay, but that's not the beginning, all the very best thing to do is to do one of these, I'm going to show you next, but by the way, it will give you the link for this, if you'd like one of these, I'll put it in the description. One last thing obviously is to attack the problem at source, and that is to reduce the

Auto-generated transcript. May contain errors.